Jericho Project Receives Award at Robin Hood Heroes Breakfast

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jericho Project, a national nonprofit leader in ending homelessness at its roots, announced that its Veterans Initiative has received the 2010 Robin Hood Heroes Award. As part of the award, Robin Hood presented a $50,000 check to Jericho Project.

Jose Anthony Pagan, a decorated veteran from the Bronx and a participant in Jericho's Veterans Initiative enabling veterans to return to civilian life with dignity, shared his story of challenge and success with the audience at the Robin Hood 21st Annual Heroes Award Breakfast at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.  Mr. Pagan served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2009 including two years in a bomb-detonation unit.  He was awarded a commendation medal for his service.  To hear his story, click on http://www.robinhood.org/heroes/jose-anthony-pagan.aspx

The Robin Hood Heroes Award is given annually to outstanding organizations and special New Yorkers who have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and have shown the resiliency of the human spirit.   Robin Hood also presented heroes awards to School of One, a prototype math program being tested in three New York City middle schools, and Kingsborough Community College represented by graduate Shereece Blake.

"Veterans deserve the same level of commitment and loyalty at home that they give us abroad.  We are proud to be enabling Jose Anthony Pagan – a humanitarian, husband, father and soldier – to overcome the considerable obstacles he has faced since his return and achieve his ambitions," Jericho Project Executive Director Tori Lyon said.

Mr. Pagan participates in Jericho Project's Supportive Apartment Program that fast-tracks veterans and their families to affordable, furnished apartments.  The program helps veterans land jobs and build skills through its successful Workforce Opportunities program, as well as relapse prevention, family counseling, and crisis management. 

After a hard transition to civilian life involving homelessness and since moving into his own furnished apartment and working with the counselors at Jericho, Mr. Pagan has landed a full time security job and is working on family reunification with his wife and treasured daughter.

Jericho's is also building two Veterans Residences in the Bronx, providing apartments designed for veterans' special needs and state-of-the-art counseling in an environment of wellness.

For more information, see www.jerichoproject.org

SOURCE Jericho Project