AmeriCorps and Veterans Affairs Partner to Support Veterans and Promote Civilian Service
2024年7月27日 - 3:47AM
AmeriCorps and the US Department of Veterans Affairs signed a
Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies at the 43rd
National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The signing ceremony took place
at the New Orleans Convention Center, site of this year’s
Wheelchair Games, with representatives from AmeriCorps NCCC,
AmeriCorps Seniors and VA’s National Veterans Sports Program and
Special Events.
The multi-year Memorandum of Understanding
continues collaboration between the two agencies to promote
independence and healthy lifestyles through therapeutic and
adaptive sports for veterans with living with physical
disabilities, while strengthening community support and awareness
for veterans’ programs and AmeriCorps’ service opportunities.
“Like the military, AmeriCorps unites people from
different backgrounds to pursue common goals – providing a shared
sense of purpose and an appreciation for diversity that is urgently
needed at this time of polarization and division. The 13,000
veterans who serve in AmeriCorps Seniors are an example to us all,
as they play their part in a network that serves over 163,000
veteran and military families nationwide.” said
Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps.
“We are grateful for AmeriCorps members and
volunteers for their passion to serve veterans and their families
at VA’s national adaptive sports events,” said Dr.
Ajit Pai, Executive Director, VA’s Office of Rehabilitation and
Prosthetic Services. “From distributing supplies and
building competition sites, to offering genuine kindness and
support to every veteran they meet, AmeriCorps embodies the true
spirit of team and plays a crucial role in the success of our
rehabilitation sports programs.”
“The AmeriCorps teams have been outstanding
partners of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and we’ve been
incredibly fortunate to have their support since
2016,” said Dave Tostenrude, Director, National
Veterans Wheelchair Games. “Their members work
tirelessly alongside us to ensure every detail is handled, which
results in an exceptional experience for our veterans.”
“We are greatly appreciative of the Veteran
Affair's trust in AmeriCorps to serve those who have given so much
of themselves for the benefit of us all,” said
Samantha “Sam” Satre, AmeriCorps member with NCCC.
"It's about helping people. with AmeriCorps you
never leave a senior behind,” said Rev. Richard Bell,
AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with RSVP.
The National Veterans Wheelchair
Games, co-presented by VA and Paralyzed Veterans of
America, is the world’s largest annual wheelchair rehabilitation
sports event exclusively for veterans. Each year, hundreds of
veterans who have sustained permanent physical injury or
neurological impairment use rehabilitation through sports and
recreation to compete in 20+ events and enjoy camaraderie. During
the games, AmeriCorps members from the NCCC program and volunteers
from AmeriCorps Seniors help set up and break down sporting event
venues, assist participants with their wheelchairs when they load
and unload from buses, and support and engage with participants
between events. Veterans Affairs’ Office of National
Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events educates
veterans and attendees of the games about civilian service
opportunities with AmeriCorps, and actively promote these service
opportunities throughout the year.
Transitioning from military service to civilian
life can be difficult, regardless of the existence of injury or
impairment. Some studies show that at
least a quarter of the 200,000 veterans who transition
to civilian life each year struggled with the
experience. When it comes to serving
veterans, AmeriCorps has a dual
mission of supporting military families and engaging
returned and retired service members by providing opportunities to
continue their service. Approximately 13,000 veterans extend their
service to America each year by participating in AmeriCorps
programs, where they can connect with a mission and a community.
RSVP, one of three AmeriCorps
Seniors programs, engages volunteers who are 55 and
over, from all backgrounds, in collective community service
projects. These AmeriCorps Senior volunteers in New Orleans will be
supporting the Wheelchair Games alongside AmeriCorps members in the
NCCC program.
AmeriCorps members in the NCCC
program are 18-26-year-olds who serve in teams that
are mobilized to meet our nation’s greatest needs. Once deployed,
teams live in the communities they serve to better understand the
community, participate in service-learning, and build leadership
and life skills. They respond to disasters, care for our
environment, and complete critical community enhancement and
infrastructure projects. NCCC teams serve thousands of
military and veteran families each year. They provide
veterans access to benefits and services, help create affordable
housing, and strengthen community health and safety.
National Service Press Office
AmeriCorps
(202) 766-2848
pressoffice@cns.gov