America Supports You: Veterans Get Help With Employment Services

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 25, 2008 - Veterans looking for a job in the Cincinnati area should have an easier time, thanks to a new partnership. The Thank You Foundation has partnered with Careers in Focus to offer resume services, job coaching and job leads to veterans, the foundation's president said today.

"We hear plenty of stories about (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the suicide rate among veterans," John Guinn said. "At the same time, many of these men and women are able to think on their feet, cope under pressure, and many possess technical skills valuable to most any employer.

"If we can help just one person through our efforts, it is worth it," he said.

Veterans and their families will receive a special discount from Careers in Focus, an organization that assists individuals changing careers. This discount is available only through The Thank You Foundation. In addition, the foundation will seek funding to sponsor veterans to receive these services at no cost.

"Over the last year, we have identified areas in which we can be of greater service to veterans. The areas of health care and employment services seem to be the most needed," Guinn said. "It is our hope that we can assist those who are looking (for) employment in the civilian sector by leveraging the network of contacts that Careers in Focus has, in order to help find jobs for these men and women."

In November, the foundation launched an initiative to build a mobile health unit for the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It also has been in discussions with Drake Hospital to explore options for providing quality health care for veterans.

Recently, the foundation partnered with Team Fastrax and Start Skydiving to offer the opportunity for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to go tandem skydiving with the goal of helping them overcome challenges and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

"We realize that saying 'thank you' is simply not enough. Those words need to be followed up with action and a commitment," Guinn said. "We all should be willing to commit to the betterment of the lives of our nation's heroes.

"We view building partnerships, encouraging cooperation amongst the various support groups and working with the business community as steps towards that commitment," he added.

The Thank You Foundation is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

(From a Thank You Foundation news release.)

The July issue of the Hi Tech Criminal Justice newsletter sponsored this entry.