VA’s Veterans Experience Office (VEO) is announcing plans to host an award that recognizes Veteran-serving organizations for outstanding achievement, including organizations supporting Veteran families, caregivers and survivors. The Community Catalyst Award will honor organizations for excellence in building engagement solutions that improve experiences for the Veteran community.
To determine the winner, VEO is looking for solutions to:
- Improving the Veteran’s experience and building trust.
- Increasing access to and navigation of VA and non-VA services.
- Communicating VA benefits and services with effective outreach strategies.
The Veterans Experience Office is working with Ibility, a service-disabled Veteran- and woman-owned small business, on administration of this award. Any non-governmental Veteran-serving organization is eligible and encouraged to participate. VA believes Veteran-serving organizations and coalitions can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of serving caregivers and survivors of Veterans and active-duty military.
VEO is on a mission to provide the highest quality customer experience in delivering care and benefits to Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors. It continuously strives to deliver first-class service but understands it cannot do that alone. That’s why engaging with Veteran-serving organizations that share VA’s mission is an important strategy to improve the lives of Veterans nationwide. VEO wants to learn from community organizations about innovative strategies to connect Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors to services and support.
VEO invites organizations interested in the award to join us for the first webinar on October 25 from 2-3 p.m. ET. If you miss the webinar, the recording will be available online.
The Community Catalyst Award will occur in two phases. Phase 1 opens to all applicants on November 1, 2022, and will close on December 16, 2022. After careful review of the applications, judges will select 10 teams to advance to Phase 2 and present their program in February 2023. Judges will select two winners as a result of the Phase 2 presentations. Each team will not only receive $100,000, but it will also have an opportunity to present its program to VA senior leaders in March 2023.
VA knows it cannot be everything to everyone, which is why the agency needs to collaborate with community organizations to bridge gaps in service for the Veteran community.
Starting November 1, 2022, visit Challenge.Gov and click on Active Challenges for more information on the VEO Community Catalyst Award.
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I think the warriors in this country should come first, without us there is no great country of America, we spilled our blood for this nation,no warrior should be left alone or behind.
I have sought help from many veteran and non veteran organizations, but as an individual combat veteran my dream never became a reality. I understand that groups mission snd philosophy are all different and complicated. Even though if the hundreds I contacted Hope For The Warriors were the only one in my opinion really took my request seriously even though they denied my request the kindness the different directions they guided me were great the best part was they listened and gave great advice. Maybe one day my wish will become a reality and maybe not but kindness goes a long way thank you Hope ForThe Warriors.
Even though I was denied my request from many veteran groups to assist an individual veteran with a dream, the pursuit has been a long challenge and fallen on death years as 501c are not helping individual veterans with individual projects. Today as I look back at all the organizations I have talked to WWP, Gary Sinse Foundation, VFW,DAV, Bob Woodruff’, and many others, the only one that constantly gave me hope and lent a ear to my requests was Hope For The Warrior, they are a great and deserving veteran group that helps others and the priority is focused on all veterans and the percentage off the donations given to the veterans they serve is high. I understand the mission better,the philosophy and kindness is evident from those I seemed help from.
If it is not to early I would like to nominate our (my wife and my) home church. We have been conducting in- person Bible studies and worship services throughout the pandemic. Besides myself, another couple, who the husband is a Army veteran have benefited from ministry to both the veteran and his wife who is his sole caregiver. The veteran is currently in a rehabilitation facility and we see him every Sunday to provide communion and fellowship. Thank you for your kind consideration.
I think the veterans service commision in canton ohio, does a great job in servicing veterans. the only concern i have is homeless veterans, with substance abuse , and psychological problems who are not getting help. I am a proud veteran who served 6 yrs in the army, as a sgt, and a man in recovery, who works as a peer supporter at the phoenix recovery support services. we need too adress this issue, and i am going to do what i can.
I work for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, but I am first and foremost a proud, Retired Army Officer and I would like to highlight an outstanding organization that I recently experienced with my Family and other Veterans. It’s called Veterans Fishing Adventures and is local to Northern Virginia. Please look up this incredible Non-Profit Veteran serving organization on Facebook and witness the tremendous impact they are having on the Veteran community!
This opportunity is wonderful, recognition for the small agencies serving tirelessly for veterans and their families need recognition. The ability to spread their mission when it is easily replicable to assist others around the nation as well, is a great follow up reward for the winner! Thank you and AllenForce, serving all veterans of all eras in IL through therapeutic recreation since 2012, will be applying!
I would like the program for 90% and 100%. Thank you
We have so many changes going on with the VA, that it takes minds working together today.
Sincerely
Robert Statam, Sr.NSO
I nominate Unified United States deported veterans for there award winning work helping deported veterans with benefits and return to the USA
I nominate jefros botanicals from tempe az jarrett St Amand usmc veteran owner developer and also bear pit training facility fromanaheim CA.TRaviss TORRES usmc veteran owner
Some of the individuals that work at these places do not perform to their best ability ability I one was through it was thrown to the side because the claim that i filed was for a disability disability and after i complain why playing why it was taking so long i wrote a letter and amazingly I got a letter back that my claim was now decided and it was for for a pension not a disability outlawed about not lied about my representation Yeah out loud and file for a pension when I brought him papers from the state social security that I was 100% disabled but he said that didn’t matter
I wish to elect The Kaufman Fund of St. Louis,Mo. The work they do with us vets is over and above…..look into them and you will see!
I am involved and participate in a group in Rock Hill, SC, York County Fishing with Veterans. We have been mentioned on our local radio station, WRHI, Fm 100.1, and the mission is to provide veterans and their families a place where they can go for a fun day of fishing and communication with other veterans. What a great idea, and this is a great program. We also ask the community to come out and fish and meet their local veterans.
I am a veteran employee who worked for the VA since 2007. I have seen different VA’s and worked in different clinics and specialties. There are many pitfalls with the way things are set up at the VA, the work ethic of VA employees, their hiring and firing process, staffing, and phones not answered, veterans having to travel far for appointments and sometimes being told it was cancelled but veteran was not notified. Veterans are suffering in many ways. I wish to start/join a process improvement committee in helping to change some of it. Where do I start?
DAV in Jacksonville,NC is outstanding in everyway supporting active, Retired, and Veteran’s. They need support and a thanks from all us here in Jacksonville, NC.
I am a Veteran and a caregiver for my wife who has Parkinson’s disease pretty bad, she is not a Veteran, is there any help for us,
Hi Edward,
I saw your message has anyone reached out to you? What city and state do you and your spouse reside? If you have service connected disabilities at 30% or more there are additional benefits such as aid and attendance she could possibly qualify for.
Hi Edward,
Please check out http://www.mission22.com. We have programs for Veterans and their spouses that can be done regardless of where you live. Although the program is not designed for Parkinson’s, our approach to supporting Veterans with PTSD is also very helpful with many other health issues by reducing inflammation, fatigue and much more. The program is completely free so please check into it.
You should look into Veterans Home Care. Their VetAssist Program helps wartime veterans or their spouse apply for a benefit from the VA with Aid and Attendance to be used primarily for care in the home. https://veteranshomecare.com/
That might be a helpful resource. There may be other resources in your local community that are not Veteran Specific.