Achilles International
http://www.achillesinternational.org/
Achilles’ original programs, our chapter workouts and races, have grown over the years to include participation in marathons throughout the world, as well as our signature 5M Hope and Possibility Race. In that time, we have also developed two very unique specialized programs to serve children with disabilities and injured war veterans. Our Achilles Kids program provides training, racing opportunities, and an in-school program for children throughout the U.S. Our Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans program brings training, access to specialized equipment, and marathon opportunities to disabled U.S. military veterans.
Although all of our programs focus on athletics, the truth is, sports are simply the tool for accomplishing our main objective: to bring hope, inspiration and the joys of achievement to all people with disabilities.
In 2004, Achilles launched the Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans program. An extension of the Achilles process of physical strengthening, building confidence, and generating a supportive community, the program was adapted to the specific needs of wounded members of the U.S. military. Program participants receive training as well as use of specialized adaptive devices, such as hand-crank wheelchairs. While the goal is to enter and complete a marathon, the program stresses “achievable accomplishment,” encouraging participants to begin by training for a less-demanding competition, such as our 5-mile “Hope and Possibility” race. This allows the members to experience success and build confidence. Since its inception, we have worked closely with the physical therapists at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD; and Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. All injured military personnel and veterans are eligible for the program, whether the injury is combat or non-combat related.
We reach out to wounded veterans in the hospital and in their local communities. Our goal is to provide them with the opportunity to train and participate in mainstream marathons. Program training includes learning how to use a hand-crank wheelchair, which is a three-wheeled cycle powered by hand pedals. This adaptive device is excellent for people with injuries that have resulted in amputation or paralysis. It was through the efforts of Achilles that these devices are now permitted in many marathons, including the ING New York City Marathon.
Continued Achievement Achilles has found that having the opportunity to be active and achieve in a mainstream environment leads to increased confidence, enhanced physical wellness and goal setting in all areas of life. We encourage our athletes to continue the program and their physical and emotional healing process. They can do this through membership in a local Achilles chapter or by participating in our marathon tour.
Adaptive Sports Foundation
http://www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/
The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) is a non-profit organization that provides profound and life changing experiences for children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities and chronic illnesses through outdoor physical activity, education, support and community. ASF students are five years of age and older and live with disabilities ranging from relatively mild learning disabilities to more severe disabilities such as paralysis, autism, amputation, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury.
Founded in 1984, the Foundation’s work promotes physical activity for children and adults with disabilities by offering winter programs for recreational skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, yoga and personal fitness. he ASF is proud to have been selected as a regional site for the dissemination of a year round program called Warriors in Motion; a program for troops injured in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. ASF staff members conceived of and created this comprehensive program to provide participating troops with a basic understanding of wellness and the importance of lifelong healthful living. Participants are acquainted with such topics as healthy behavior change, stress management, mental health, nutrition and weight management, and physical fitness and activity. The Adaptive Sports Foundation’s Warriors in Motion program provides wounded warriors with a basic knowledge of wellness and the importance of practicing lifelong healthful living. Warriors engage in sports, outdoor activity, and recreation. In addition, warriors are encouraged to investigate how the physical self is tied to the emotional/psychological self, as well as how state-of-mind can affect the physical body. The Adaptive Sports Foundation is proud to have been selected by Wounded Warrior Project® as a national program provider for wounded U.S. servicemen and women.
American Corporate Partners
http://www.acp-usa.org/about-acp
American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting veterans in their transition from the armed services to the civilian workforce. With the help of business professionals nationwide, ACP offers veterans tools for long-term career development through mentoring, career counseling, and networking opportunities.
With the belief that one-on-one relationships enhance an atmosphere of mutual understanding, respect, and support, ACP aims to strengthen the connection between corporate America and veteran communities.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
http://www.afsp.org/
Understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and advocacy
America's VetDogs
http://www.vetdogs.org/
America’s VetDogs uses guide dogs, service dogs, and innovative technology to help disabled veterans once again live the lives they used to. Not only does a VetDog provide assistance with daily activities, the dog provides the motivation to conquer new challenges. People focus on the dog, not the disability. With a VetDog by his or her side, a veteran is not alone.
VetDogs trains and provides& assistance dogs for veterans who are blind or visually impaired; have disabilities other than blindness. We train physical and occupational dogs to work with wounded soldiers and active duty personnel. For a dog to become a VetDog, it must meet our health, safety, and training standards, and must be trained for and matched with to meet the needs of a person with disabilities.
Association of Cancer Online Resource
http://www.acor.org/
ACOR is a unique collection of online cancer communities designed to provide timely and accurate information in a supportive environment. It is a free lifeline for everyone affected by cancer & related disorders.
You are not alone! Use one of ACOR's 142 online communities to connect with people like you online and share information and support.
Bivona Child Advocacy Center
http://www.bivonacac.org/
Bivona Child Advocacy Center is to coordinate and provide services and support to meet the needs of child victims of sexual or physical abuse and their families at a single, safe child-friendly facility. Bivona advocates on behalf of abused children by reducing trauma, increasing accountability, fostering healing, and promoting education and awareness to the community.
Bob Woodruff Foundation
http://bobwoodrufffoundation.org/
Our mission is to ensure injured veterans and their families are thriving long after they return home. That’s why we find and fund innovative programs in communities where veterans, their families and caregivers live and work. That’s how we tackle the problems that can prevent our veterans from fulfilling their dreams for the next chapter of their lives.
Education and Employment:
A million heroes are on their way home. We're working to make sure their education and employment transition - and the next chapter of their lives - is worthy of their sacrifice.
Quality of Life:
A purpose, a place to live, healthy family relationships, and an outlet for socialization. Injured veterans need all of these for a good quality of life. Learn more about how we're investing in a better life for veterans and their families.
Rehabilitation and Recovery:
Today's service members return with injuries that would have been fatal in earlier times. We're funding programs that heal both the physical and hidden wounds of war.
Building Homes For Heroes
http://buildinghomesforheroes.org/
Building Homes for Heroes® is strongly committed to supporting the brave men and women of the military who have returned home from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan with severe wounds and disabilities, with a goal to build homes for families in dire need. It's our honor to support the men and women who have loyally and courageously served our country. We build homes from the ground up or modify existing homes to meet the needs of the brave men and women who selflessly served our country. These mortgage-free homes not only help to remove the family's financial burden, they help to restore the individual's freedom, and enable the veteran to lead a more independent and productive civilian life.
CancerCare
http://www.cancercare.org/
We provide telephone, online and face-to-face counseling, support groups, education, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. Professional oncology social workers offer personalized care, and all of our services are free of charge.
CancerCare Co-payment Assistance Foundation
http://cancercarecopay.org/
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation (CCAF) helps people afford the cost of co-payments for chemotherapy and targeted treatment drugs. We provide this assistance free of charge to ensure patient access to care and compliance with prescribed treatments.
The Carver Center
http://carvercenter.org/
Carver is the largest and longest-running community center in the village of Port Chester, with educational and recreational programs for families and individuals of all ages. Carver has grown tremendously since its inception, now serving hundreds of people daily.
All activities and services offered by Carver fall under one of four major program areas: Children’s Programs, Teen Programs, Community and Family Services, and Fitness/Aquatics. Carver’s building features a full court gymnasium, a 25-yard indoor pool, a dance studio, classrooms, a full kitchen, and other multi-use spaces.
Community and Family Services programs meet the nutritional, emotional, social service and other poverty related needs of Port Chester’s lower income residents. They also provide opportunities for growth and advancement through educational workshops such as Carver’s Coupon Club and presentations by The Food Bank for Westchester.
The Food Pantry is a grocery store-style food pantry, one of only three in the town of Port Chester, and the only one that is grocery store-style. Eligible individuals and families shop once a month for 3 days worth of supplemental food. A walk-in refrigerator allows the pantry to offer fresh produce and other perishable foods on a daily basis.
The Children's Aid Society
http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/
Founded in 1853, The Children's Aid Society (CAS) works to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of children and families, and to provide each child with the support and opportunities needed to become a happy, healthy and productive adult. CAS fills the gaps between what children deserve and what life has dealt them. We have been serving children for more than 150 years, a longevity that is a testament to our ability to adapt to the always changing needs of today's youth. Today CAS serves more than 150,000 children and their families at more than 45 sites throughout New York City.
City Harvest
http://www.cityharvest.org/
Now serving New York City for more than 30 years, City Harvest is the world's first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city's hungry men, women, and children.
This year, City Harvest will collect 46 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to some 400 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet of trucks and bikes. City Harvest helps feed the more than one million New Yorkers that face hunger each year.
The Corporal Kyle R.Schneider Foundation
http://www.cplkyleschneider.com/The Corporal Kyle R. Schneider Foundation is a non-profit foundation, formed in honor of a fallen United States Marine. He dedicated his life to serving his Nation and his Community. The Foundation was formed to carry on Corporal Schneider's legacy of leadership and service, with a focus on families of fallen members of the armed forces and returned heroes.
The Corporal Kyle R. Schneider foundation renders support to assist active duty, reserve and retired United States Armed Forces members, their families and injured and recovering heroes.
The foundation also will be active with, and seek volunteer help, in civic endeavors that foster the spirit Corporal
Schneider exemplified.
Among the various initiatives and volunteer opportunities, assitance provided by the Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider Foundation goes to:
-prayer shawl ministries to survivors,
-support of annual scholarships to graduating High School seniors from Kyles' High School,
-assisting in providing therapy dogs to military heroes,
- care packages to service members in combat zones,
-assistance to wounded warriors.
EBV-Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities
http://whitman.syr.edu/ebv/
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country. The EBV is designed to open the door to business ownership for our veterans by 1) developing your skills in the many steps and activities associated with launching and growing a small business, and by 2) helping you leverage programs and services for veterans and people with disabilities in a way that furthers your entrepreneurial dreams.
Freedom Guide Dogs
http://freedomguidedogs.org/
Freedom Guide Dogs is based in Upstate New York, which breeds, raises, trains and places guide dogs with the blind and visually impaired . Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind recognizes, appreciates and supports the service and sacrifices of all service members past and present. In recognition of service to our country, Freedom will place a guide dog at no cost, anywhere in the continental United States with a veteran who has lost vision in the line of duty. We are deeply appreciative to those who have fought for our FREEDOM and so we attempt to give back some measure of FREEDOM and independence to blind and visually-impaired veterans.
iMentor
http://www.imentor.org/
iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower students from low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions. Students work with their mentors one-on-one, in-person and online, to develop strong personal relationships, nurture a college aspiration, navigate the college application process, and build critical skills that lead to college success. In New York City, iMentor partners with public schools to ensure every student in the schools receives a mentor. iMentor also provides its curriculum, technology, and best practices to help nonprofits run effective programs in the iMentor model. Since 1999, iMentor has connected 11,000 students with mentors. This year, iMentor is serving 3,000 mentor-mentee pairs in New York City and 2,700 more nationwide. iMentor has been recognized through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and the Robin Hood Foundation, and is a subgrantee of the federal Social Innovation Fund.
Intrepid Relief Fund
http://irfund.org/
The Intrepid Relief Fund is dedicated to supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families. The Fund solicits contributions from the public to provide financial support to the military community through its own programming and through support of other organizations with similar goals. The Fund is a public charity and a registered 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization. The Fund operates with no paid staff and minimal operating costs, all of which are underwritten by the Fund’s Trustees; therefore 100% of donations from the public directly support the Fund’s programs. The Intrepid Relief Fund’s principal project is Operation Mend. Operated at UCLA Medical Center, Operation Mend is a unique initiative that provides returning service members with some of the country’s best plastic and reconstructive surgery. The care is provided at no cost by leading plastic surgeons, while the Fund underwrites soldiers’ transportation and lodging costs.
The Intrepid Relief Fund is part of the Intrepid family of non-profits that support the military and veterans community, including the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Fisher House Foundation.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American
http://iava.org/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for new veterans, with over 270,000 Member Veterans and supporters nationwide. IAVA is a 21st Century veterans' organization dedicated to standing with the 2.4 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan from their first day home through the rest of their lives. Founded in 2004 by an Iraq veteran, our mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families. IAVA strives to build an empowered generation of veterans who provide sustainable leadership for our country and their local communities. We work toward this vision through programs in four key impact areas: supporting new veterans in Health, Education, Employment and building a lasting Community for vets and their families (HEEC).
K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers, Inc.
http://www.donateproduct.com/
K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers unites retailers, manufacturers, foundations and individuals to provide people impacted by poverty and tragedy with new merchandise, effectively distributed through a network of agency partners to improve the well-being, self-esteem and dignity of at-risk families and individuals.
Lead The Way Fund, Inc.
http://www.leadthewayfund.org/
Lead The Way Fund, Inc. is a non-profit organization established to raise funds in support of disabled U.S. Army Rangers and the families of Rangers who have died, have been injured or are currently serving in harm’s way around the world. Lead The Way Fund, Inc. will provide spouses and children of deceased, disabled or active duty Rangers with assistance for health and wellness programs and other services determined to be vital to the family’s well-being, beyond what the government can offer.
Leukemia & Lymophoma Society
http://www.lls.org/
Co- Pay Assistance Program offers help paying for treatment related co-pays, private health insurance co-pays and premiums. It can also help you pay for Medicare Part B, Part D, Medigap and private plan co-pays and premiums.
Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation
http://www.mc-lef.org/
Supporters of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, MC-LEF, strongly believe that our nation's most precious resource is its youth. Since its inception in February 1995, MC-LEF, through the continuous support of our donors, has distributed aid with a value of more than $60,000,000 to eligible children.
This assistance has primarily been rendered to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad. These funds enable us to provide these children with scholarships for their higher education.
Mesothelioma Help.org
http://www.mesotheliomahelp.org/
MesotheliomaHelp, America’s Mesothelioma Resource, is one of the web’s primary resources for information on malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Our team of writers, supporters and sponsors of this site are dedicated to bringing the latest, most comprehensive mesothelioma information to patients, families and caregivers.
Our goal is to provide the appropriate information to families battling mesothelioma to empower them to participate in making the decisions about their care, and to offer some measure of hope and support.
Military Families United
http://www.militaryfamiliesunited.org/
Military Families United is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to Honor the Fallen, Support Those Who Fight, and Serve Their Families.We are a national coalition of Gold Star and Blue Star families, veterans, and patriotic Americans who share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform and support them in their mission to keep America safe.
The National Gold Star Family Registry is the first comprehensive database of the United States’ fallen Heroes and their families ever developed. Whether they gave their life in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, WWII, or another conflict, the Registry is a place to ensure their memory will live on. The Registry affords family members the opportunity to publicly remember their Hero, giving future generations a sense of who these brave Americans were—not only how they died, but, more importantly, how they lived.
Military Families United has partnered with The Arts Institute to award four $25,000 scholarships to military spouses. This scholarship betters the lives of the entire military family by providing a higher education at any of The Arts Institutes’ schools.
Military Families United’s Camp Desert Kids helps military children better understand the deployments that shape their lives. Through a fun event, Camp Desert Kids gives military children the opportunity to experience deployment with their homefront parent in a unique way. Utilizing maps, fun facts, cultural activities, and regional food and drink, Camp Desert Kids works to reduce the unknown in our military children’s lives.
Operation Frontline Families engages members of Congress, the Administration, and the general public in efforts to communicate information about our brave men and women in uniform and their mission to protect our freedom. Through the powerful voice of military families, this program ensures that those in positions of power are continually cognizant of the effect their decisions have on the well-being of our troops, our veterans, and their families.
Military 101 is an educational Webinar series provided for military families around the world presenting service members and their families with expert panelists on the top issues in the military community today. This program is not only a beneficial tool for new spouses, but is extremely helpful for the parents of young service members who are trying to understand military life for the first time.
National Organization on Disability
http://www.nod.org/
The National Organization on Disability researches, develops, and demonstrates creative approaches to disability employment issues. This work includes engaging in corporate consultancies, designing innovative programs, and performing research to address the employment gap for people with disabilities, while leading the way with our CEO Council members to promote disability-inclusion across America’s workforce. NOD is committed to making each of our lines of work a leader by measuring progress and accounting for results.
New Era Veterans
http://www.neweraveterans.com/
New Era Veterans provides helpful programs that outreaches the basic needs of those who have serve in the military. Through the Bronx Veterans Resource Center we provide educational programs and important information about employment opportunities. We also provide housing information through our Supportive Housing Program.
On Behalf
https://onbehalf.org/
Wounded veterans are desperately in need of two things: cash and services. On Behalf strives to provide both to our combat injured and grieving military families. The process begins right here online. A wounded vet or military family can be nominated here for On Behalf's help by anyone, Once we receive a name, our staff reviews their case for eligibility. After the claim is verified, we issue a financial grant (dependent on rank, injury and financial situation). If need be, we'll consult our Thank a Vet Network on LinkedIn for volunteers and businesses who might be able to lend a hand with their expertise or services. The help doesn't end there: if appropriate, and with the veteran's permission, we rally our Score Force to take things a step further: Score Force proactively contacts local businesses in the veteran's hometown that might be able to help with money, a service or product that could bring some relief.
Pets for Vets
http://pets-for-vets.com/
At Pets for Vets, we believe our country owes military veterans a debt of gratitude. Our soldiers have been brave but many of them have returned with physical and emotional injuries that have made it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Some estimates state that as many as 20% of returning military veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to supporting veterans and providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who could benefit from a companion animal. The Pets… 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. These animals can make excellent companion animals but never have that chance. Our dedicated animal trainers will evaluate and rescue the shelter animals and provide additional training to ensure that they are able to assimilate into a home, which is quite different from a shelter environment. The Vets… Sadly, there are alarming statistics of suicide, family abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder facing veterans returning to civilian life after military duty. This can cause a downward spiral of apathy, unemployment, broken relationships, addiction and depression. It is our belief that companion animals can be the life saving therapy or friend that many returning service men and women need. Medical studies have shown that companion animals significantly improve mental and physical health, including reducing stress, depression and anxiety, symptoms experienced by many serving in the military. How does it work? The Pets for Vets team interviews each veteran to ascertain what he or she is looking for in a companion animal; we pair this with his or her personality and lifestyle to make the perfect veteran-pet match. Once the perfect pet is selected for the veteran, the pet spends time in the home of one of our trainers who teaches the pet basic obedience and other valuable behaviors needed to live with his/her new owner. This can include becoming comfortable with wheel chairs or behaviors needed to help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Who is Eligible? Veterans who have a condition that could benefit from a trained companion animal and who are able to care for a pet, are eligible to receive a Pets for Vets companion animal.
Pfizer RxPathways
http://www.pfizerrxpathways.com/
Pfizer has offered a number of assistance programs to help eligible patients access their prescription medicines. Now, to answer patients’ changing needs and make our services more accessible, we’ve combined our existing programs into one program called Pfizer RxPathways.
Pfizer RxPathways, formerly Pfizer Helpful Answers, is a comprehensive assistance program that provides eligible patients with a range of support services, including insurance counseling, co-pay assistance,* and access to medicines for free or at a savings.
Puppies Behind Bars
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com
Service Dogs for Veterans Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan
Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us was established by Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) in 2006 to provide service dogs to combat veterans returning home from Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan (OEF) who have suffered a physical injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or exhibit post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever puppies are raised and trained in prison from the age of eight weeks until they are ready to be placed with a veteran. Once the pups reach twenty months of age, they are tested to determine their suitability for formal training by PBB. When a puppy is matched with a disabled veteran, final training continues specific to the veteran’s needs.
Currently, approximately fifty service dogs are being raised in four of our six prisons. Our service dogs not only learn the eighty-five plus commands that are standard in the industry (i.e. retrieving objects, turning on and off lights, opening doors so a wheelchair can pass through), PBB has also created additional commands to assist our wounded warriors returning with PTSD and TBI.
In August of 2012, Tobi was paired with Captain Robert Charles, an Afghanistan war veteran who suffers from PTSD, a life-altering condition that is characterized by panic attacks, severe depression, memory loss, nightmares and fear of public places. Tobi, a beautiful black female Labrador retriever, has been trained to wake Robert from nightmares and to alert him of approaching strangers, always “watching his back.” When Tobi lies at Robert’s side, she will sit up if someone approaches, thus lessening Robert’s fear of being in public spaces such as grocery stores or movie theaters. Additionally, Tobi responds to the command, “Block,” which Robert uses when he wants Tobi to stand between him and an approaching individual.
In March 2013, Robert and Tobi traveled from their home in Maryland to the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility where Tobi was raised and trained, to meet and thank the women for their hard work and dedication in training service dogs for veterans. Robert and the puppy raisers shared dozens of stories about Tobi, ranging from her puppyhood in prison to her current life as a full-fledged service dog to Robert. The common bond connecting everyone centered around Tobi’s love and devotion to people, her ability to help heal emotional wounds, and how her presence alone encourages those around her to rise above their circumstances and live life to its fullest.
On average, PBB accepts only one out of every seven applicants and pairs only fifteen to twenty service dogs per year. In order to receive one of our dogs, a veteran must download our application (see link below), read through the criteria, and submit the application to the PBB administrative office for consideration. The application review process takes approximately four to six weeks to determine and applicant’s eligibility.
If selected, the veteran must participate in our two-week team training in New York. PBB pays for 100% of the travel and boarding costs associated with training. Over the course of the two weeks, each client is matched with a dog, learns the commands that the dog knows and learns how to care for the dog. About half of the team training is conducted from within one of the four New York State prisons where the veterans are able to learn directly from the inmate puppy raisers who trained their dogs. In order to graduate from team training, veterans must pass our Public Access Test to demonstrate that the client/dog match makes for an appropriate service dog team. Each graduate of our program returns to his/her home and family as a fully certified service dog handler, with paperwork, identification and a very special service dog that is trained in more than 90 commands.
PBB is a rigorous program and is accredited through Assistance Dogs International. We produce well-loved and well-behaved dogs and we make sure we make the best dog/veteran matches possible. PBB provides routine, extensive follow up with each of our graduates and retains ownership of the dog for the first five years to make sure each veteran/service dog pairing is effective. PBB also serves as a resource for the veterans in the years that follow, providing support, advice and feedback.
To learn more about Dog Tags, download the brochure. For information on how to APPLY for a Dog Tags service dog, download the application or contact Puppies Behind Bars at 212.680.9562.
Service Women's Action Network
http://servicewomen.org/
SWAN’s mission is to transform military culture by securing equal opportunity and freedom to serve without discrimination, harassment or assault; and to reform veterans’ services to ensure high quality health care and benefits for women veterans and their families.
We accomplish our mission through:
Policy Reform
Media Advocacy
Litigation
Community Organizing
Specifically, SWAN:
- Educates policy makers and legislators;
- Engages military and veterans leadership;
- Informs the public by providing expert research, analysis and opinion, and amplifying stakeholder voices;
- Organizes service members, veterans and families to advocate for themselves and build community support;
- Works with law firms, legal clinics and law schools to increase institutional accountability and improve stakeholders’ opportunities for redress;
- Builds coalitions and collaborates with civil rights, veterans’ and other social justice organizations;
- Offers technical assistance and cultural competency training; and
- Facilitates wellness through free yoga classes and yoga teacher training scholarships for veterans.
Soldiers Heart
http://www.soldiersheart.net/
The term Soldier’s Heart was coined in the time of the Civil War to describe Post–traumatic Stress Disorder. The organization Soldier’s Heart was created in response to the outpouring of concern for our nation’s veterans and their psychological wounds.
Our goal is to prepare families and communities in supporting and healing veterans - both those returning from current wars and those who fought in past wars. Our veterans’ project focuses on creating a network of community based services to facilitate a healthier and more successful reintegration of our nation’s veterans.
In addition to direct service to veterans, our staff helps educate communities on how to start support services for vets and their families and conducts seminars to train other professionals in the special and unique needs of veterans.
Stars For Our Troops
http://www.starsforourtroops.org/
We are a group of volunteers that are continuing what was started by a group of ladies in Florida called the Star Project about 2005. See "Star Project Begins"
Old tattered and faded US Flags are retired from service and we pass the legacy of their embroidered Stars to those that defended them.
We are cutting the fields of blue, known as the canton, from these old flags, then scissor off the embroidered stars.
Into a plastic bag go a star and an explanation:
"I am part of our American flag that has flown
over a home in the U.S.A. I can no longer fly.
The sun and winds have caused me
to become tattered and torn.
Please carry me as a reminder that
You are not forgotten."
Flags should be approximately 5 feet by 3 feet, so that the embroidered stars are about the size of half-dollars or smaller than a business card.
Support Our Heroes
http://supportourheroes.net/
Sending care packages to U.S. troops overseas all year long.
Syracuse Veteran's Writing Group
http://wrt.syr.edu/syrvetwriters/
The Syracuse Veterans' Writing group is open to all veterans and their supporters The focus of our group is on writing nonfiction accounts or "true stories" of life in and out of the military.
Veterans of all ages, branches of the military, and conflicts are welcome. You need not have any prior experience with writing, just a desire to write your stories and share them with others.
Theatre Communications Group
http://www.tcg.org/
Blue Star Theatres is a collaboration between Theatre Communications Group and Blue Star Families, with leadership support from the MetLife Foundation. The first launch of the program was September 28, 2012, with 22 theatres participating. When the second launch event was held in Denver on October 19, there were 57 participating theatres. There are currently 111 participating theatres. Through Blue Star Theatres, we plan to help better connect theatre offerings to military personnel across the United States. This initiative is intended to recognize the contributions of service families, to build stronger connections between the theatre community and military families in communities all across the country and to help in whatever small way we can to aid service people and their families as they seek to be integrated into the lives of their communities. Each participating Blue Star Theatre is offering discounted or complimentary admission to all military personnel and their families, as well as veterans. Education programs and other theatre opportunities may be discounted as well.
Veterans Across America
http://www.veteransacrossamerica.org/
The Champion Mentoring program links business executives as Champion Mentors to unemployed or under-employed
veterans. These business leaders open their professional and personal networks to help their veteran mentees gain viable employment. Project VALOR will create a new force of fully employed, trained and engaged Veteran Adult Leaders for youth
at-risk. Military leadership continues with veterans being deployed where and as needed to community-based organizations. The focus is to create role models for children’s successful transition to adulthood and teach them the tools to help
them make positive life choices.
Veterans on Wall Street
http://veteransonwallstreet.com/
Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) is an initiative dedicated to honoring former military personnel and employees currently in the National Guard and Reserve by facilitating career and business opportunities in the financial services industry. Through a combination of educational initiatives, mentoring, outreach to the military, employee affinity groups, and an annual conference, VOWS promotes career development, support, and retention of veterans throughout the global financial services industry.
Central to the VOWS mission is the recognition that many of the skills veterans developed in the military–leadership, fast and accurate decision–making, operational focus, and the drive to accomplish a mission–have a direct application on Wall Street. VOWS also recognizes that the cultural values our veterans have developed in the military—passion, drive, commitment, and teamwork—mesh with the corporate values sought after and practiced in the financial services industry. VOWS works with military organizations, veterans groups, industry associations and vendors to build awareness and understanding of how these skills and cultural attributes make military veterans outstanding employees.
Whitman School of Management Syracuse University
https://whitman.syr.edu/programs-and-academics/programs/military-veteran/index.aspx
For over 50 years, Syracuse University and Whitman have been committed to providing education to our nation's military during and after their service to our country. As the functional demands of active-duty service men and women change and those transitioning out of the military seek educational opportunities to prepare them for the marketplace, we pride ourselves in providing the most comprehensive education specifically designed to facilitate growth.
At Whitman, there is a support structure and culture that is encompassed with service, experience, and commitment. As part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, our degree programs, in many cases, are fully funded for veterans. On campus, there is a veteran’s resource center, the student veterans club, and many other resources that are all part of the SALUTE program at Syracuse University.
Learn about the various opportunities available to our Military and Veterans.