Elizabeth Dole Foundation Awards Grant to Vets’ Community Connections of Maricopa County
Washington, D.C. – Local nonprofit, Vets’ Community Connections (VCC), was awarded a grant from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Fund today, in support of its efforts to impact the lives of military and veteran caregivers through community support. VCC is among thirteen organizations nationwide receiving funding for innovative and evidence-based programs that address the long-term needs of military caregivers, the spouses, parents, and loved ones caring for wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans at home.
“Through the Hidden Heroes Fund, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation continues to build a strong, nationwide network of support for America’s military caregivers,” announced Senator Elizabeth Dole, president of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “This year’s recipients are some of the most respected organizations working on behalf of the veterans’ community and caregivers, and together, they will help ensure our nation supports our hidden heroes for years to come.”
The Hidden Heroes Fund grant will support VCC’s “Caregivers in the Community” project, which aims to reach and identify military caregivers, learn of their needs and connect them to community members/businesses that can offer support, and expand their networks.
“By involving all parts of our community, Phoenix can strengthen its commitment to supporting the veteran community, including military caregivers, who often go unnoticed,” said Mayor Greg Stanton, City of Phoenix. “Last year, Phoenix reinforced its commitment to these caregivers by signing on as a Hidden Heroes City, and I am pleased that Vets’ Community Connections will also become a partner to expand its important work and assist our military caregivers.”
This project will not only provide critical support for military caregivers in Maricopa County, but it will also provide community members and businesses with an opportunity to offer our Hidden Heroes support, respite, discounts, knowledge, and relief from some of the burdens of daily activities.
“Vets’ Community Connections was founded in order to provide returning veterans, military and their families with direct human contact with local citizens from all walks of life,” said Doug Wilson, VCC Co-Founder. We are delighted that we can now expand our Valley of the Sun outreach to give military caregivers the additional support and access to local resources that can improve quality of life for them in Maricopa County.”
Outreach will also target the greater community to educate them about the roles and value of military caregivers, the challenges military caregivers face and provide residents with an avenue to sign up to offer talents, knowledge, and support, all on their own time and availability.
“We’re very excited to partner with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. This partnership will offer new avenues of support to our Maricopa County military caregivers,” said Ganay Metoyer, VCC Program Manager. Our VCC team will be working over the course of this year to link caregivers with individuals and businesses from all walks of life – local residents who can respond directly to questions about their day-to-day needs. We look forward to increasing community awareness about the important roles that caregivers play, and know there will be no shortage of support.”
For a full and detailed list of Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s 2018 Hidden Heroes Fund Grant recipients, click here. If you are interested in interviewing Elizabeth Dole Foundation leadership or grant recipients, please contact Katie Haswell at [email protected] or 202-414-0799.
Vets’ Community Connections (VCC) is a community-based initiative designed to involve a greater number of individuals/organizations in veteran and military family integration efforts. VCC provides individuals the channel to use their own professional experience and expertise to respond to veteran and military family questions, and organizations/businesses a channel for offering veteran/military discounts. For more information, please visit www.vetscommunityconnections.org.
