Pittsburgh Area Companies Unite to Support Job Placement for Disabled Veterans

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Many U.S. service men and women return from active duty only to become part of a growing group of unemployed veterans. A number of Pittsburgh area companies are uniting with organizations that support job placement for disabled veterans and help raise awareness of this growing concern.

Earlier today, dozens of local veterans looking for careers in business met with more than 40 area companies at "Salute to America's Wounded Warriors," a day-long event hosted by BNY Mellon and Aon. General Richard B. Myers, Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; BNY Mellon Chairman, President and CEO Gerald Hassell; and Aon President and CEO Greg Case led the program held at BNY Mellon Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Attendees received training on conducting a successful job search from the outplacement firm of Lee Hecht Harrison and participated in a networking session with representatives and hiring managers from a wide range of industries.  BNY Mellon also announced that it had made a $100,000 grant from its BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania to support Operation Back Home, the Veterans Leadership Program's basic needs assistance program for veterans, service members, and their families.

"All of us should be very proud of the men and women serving our country and fighting for our freedoms," General Myers said. "Despite their unwavering courage, many of these men and women return home from duty only to become part of a growing group of unemployed and underemployed veterans that has reached dire levels."

"Our goal in joining with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania and other members of the business community is to help veterans go from 'boots to business' by successfully transitioning into the private sector," said Gerald Hassell. "By helping skilled individuals who have sacrificed so much for us, we can give them a chance to achieve economic independence and help restore our communities along the way."

"Transitioning into the civilian workforce and developing a new sense of identity are powerful tools in the rehabilitation process for wounded warriors. We thank all of the Pittsburgh area businesses for assisting these brave men and women during their journey to discovering a new career path," said Greg Case.

"Wounded Warrior Project aims to make this the most successful and well-adjusted generation of veterans in our nation's history," stated Wounded Warrior Project Chief Program Officer Jeremy Chwat.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans serving at any time since September 2001 was 11.5 percent in 2010. The jobless rate for veterans of all eras combined and U.S. civilians over the same period was 8.7 and 9.4 percent, respectively.  Since the beginning of the Gulf War era in August 1990, more than 5 million veterans have served. Pennsylvania has a long and distinguished history of military service and a very large concentration of veterans; nearly one million veterans live in the Commonwealth, representing the 4th largest population of veterans within the U.S.

Editor's Notes:

About The Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project, log onto http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing. Through its more than 59,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to deliver distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon's industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are delivered locally in over 120 countries. Named the world's best broker by Euromoney magazine's 2008, 2009 and 2010 Insurance Survey, Aon also ranked highest on Business Insurance's listing of the world's insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines brokerage revenues in 2008 and 2009. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one insurance broker based on revenues in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and Aon was voted best insurance intermediary 2007-2010, best reinsurance intermediary 2006-2010, best captives manager 2009-2010, and best employee benefits consulting firm 2007-2009 by the readers of Business Insurance. Visit http://www.aon.com for more information on Aon and http://www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United

About BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 36 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, offering superior investment management and investment services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $26.3  trillion in assets under  custody and  administration and $1.3  trillion in assets under management, services $11.8 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.7 trillion per day. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com and through Twitter @bnymellon.

BNY Mellon's $100,000 grant to the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania in support of

"Operation Back Home" is part of "Powering Potential," the company's philanthropic focus on helping people in need by concentrating on basic needs and workforce development. Throughout the year, BNY Mellon works with its community partners to provide food, clothing, energy and housing assistance to those who require immediate help. The company's workforce development investments are designed to improve access to employment through job training, education, mentoring and skills development. For more information or to learn more about BNY Mellon's commitment to corporate social responsibility visit www.bnymellon.com/csr.

SOURCE BNY Mellon