Major League Baseball, McCormick Foundation Raise Nearly $6 Million For Veterans Through “Welcome Back Veterans”
Initiative addresses challenges of mental health injuries, employment for returning vets and their families
CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2008
The McCormick Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved more than $2.9 million in grants of nearly $6 million raised to nonprofit organizations serving veterans as part of Welcome Back Veterans, it was announced today.
Welcome Back Veterans, a national public awareness and fundraising initiative that addresses the mental health and employment needs of America’s returning war veterans and their families, was created by New York Mets Chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon and private citizens, and is supported by Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and the McCormick Foundation.
The first round of grants will be distributed to 12 nonprofit organizations that provide mental health services to veterans, job training and placement, and family care. Included in the grants are funds provided to the University Hospitals of Weill Cornell in New York City, The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Stanford University in Palo Alto, which will be opening clinics in each of their locations to treat Veterans and their families. A complete record of grants awarded is provided below.
Welcome Back Veterans has raised more than $3.9 million as of October 17, 2008. An additional $2 million in matching funds was provided by the McCormick Foundation (first $4 million raised matched at 50 cents on the dollar). With all administrative costs paid by Major League Baseball and the McCormick Foundation, approximately $5.9 million is available for distribution to nonprofit agencies targeting veterans’ greatest needs. The distribution of the $3 million balance, and any additional funds that are expected to be raised, is targeted for early spring 2009. The program is ongoing and will continue to distribute and raise funds. On July 4th weekend and September 11th weekend, Major League Baseball conducted pre-game events, sold special merchandise and conducted promotional activity for the U.S. veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. All players wore special “Stars & Stripes” caps during both weekends and Tom Hanks starred in a Public Service Announcement which was widely distributed throughout the United States. The goal of Welcome Back Veterans is to raise millions of dollars to address the mental health and job needs of veterans and their families while providing thousands of job opportunities.
“We owe a debt to these veterans and their families which we can never fully repay,” said Brig. Gen. (Ret.) David L. Grange, president and chief executive officer of the McCormick Foundation. “We are grateful for Major League Baseball and the caring citizens who have stepped up to help and give generously, even in these difficult times. The funds raised, along with the matching dollars, will go directly to high quality agencies enhancing the health, family and livelihood of those who have courageously served our country and protected our freedom.”
“Everyone at Major League Baseball appreciates the enormous sacrifice made by the brave men and women in our armed forces and this effort is an attempt to demonstrate our appreciation,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. ”With the ability to reach millions of patriotic Americans at ballparks, on television and through the Internet, we hope to showcase this very important issue and help our veterans in their transition from the battlefield back to their lives at home.”
The mission of Welcome Back Veterans is driven by the profound need to provide returning veterans the quality medical treatment and long-term employment assistance they deserve to restart their lives and care for their families. The latest statistics indicate approximately 300,000 veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan are currently suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression, and about 320,000 may have experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) during deployment (Lisa H. Jaycox and Terri Tanielian, Invisible Wounds of War, Rand Corporation, 2008). The Welcome Back Veterans initiative is complementary to and supportive of the ongoing government programs already in place.
Below is the complete listing of the Welcome Back Veterans grants:
Below is the complete listing of the Welcome Back Veterans grants:
|
Welcome Back Veteran Grants – Mental
Health
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Casa Colina, Inc. (Pomona, Calif.)
For the Wounded Warriors program, specializing in treatment
for veterans with TBI, providing an extensive continuum of care that includes impatient
rehabilitation, post-acute transitional living, a structured day program, outpatient
services for those in independent living, and an aftercare program.
|
$250,000
|
-
Cornell
University
(Ithaca, N.Y.)
For the Program for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Studies,
providing comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and treatment for Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIE) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans and their families,
including family therapy, couples therapy and psychological services for children.
|
$250,000
|
-
Deep Streams Institute (San Francisco)
For the Coming Home Project,
offering psychological counseling and residential retreats for Iraq and Afghanistan active duty, reserve, National Guard, and veterans and their caregivers.
|
$150,000
|
-
EMDR Humanitarian Assistance
Programs, Inc. (Hamden, Conn.)
For Healing Combat PTSD program, building the capacity
of clinicians to treat PTSD among veterans through Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing (EMRD), directly providing treatment to veterans and their families
and documenting the efficacy of EMDR treatment through a newly-developed pilot project.
|
$250,000
|
-
Fisher House Foundation, Inc.
(Rockville, Md.)
For support and housing for families of PTSD and TBI
(traumatic brain injury) patients.
|
$200,000
|
-
New Directions, Inc. (Los Angeles)
For mental health treatment, education, and employment
assistance to help veterans achieve and maintain the highest possible level of self
sufficiency.
|
$250,000
|
-
Operation Homefront, Inc. (Santa Ana, Calif.)
For residential, case management, and supportive services
to veterans, through 30 chapters and two “Homefront Villages.” Each chapter provides
emergency financial assistance, counseling, and spousal support for veterans and
their families who are in crisis.
|
$200,000
|
-
Shepherd Center Foundation,
Inc. (Atlanta)
For the SHARE Initiative providing inpatient, outpatient
and day-rehabilitation services for veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injuries
and other neuromuscular problems.
|
$300,000
|
-
Stanford
University
(San Francisco)
For the Veterans Connect Center program, establishing
the program as part of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences division
of the University’s School of Medicine; serving as a point of entry for veterans
into mental health care; helping veterans transition into the Veterans Affairs (VA)
system; providing free evaluation and time-limited treatment; educating veterans
about VA services and enrolling eligible veterans in those programs as necessary.
|
$250,000
|
-
The
University
of
Michigan
(Ann Arbor)
For Veterans Treatment Program Phase I, expanding partnerships
and collaborations with local veteran service organizations; conducting peer-to-peer
programs that will use volunteers to encourage veterans to seek treatment and to
support them while they remain in treatment; providing mental health services to
at-risk children and families of veterans; and developing national distribution
of channels to disseminate learnings and best practices for treatment of these special
populations.
|
$350,000
|
|
Mental Health Total
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$2,450,000
|
|
|
|
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Welcome Back Veterans Grants – Job Training / Placement
|
|
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Computing Technology Industry
Association Educational Foundation, Inc. (Oak Brook, Ill.)
To expand program services that increase the employability
of disabled veterans interested in Information Technology careers.
|
$210,000
|
-
Easter Seals, Inc. (Chicago)
For Community OneSource program providing information,
resources, and support to disabled veterans and their families as they reintegrate
back into their home communities.
|
$250,000
|
|
Job Training / Placement Total
|
$460,000
|
|
|
|
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WELCOME BACK VETERANS GRAND TOTAL
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$2,910,000
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The McCormick Foundation continues to accept and encourages donations to Welcome Back Veterans. Major League Baseball and the McCormick Foundation are paying all expenses associated with this initiative, so
100 percent of the funds raised, plus the matching dollars, will go to programs and services for veterans.
Those who wish to donate can do any of the following:
1. Make your contribution online at
www.WelcomeBackVeterans.org
2. Call toll free 1 877 838 5030
3. Mail a check to
WELCOME BACK VETERANS
37002 EAGLE WAY
CHICAGO, IL 60678-1370
About the McCormick Foundation
The McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening our free, democratic society by investing in children, communities and country. Through its five grantmaking programs, Cantigny Park and Golf, and three world-class museums, the Foundation helps build a more active and engaged citizenry. It was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The McCormick Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charities, with $1.2 billion in assets. For more information, please visit
www.McCormickFoundation.org.
About Major League Baseball Charities
Major League Baseball Charities is a not-for-profit corporation that provides support to local, national and international tax- exempt organizations to directly conduct or sponsor activities for the promotion of good health, physical education, public safety, medical research, literacy, educational or charitable purposes. In addition to supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the Official Charity of Major League Baseball, MLB Charities provides support to a number of other national charitable initiatives, including Little League Baseball, the National Urban League and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball pays all administrative expenses for MLB Charities.