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Subscribe to RSSA group of nonprofits and charities dedicated to helping veterans announced Wednesday a campaign to raise $30 million to assist former service members.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonprofit with 200,000 members nationwide, unveiled a Veteran Support Fund that will direct donations to itself and four other organizations. The initiative was staked by six entrepreneurs and philanthropists whose founding gifts totaled $1.1 million.
The partner organizations are Operation Mend, which gives medical support to critically injured veterans; Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which provides coping and trauma resources to survivors of deceased service members; Operation Homefront, which offers emergency financial aid to wounded warriors and families of service members; and the National Military Family Association, which advocates for benefits and programs to support military families.
"Supporting veterans isn’t charity, it’s an absolute necessity and an investment in our country’s future," Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of IAVA, said in a statement. "After ten years of war, our nation’s military families are strained, nonprofit services are maxed out and our veterans’ community is severely under-resourced."
Jim Knotts, president and CEO of Operation Homefront, told msnbc.com that the increased funding will help the organization provide emergency assistance, like food, transitional housing and money for car repairs, to more families. Last year, Operation Homefront met more than 5,000 emergency requests and provided transitional housing for 80 families.
Knotts said that while the organization's fundraising has been strong in recent years, he is concerned that donations will dwindle as service members return from Afghanistan.
"A lot of people are thinking that we’re out of Iraq and we’ll be out of Afghanistan so our need to support the military will end soon," he said. "But it will be a 50-year campaign to support this generation of wounded warriors ... Even military families who remain will have ongoing needs as a result of 10 years worth of war."
IAVA said the initiative will be a "centralized platform where Americans can support and donate to a consortium of effective and trusted best-in-class veterans’ organizations."
Charity Navigator, which evaluates select charities and nonprofits, has awarded three- and four-star ratings to Operation Homefront, National Military Family Association and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing and chief financial officer for Charity Navigator, said that donating to a veterans organization or charity can be an emotional decision.
"Supporting our troops, their families and the veterans are issues that tug at everyone’s heart strings," Miniutti told msnbc.com. "Oftentimes, donors give to these types of charities solely with their heart. They fail to stop and use their head too and vet the charities to ensure that they are financially healthy, accountable and transparent and produce real results."
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GREAT IDEA! And, here is the link:
http://iava.org/veteran-support-fund
If we add up all the money "raised" for helping veterans and it was actually spent for that purpose, there would not be the overwhelming need that still exists. I work with homeless veterans, of all wars! All anyone wants to do is argue about the numbers, design programs that have strict requirements, and show up on the talk shows to shower praise on themselves. I DO hope and pray that this makes a difference! But take it from someone who has been helping veterans since 1968, there is always more said than DONE!
I agree that the Veterans will need support for years to come. They performed when called to do so. Now its time for the public to give some back.
A commendable effort to actually support the troops. Hopefully, they will encourage the development of a private enterprise system to displace the dysfunctional VA. It's about time to admit that the Federal Government does not possess the resources or commitment to get the job done, done right, and done in a timely manner. Bravo Zulu!
not a good ideal
this is a good thing..now lets see how many of those rich people that are throwing money into this election (on both sides) will give to our veterans...Im a 100% disable combat veteran..
Attention, Non-Profits, Everyone trying to honestly help veterans! Please put all your money and efforts into Holding VA "Workers" truly Accountable. Get your Congressmen to Investigate, thoroughly, all VA Hospitals, especially to Include Veterans' Input. Too many VA employees act entitled to their salaried jobs (from which they regularly leave early....doubt me? Walk the Halls of your local VA Hospital at 2:30 pm on the first beautiful, sunny summer Friday, and see the virtual ghosttown.), to the extent that too many of them seem to believe the "V" in VA stands for "Volunteer." I wouldn't insult volunteers like that, myself.
That's called an alternate work schedule James - where they work nine hour days to take alternate Fridays off. They may also ask for vacation time by the hour - and the smarter ones request time on sunny Fridays. That's one of the perks they get for being publicly skewered.
All the change I got is in my pocket banned, rereg of zipperthecat.
It's a shame that the soldiers of previous wars (WW2, Korea, VietNam) didn't have this kind of help when they returned or after they became veterans. And families of those guys didn't get the help and support that is being given these days. Maybe the past wars didn't amount to a hill of beans.
Fraid they DO mean something to this Army brat (and Army widow).
Why is this up for discussion-tell our governing "idiots" to forget all the countries we support to find another chump. We should support our own period. Wake up America!!
Please Americans before you give up your hard earned money check out some of these veteran groups. Groups are popping up so fast. Iraq and Afghanistan Vets of America, Operation Home Front, Tragedy Assistance and others all sound shady to me. The VA does a good job in providing assistance to our men and women, and as a taxpayers they have a annual budget of over $3 billion. Our military has many organizations that help soldiers, airmen and sailors like the Air Force Assistance program. Find out who are in charge of these organizations and see how much of your donation actually goes to helping these vets, I believe that 90% of contributions should be going to these vets. Many of these organizations are created by generals and high ranking officers, which actually should be doing and giving their support for free considering the amount they make in retirement.
My claim with the VA is at 244 days and I have heard nothing. I know there are others that have been waiting longer. If these charitieswant to help veterans maby they should team up with the VA.
I have the utmost respect for our veterans, but this is just BS.
1. Not one of these men or women were drafted into service like previous wars............they volunteered. And, a good many of them signed up during peace time for the freebies never actually expecting to go to war.
2. They all received a guaranteed paycheck for doing the job.
3. They get a FREE college education.
4. They get a guaranteed "return to work slip" if they left their job to volunteer. And preference by all employers being hired over the rest of the citizens of this country. And most of them will end up in cushy jobs working for the local, state, or federal government with more great benefits.
5. They get FREE medical care while on the job.
6. They get extremely discounted medical and prescription care through the VA hospital for the rest of their life.
7. They get a 15% discount on and loans through the VA to buy a home.
8. They get life insurance.
So, while I have great respect for the men and women who volunteered for this job, they ARE fully compensated by the taxpayers many of whom couldn't and still can't find jobs themselves. Many of whom lost their homes, the ability to feed and clothe themselves and their families and ended up living on the streets. Sorry, I just don't see the need for more freebies, there are a hell of a lot of people in this country who are in worse shape than the veterans are.
umm, excuse me but are you a Veteran? I am the caregiver and wife of a Service connected Veteran and here are the facts:
1. there is no life insurance. We have to pay for it through USAA just like anyone else.
2.Sure we get a government backed loan through the VA IF we qualify. You have to be employed and you must have good credit. BIG DEAL!!! WE DESERVE IT!!
3.There is no Guaranteed return to work... My husband lost his place in a Union he paid into for years and didn't have a job when he got home. There are no guarantees on jobs and I'm sorry to say, but if you knew what kind of moral and honor a Service member brings to an employer based on the skills they acquire on the job, you could see how valuable they are to the work force, yet many remain unemployed and disabled.
4. It seems to me that you really don't understand much about sacrifice. You don't seem grateful and I cannot sit by and have you creating false statements, the biggest one being that you respect Veterans. You have disrespected them by writing this ignorant post.
I could go on and on ... Here's a truth that you can think about while you sleep in your bed without PTSD or loss of limb
More Veterans have died from suicide during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, than there were casualties while on the job.
Anything good for Vets, I'm for. As a Vietnam war vet, I wasn't allowed a life insurance policy in a war zone. If I was killed, I got $250.00 for buried expense. I lost my rations for my family back home of $120.00 and got far less for combat pay. In other words a lost in pay. Things have improved since that time and lots more is needed on health care of these soldiers going 2-3-4-5-6 times in a war zone.
More and more people are finally supporting the troops. YAY!