Nonprofit Benefiting Disabled Veterans Seeks Partners at B4B

Corporate Partnerships with Our Forgotten Warriors will Help Injured Soldiers Access Disability Benefits and Other Resources For Disabled Veterans

LACEY, Wash., April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Our Forgotten Warriors (OFW) doesn't forget—and the Satterberg Foundation with Business4Better (B4B) want to help corporate America discover this organization's unwavering commitment to injured and disabled veterans and service members. Making this possible were two awards to OFW: one for $5,000 from the Satterberg Foundation and the other for $15,000 of waived conference expenses by the organizers of B4B. "The significance of this opportunity cannot be understated," explains co-founder and executive director, Carol Blake. "There is no other organization in the country that provides direct financial support and human intervention services comparable to Our Forgotten Warriors." Thanks to these generosities, OFW will attend the Anaheim, CA Business4Better conference and expo, May 1-2, 2013.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/DC93949)

Click to Tweet: Join @ForOurWarriors in Anaheim at #biz4better conference and help corporate America help #veterans

The current shortage of qualified case managers makes it difficult for the VA to process applications in a timely and effective manner. There is also a shortage of nonprofit organizations helping non-combat, disabled veterans.

No other organization provides a suite of services and intensive case management comparable to OFW, and any corporate partnerships that result from OFW's participation in Business4Better will help support injured soldiers and their families. These services include:

• Appeal of Discharge Status and Upgrade Filings
• Appeal of VA Decisions
• Assistance:  Clothing
• Assistance:  Financial
• Assistance:  Food
• Assistance:  Health Care Access
• Assistance:  Information and Referrals
• Assistance:  Military Records Searches and Requests
• Assistance:  Post-Traumatic Stress Illness/Disorder (PTSI/D)
• Assistance:  Rental
• Assistance:  Resume Writing
• Assistance:  Service Dogs
• Assistance:  Utilities
• Claims:  Special Monthly Compensation
• Claims: Disability Compensation (service connected)
• Home Visits (by appointment only)
• Outreach for Vietnam/Gulf War/OIF/OEF/OND Veterans
• Services:  Homeless Veteran Intervention
• Services:  Career Transition Facilitation
• Services:  Vocational Rehabilitation

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there is a staggering backlog of about 900,000 veterans awaiting processing of their disability benefits — which is expected to pass a million by the end of this month. This statistic does not simply represent an inconvenience, a mere delay. It results in broken lives that OFW strives to mend.

Because of advancements in life-saving treatment on the battlefield, more soldiers' lives are being saved:  45% of all those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are filing for disability benefits upon discharge, as compared to 21% during the first Gulf War. The resulting strain on the system has created an untenable administrative bottleneck at the VA.

About Our Forgotten Warriors (OFW) 
Our Forgotten Warriors is a minority and veteran-owned Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is a symbol of hope, founded with the premise that all soldiers and veterans should receive the best available resources to help them reintegrate with society after their separation from the armed services. We work to address a very specific need in the military community—the gap in services between the time a soldier discharges and the time he or she begins receiving financial assistance and support services. EIN 27-2083316.

About Satterburg Foundation (SF):
The Satterberg Foundation strengthens our communities by promoting a just society and a sustainable environment. Doing this work deepens the interconnections of our family.

About Business4Better Conference & Exposition (B4B):
Business4Better is a two-day conference designed for people from mid-sized businesses who work in the areas of social responsibility, community outreach, and corporate volunteer programs.

SOURCE Our Forgotten Warriors