Pennsylvania DMVA Announces Veterans' Trust Fund Grant Recipients

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has selected 10 charitable organizations and veterans' service organizations to receive $350,000 in grants from the Pennsylvania Veterans' Trust Fund (VTF). Grant applicants slated to receive funding identified $10.4 million in matching funds to be used in conjunction with their grant request. Combined with the VTF grant funding, this will result in veterans' initiatives totaling $10.7 million over a period of up to 24 months.

"We received grant applications from 55 organizations requesting nearly $4.7 million in funding for veterans' services and programs, which shows how great the need is for funding of veterans' programs across the commonwealth," said Brig. Gen. Jerry Beck Jr., deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs. "We are very fortunate that Pennsylvanians have supported the Veterans' Trust Fund by voluntarily making a $3 donation through the Department of Motor Vehicles. This shows how just a small sacrifice can make a huge different for those who served."

Pennsylvania residents can make a voluntary donation to support these grants when applying for or renewing their driver's license or photo ID and renewing a motor vehicle registration, as well as purchasing an Honoring our Veterans license plate.

The grant announcement identified up to $350,000 in VTF funding available to veteran service organizations and 501(c)3 charitable organizations with a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans. Funding priorities included veterans' initiatives focused on long-term solutions to homelessness, behavioral health and peer support programs, outreach services supporting reintegration, as well as other programs that addressed newly identified, unmet or emerging needs of Veterans and their families.

Grants are being awarded to: 

• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 49, New Bloomfield (Perry County): $30,000 to provide transportation services for veterans in Perry County.
• Fresh Start Foundation, Philadelphia (Philadelphia County): $100,000 for a mobile care coordination team to provide outreach services to veterans.
• Housing and Neighborhood Development Services (HANDS), Erie (Erie County): $70,000 to provide housing for low-income veterans and their families in Erie.
• Impact Services Corporation, Philadelphia (Philadelphia County): $45,000 to provide housing and employment services to veterans and their families.
• Marine Corps League of Pennsylvania Foundation, New Cumberland (Cumberland County): $20,000 to provide emergency assistance to Marines and their families.
• Operation Homefront PA/DE/NJ, Doylestown (Bucks County): $10,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to Pennsylvania veterans in need.
• PathWays PA, Holmes (Delaware County): $10,000 to support the HeroesPath program, which employs a liaison to work with employers in support of hiring veterans.
• Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Camp Hill (Cumberland County): $45,000 to provide emergency financial assistance to veterans in need.
• V.E.T.S. Honor Guard, Franklin (Venango County): $10,000 to assist families or funeral directors with providing full military honors at funeral services.
• Veterans Multi-Service Center, Philadelphia (Philadelphia County): $10,000 to provide outreach and awareness support to women veterans.

"By awarding these 10 grants from the Veterans' Trust Fund, DMVA is able to fund a variety of worthwhile programs that assist and support Pennsylvania's nearly one million veterans and their families," Beck added.

All grants are contingent upon the completion of a fully executed grant agreement.

Earlier this month, DMVA announced VTF grants totaling $99,840 for 12 Pennsylvania County Directors of Veterans Affairs Offices and a $41,000 grant to Veteran Community Initiative, Inc. to co-sponsor the first Veterans Appreciation Day Symposium.

The VTF was established in 2012 and DMVA is authorized to solicit and accept donations to the VTF on behalf of the commonwealth. Tax-deductible donations to the VTF can be made to:  PA Veterans' Trust Fund, Bldg. 0-47 Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003.

To learn more about the VTF, visit www.vtf.state.pa.us or follow DMVA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva. 

Media contact: Joan Nissley – 717-861-8720

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs