For Immediate Release November 21, 2011, Contact: Sheila Bridgeforth, 973-802-6852, Karen Moore, 973-802-8533
NEWARK, N.J. – Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE:PRU] will contribute $6.2 million to 10 nonprofit groups that help U.S. military veterans and their families transition back into civilian life.
“Prudential is committed to helping veterans develop meaningful careers after their military service and between deployments. Because this is not always easy, especially for wounded veterans, our contributions support nonprofit organizations that provide not just professional development but also a broad mix of services veterans critically need to successfully return to civilian life,” said Lori High, president of Prudential Group Insurance and executive sponsor of Prudential’s Veterans Initiative.
The initial $6.2 million in grants will be disbursed over two years to organizations that provide important services to veterans and their families:
$1.62 million to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the only nonprofit Veterans Service Organization chartered solely to offer compassionate care to those grieving the death of a loved one who died in military service to our nation. TAPS provides ongoing emotional help, hope, and healing, regardless of relationship to the deceased, geography, or circumstance of the death. (www.taps.org)
$1.17 million to New Directions. New Directions provides a broad spectrum of highly-regarded services focusing on homeless Veterans and Veterans at risk for homelessness, with the aim of full community reintegration. All but the most severely mentally ill are placed in jobs that match both their skills and their limitations, and remain case-managed over the course of a year on the job. (www.newdirectionsinc.org)
$900,000 to the Center for Innovation and Research. The Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, a research arm of the cutting-edge School of Military Social Work at USC, works to bridge the notable gaps between military and civilian communities through the development of education/training, the production of actionable research, and the facilitation of cross-sector partnerships. (http://cir.usc.edu)
$800,000 to Swords to Plowshares. Swords to Plowshares’ mission is to heal the wounds; to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all Veterans in need; and to significantly reduce homelessness and poverty among Veterans through facilitating opportunities for dignified and sustainable housing and employment. (www.swords-to-plowshares.org)
$650,000 to The Pathway Home. The Pathway Home’s mission is to support resiliency, recovery, and best possible functioning for post-9/11 Veterans experiencing combat-related stress reactions, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other post-combat (or military-related trauma) conditions, as they attempt to reintegrate with work and community. (www.thepathwayhome.org)
$500,000 to Veterans Village of San Diego. For over thirty years, Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) has worked to meet its mission, “Leave No Veteran Behind.” By providing housing, treatment, advocacy, and job placement services in a community-oriented, peer support setting, VVSD helps Veterans suffering from the short- and long-term impacts of war—including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, drug abuse, and homelessness—to overcome barriers to successful community reintegration. (www.vvsd.net)
$150,000 to the Farmer-Veterans Coalition. Farmer-Veterans Coalition exists to create viable and sustainable employment and career opportunities for the many Veterans who have experience with, knowledge of, and/or a deep interest in farming and the food industry. Its secondary purpose is to help Veterans reclaim a sense of continued service to our nation through growing healthy food for consumers. (www.farmvetco.org)
$150,000 to Hire Heroes USA. Hire Heroes USA offers transition assistance training and career placement services to those who have honorably served in the military—and to their spouses—with a special focus on the two demographics statistically most likely to be unemployed: young Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Veterans who are wounded or disabled. Almost all are enlisted, and many are without advanced education or prior work experience. (www.hireheroesusa.org)
$150,000 to Student Veterans of America. Student Veterans of America’s mission is to provide military Veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and after graduation. Their main focus is on Veterans’ transitions from higher education to employment. (www.studentveterans.org)
$120,000 to the Wall Street Warfighters Foundation. The mission of Wall Street Warfighters Foundation is to identify, develop, and place service-disabled Veterans in careers in the financial services industry. The program is a six month in-residence course based at Drexel Hamilton, a service-disabled veteran owned and operated institutional broker-dealer, in Philadelphia, PA. The program is designed to expose Veterans to the broader aspects of the financial services industry and to help them gain access to rewarding careers. (www.wallstreetwarfighters.org)
As part of Prudential's longstanding commitment to U.S. Veterans, active service members and veterans already in our employ, Prudential’s Veterans Initiative team coordinates companywide efforts to create sustainable programs for transitioning veterans, and collaborates with corporate peers to support similar programs with an emphasis on providing veterans access to quality education, job training, and employment opportunities. These efforts include Prudential’s sponsorship of VETalent, an innovative training and hiring program run by Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS), a nonprofit 501©(3) organization with a proven track record. For more information, visit www.prudential.com/veterans.
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