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VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement

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In the News

Navy Veteran's final dream visit to Pearl Harbor
Teeny and family enjoying Hawaii, Pearl Harbor

With a life expectancy of just six months, Navy Veteran Joseph Teeny reached out to the Dream Foundations's "Dream for Veterans" program to fulfill his final dream. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VA News on 08/27/2022]

Youth volunteer distributes smart devices to Veterans
Volunteer Arjun Verma

When not working as a volunteer for VA and Disabled American Veterans, 18-year-old Arjun Verma started a non-profit organization and managed the delivery of smart devices to 36 VA medical centers. Connecting to his dad thousands of miles away for cancer treatment was the impetus for his resolve to help seniors. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 08/20/2022]

07/25/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Coast Guard Veteran Eugene “Gene” Gerrard
Veteran Gene Gerrard

Today's #VeteranOfTheDay is Coast Guard Veteran Eugene “Gene” Gerrard is today’s Veteran of the Day. Eugene “Gene” Gerrard wanted to begin his military career at age 17 during the summer of 1941. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 07/25/2022]

Alabama teen first student with autism in VA youth program
Bryson Gause and his father

Birmingham VA offers more than world-class health care. Opportunities for service in support of others are available in the medical center daily. For over 25 years, opportunities to inspire Alabama’s teenage community have opened doors that connect youth with Volunteering. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 07/22/2022]

Hunter Girl turns Veteran stories into songs
Hunter Girl

You may have heard of Hunter Wolkonowski, or better yet Hunter Girl, for her time on American Idol 2022. Prior to reaching success on the popular singing competition, Hunter Girl, a native of Winchester, Tennessee, impacted the lives of Veterans at the Chattanooga Vet Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and various retreats as a volunteer with Freedom Sings USA. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 06/26/2022]

Loneliness: Shining a spotlight on an enduring epidemic
Hunter Girl

VA and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation recently hosted the Seventh Annual National Caregiver Convening in Washington, D.C. to deliver a message of support for our caregivers and to implore them to make more use of the many support systems available to them. During the event, VA’s Center for Development & Civic Engagement spoke about another very important related topic: loneliness. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 06/15/2022]

06/11/2022 Vietnam Veteran’s dream fulfilled with Honor Flight
Veteran David Bartlett

Navy Vietnam Veteran David Bartlett, 77, served from October 1965 until December 1969. Diagnosed with terminal lung disease, Bartlett reached out to the Dream Foundation with a dream to join the Kansas Honor Flight, a journey of honor and remembrance for Veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 06/11/2022]

05/30/2022 Soldiers’ Angels provides food assistance to Veterans
Volunteers distribute food assistance to Veterans

Sometimes no matter what we do, we just can’t make ends meet. Times are tight, and food is expensive. Soldiers’ Angels, a national non-profit organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, helps fight hunger in the Veteran community through the Veteran Food Distribution program. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 05/30/2022]

05/06/2022 Grand Finale Arts Gram: National Veterans Creative Arts Festival Wrap Up

The 41st National Veterans Creative Arts Festival closed out with an amazing gallery event and an astonishing live show at the world-class waterfront Mahaffey Theater in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida. After 4 days of artist interactions, workshops, and rehearsals, these artists were able to show off all of their hard work and talent to their peers and admirers. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 05/06/2022]

04/23/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Veteran Irvin Bartz
Marine Veteran Irvin Bartz

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Veteran Irvin Bartz, who served six years in the Marine Corps, followed by another 27 years serving as a VA volunteer. Irvin “Irv” Bartz was born in Batavia, New York, in April 1940. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/23/2022]

Eastern Oklahoma VA thankful for volunteers
Eastern Oklahoma VA volunteers

In recognition of National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System (EOVAHCS) will honor its volunteers with events throughout the week and a public campaign encouraging citizens to give back. Volunteers have been valued partners at VA for more than 75 years and have provided countless hours of support to Veterans. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/22/2022]

04/22/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Larry Long
Army Veteran Larry Long

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Larry Long, who served with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the oldest active infantry regiment in the Army. He has spent several years as a volunteer for the Columbia VA Health Care System. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/22/2022]

04/21/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Gail Von Pinnon
Air Force Veteran Gail Von Pinnon

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Gail Von Pinnon. After serving in Korea, Von Pinnon worked for IBM and NASA and later became a VA volunteer. Gail Von Pinnon was raised with her brothers and sisters in the city of Janesville, Wisconsin, in the 1950s. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/21/2022]

04/20/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Robin Hood
Navy Veteran Donald Faith

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Robin Hood, a Veteran’s Transportation Network driver, fleet coordinator, and a stellar Veteran volunteer. Robin Hood served as a U.S. Army combat engineer in Germany and Vietnam from 1967 to 1970. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/20/2022]

04/19/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Joe Cupples
Navy Veteran Donald Faith

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Joe Cupples, a former Marine and nationally recognized volunteer with VA’s Red Coat Ambassador program. Joe Cupples is a proud Marine Corps Veteran who served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1970. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/19/2022]

04/19/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Donald “Don” Faith
Navy Veteran Donald Faith

To celebrate Volunteer Week, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Donald “Don” Faith, who served as an aviation electrician during the Vietnam War. Over the past 17 years, Vietnam Veteran Donald “Don” Faith has donated over 3,000 hours toward various efforts at the Fargo VA in North Dakota. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/18/2022]

VA salutes our 25,000 volunteers this National Volunteer Week
Nurse with elderly patient in wheelchair

Each year, the VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) joins the nation to observe and celebrate National Volunteer Week. The annual recognition campaign honors volunteers and their contributions to the communities and organizations where they live and serve. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/18/2022]

04/17/2022 #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Tim Sullivan
Marine Corps Veteran Tim Sullivan

For National Volunteer Week, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Tim Sullivan, who served as an aircraft munitions specialist during the Cold War. Tim Sullivan was born in April 1943 in Denver, Colorado. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/17/2022]

VetServe 2022: Strengthening Volunteerism with Veterans April 21
VETSERVE 2022 - Join VA in supporting a National Day of Service April 21st

Join VA as we gear up for National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, 2022. As part of National Volunteer Week, we are looking to leverage some of our country’s greatest assets—Veterans—to support “VetServe 2022,” a campaign to strengthen volunteer capacity across the Nation on April 21, 2022. Read more 
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 04/04/2022]

VA volunteers and leaders connect with Veterans during Salute Week
SECVA Denis McDonough

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough joined the Compassionate Contact Corps to call Veterans during VA’s National Salute to Veteran Patients. The Compassionate Contact Corps helps combat Veteran loneliness. Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 02/26/2022]

Innovation Revolutionary: Engaging the public to serve Veterans
Four teens

Sabrina Clark, a public servant of 30 years, is director of the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement. CDCE oversees community volunteers who give their time and resources in service to America’s Veterans. Volunteers have provided more than 760 million hours of service to VA since 1946. Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 02/26/2022]

VA medical centers observe MLK Day – a day of service
Jeannette and Edward Feldman

VA medical centers across America will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 17, with special ceremonies and activities. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make our communities more equitable and take action to create the beloved community of Dr. King’s dream.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 01/17/2022]

Student volunteer awarded Knights of Columbus Volunteer of the Year
Jeannette and Edward Feldman

Caitlin Golson has given nearly 1,000 hours in volunteer time to VA and charities. She is her local Knights of Columbus Volunteer of the Year. Golson is a volunteer with Columbia VA’s Summer Student Volunteer Program.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 12/21/2021]

#VADidThat: A lifetime of service to Veterans
Jeannette and Edward Feldman

VA has a rich history of volunteerism. Jeannette and her late husband, Edward Feldman, were among the longest-serving VA volunteers. Together, the Feldmans served a combined 60 years.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 12/21/2021]

Celebrate National Patient Ambassador Day Nov. 29
Veteran Albert Summons gets help from Central Arkansas VA Red Coat Ambassador Kim Womack, a surgical nurse. (photo by Jeff Bowen)

VA celebrates National Patient Ambassador Day Nov. 29, to recognize Red Coat Patient Ambassadors across the country. VA Red Coat Ambassadors recognize the sacrifice of our nation’s heroes and their families and often go the extra mile to make an excellent impression when Veterans visit a VA facility.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 11/28/2021]

Columbia VA summer student volunteers receive Tammy M. Finney Youth Scholarship
Two students who received Psi Zeta Phi Military Sorority’s Tammy M. Finney Youth Scholarship and VA staff member

The Psi Zeta Phi Military Sorority has awarded two former volunteers of the Columbia VA Summer Student Program with the Tammy M. Finney Youth Scholarship: $1,500 to each. The recipients are Serena Parmar, freshman at the University of South Carolina who plans on majoring in neuroscience, and Ethan Hall, a freshman enrolled at Presbyterian College who plans on majoring in biology.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 11/21/2021]

Red Coat Ambassadors exemplify excellence in Veteran care
Army Veteran and Red Coat Ambassador Joe Buais helps a Veteran check in for an appointment

Military Veterans have a variety of different characteristics. Some were enlisted, some officers, some are a little younger, some a little older, some saw combat, some did not. The list goes on but one thing all Veterans have in common is their commitment to protect our nation.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 10/08/2021]

Volunteers clean national cemeteries for National Day of Service Sept. 10
A volunteer cleans a headstone at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia Sept. 10, 2021.

Volunteers from across the U.S. gathered in 65 VA national cemeteries for a National Day of Service Sept. 10. The cleaning efforts included thousands of volunteers cleaning tens of thousands of graves, including 47 killed Sept. 11, 2001.” Read more
[This article appeared on the VAntage Point blog on 09/10/2021]