Mission Possible: Team 4 Vets: Support Disabled American Vet

Mission Possible: Team 4 Vets: Support Disabled American Veterans

Hey everyone! We are “Mission Possible: Team 4 Vets”, a group of students working together to raise money for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Our team includes Alicia, Bob, Grace, Hadia, and Peter, and we're all excited to be part of this campaign.

Bob is a veteran, so this means a lot to us on a personal level. We’ve heard stories that touched our hearts, like Peter’s friend Joel, a fellow Knight of Columbus, who served in the military and had trouble getting the right benefits. With DAV’s help, Joel was able to renegotiate his disability rating with the VA and finally got the support he deserved. They helped him feel seen, heard and respected.

DAV is a nonprofit that’s been around since 1920. They support disabled veterans by helping them with things like mental health services, housing assistance, education scholarships, and access to benefits. The money from this campaign goes toward their programs, not a single dollar is promised for any one person, but all of it helps veterans get back on their feet.

o DAV provides free services to help veterans, their families, and surviving spouses navigate and apply for VA benefits

o Veterans who are wounded or ill receive free rides to their VA medical appointments

o Through its Homeless Veterans Initiative, DAV promotes supportive housing programs to help veterans regain stability and independence.

o Since 1968, DAV’s Veterans Emergency Assistance program has provided over $8.7 million in disaster relief

o DAV awards scholarships to youth volunteers who give their time and compassion to support veterans

o DAV’s Auxiliary group, often comprised of family members, provides additional volunteers

o Job fairs, networking events, and its Patriot Employer Program

o DAV has a national reach with over 1,300 chapters and more than 1 million members

o DAV represents veterans on Capitol Hill, pushing for legislation that protects their health care, benefits, and transition services—ensuring no veteran is left behind.

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Fighting for Mental Health: Jim’s Story

Mental health struggles are often invisible but very real. A Vietnam veteran named Jim “Doc” Anderson suffered from severe PTSD and even attempted suicide three times. But with DAV’s support, and a service dog named Zamp, through their partnership with Veterans Moving Forward, he found hope. The dog was specially trained to help him deal with stress, depression, and daily life. Now, Jim has a new sense of purpose and peace thanks to the DAV Charitable Service Trust (Canine champions veteran’s mental health, n.d.).

DAV offers a wide range of helpful resources and support to connect veterans with the proper care for mental health. These mental health issues can range anywhere from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), suicide prevention, depression, substance abuse, to mental conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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Battling Homelessness: Bringing Heroes Home

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 35,000 veterans were homeless on a single night in January 2023 (HUD, 2023). That number is not just a statistic, it represents real lives. DAV’s Homeless Veterans Initiative is doing something about it. They help provide emergency housing, job placement, food, and clothing, and they’ve put over $8.7 million into helping veterans recover their dignity since 1968.

When you give to this campaign, you’re not just donating, you’re helping a hero come home.

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Scholarship Program and Educational Support

DAV believes in empowering the next generation of leaders while honoring the service of veterans. One of the ways they do this is through their generous scholarship programs designed to recognize and reward young volunteers.

• DAV has awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships to young volunteers, helping them pursue higher education while giving back to veterans.

• Each year, ten scholarships totaling $110,000 are awarded through DAV’s volunteer programs.

• Scholarship amounts range from $5,000 to $30,000.

• Eligibility requires applicants to be 21 or younger with at least 100 lifetime volunteer hours through DAV’s LVAP (Local Veterans Assistance Program) or VAVS (Voluntary Service Program).

• Scholarships can be used at any accredited college, university, or vocational school.

• Recipients are selected based on their service impact, future goals, and a submitted essay.

For more details, visit www dot davscholarships dot org or email [email redacted]

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How You Can Help

We’re proud to run this campaign, and your support means the world. Whether it’s a few dollars or a share on social media, every little bit helps. Help us raise awareness. Help us raise funds. Help us raise hope.

To explore DAV’s full range of programs, resources, and success stories, visit: https://www.dav.org or call [phone redacted]

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References

• Canine champions veteran’s mental health. (n.d.). DAV - Disabled American Veterans. https://www.ihelpveterans.org/blogs/canine-champions-veteran-s-mental-health

• Disabled American Veterans (DAV). (n.d.). DAV Scholarships. https://www.davscholarships.org/

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2023). The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress: Part 1: Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness. https://www.hudexchange.info/news/2023-ahar-part-1-pit-estimates-of-homelessness-in-the-us/