During the DRI2016 conference in Atlanta, Georgia, the DRI Foundation presented the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in Atlanta with a $2000 donation to benefit the local community of veterans where it is needed most. This was part of the Foundation’s initiative to give back to communities where DRI International holds its annual conference for certified professionals.
“With DRI becoming more involved with veteran outreach, we welcome opportunities like this to partner with organizations that are prioritizing the needs of veterans,” said DRI President Al Berman. “The DAV is doing great work, and we’re happy to give them support.”
The DAV provides free professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and works to safeguard the full range of earned services and protections on behalf of veterans on Capitol Hill.
- In 2014, at 100 offices across the United States and Puerto Rico, DAV represented veterans with more than 340,000 claims to obtain earned benefits from the VA, all at no cost to them. Its professionally trained National Service Officers and Transition Service Officers – who are all veterans themselves – are often the first encounter veterans have with DAV. These men and women guide their fellow veterans through the claims process for VA disability compensation, and they offer expert counseling on rehabilitation and education programs, pensions, death benefits and employment and training programs.
- When disaster strikes, DAV’s National Service Officers are dispatched to the affected area to provide monetary assistance, conduct benefits counseling and offer referral services. They provided disaster relief grants in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies in various areas around the nation to help veterans and their families secure temporary lodging, food and other necessities. During 2014, $90,450 was granted to tornado, flood and fire victims. Since the program’s inception in 1968, $9,442,228 has been disbursed.
- DAV’s volunteer initiatives helped veterans make more than 700,000 trips to medical appointments and improved their quality of life through formal and informal efforts in communities nationwide.
- New to this year’s report is DAV’s Employment Department, which has proved an invaluable resource for veterans and employers. It hosted 34 DAV/RecruitMilitary All Veterans Career Fairs in 29 cities last year, offering thousands of transitioning service members, veterans and spouses job opportunities by creating venues for more than 60 companies per event. DAV will double the number of job fairs it supports in 2015.