Our Military Kids
Provides grants to kids of deployed military parents so the kids can take art classes, music classes, participate in sports, etc. Has given $1,113,853 to 3,045 kids so far!
Books, magazines and CD's can be sent to soldiers at:
Order FREE phone cards for deployed troops or hospitalized vets at:
Free Portraits for Families of Fallen Troops
Project Compassion will do a free oil painting for the family of our fallen soldiers! The Website is www.heropaintings.com and is an entirely FREE offering if the family wants it.
Project MOVE
Veteran Employment & Training Newsletter/Michigan's Opportunities for Veteran Employment (MOVE)
Publishes a newsletter with relevant job openings for vets who are looking for work in Michigan. The newsletter is available to veterans who have subscribed at www.michigan.gov/veteraninfo.
Chrysler Supports the Military!
Chrysler is announcing that the company is working with the U.S. Department of Defense and with Labor and Veterans Affairs to bring current and former members of the military together with Chrysler, its dealers and suppliers to find the right career opportunities as they transition to civilian life. A new Website (www.chryslerhonoringthosewhoserve.com) has been launched, and they are providing job opportunities including sales consultants, service managers, parts advisors and entry-level technicians. Also, through Chrysler Academy, free job-training will be provided. Each Web-based course comes with a completion certificate and will be included with the individual's resume and forwarded to the dealer of their choice.
College Planning Coach, LLC located in Troy, MI is offering to the families in Metro Detroit that have family members serving overseas in our Armed Forces, a special FREE gift! They want to help by having these families come to their office and record a three to five minute "Message To Our Military" video on their equipment. The video will be sent to their loved ones overseas via email. The video itself is not sent but the link that they can click on will play the video for their soldier to view as many times as they wish. Here's how it works: If you would like to do this, call College Planning Coach at 248-939-2978 or email them at mike@collegeplanningcoach.com. Put "Message for our Military" in the Subject line. You will then schedule your time to come to their office at 2855 Coolidge Hwy #116, Troy MI 48084. Please bring a valid email address of your service member.
Grants for Constructing/Modifiying Homes!
There has been a change in the law that allows certain seriously injured veterans and service members to receive multiple grants for constructing or modifying homes---and has resulted in many new grants! Before the change, eligible vets and service members could receive special adaptive housing grants of $10,000 or $50,000 only once. Now they may use the benefit up to three times with certain limitations. For more information contact a local VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000. Additional program information & grant applications (VAF-26-4555) can be found at http://www.homeloans.va.gov/sah.htm.
Outward Bound Programs!
Outward Bound, an international non-profit outdoor education program, is offering fully-funded outdoor adventure excursions to all OEF/OIF veterans regardless of current military status (active, inactive, discharged, retired)--you're eligible to attend as long as you deployed in support of OEF/OIF combat operations while in the military. These five-day excursions offer adventure activities such as backpacking, rock climbing, canyoneering, canoeing, and dog sledding in beautiful wilderness areas in Maine, Texas, Colorado, California, and Minnesota. All expedition costs for lodging, equipment, food, and instruction are completely funded by a multi-million dollar Sierra Club grant, including the participants round-trip transportation between home and the wilderness site. The excursion is offered at no cost to the participant. To sign up for one of the prescheduled courses, please contact Doug Hayward at 1-866-669-2362 ext. 8387, or email him at obvets@outwardbound.org. To learn more about the program, visit the website at www.outwardboundwilderness.org/veterans.html. You can also contact retired Judge Advocates, Joe and Amy Frisk, who are working for Outward Bound on this program at vetsor@outwardbound.org, or at 303-968-4420.
OPERATION EDUCATION
A program being offered by Adrian College for the first time this fall! It is designed for a disabled American veteran who was injured in Afghanistan or Iraq after Sept. 11, 2001. It is a full scholarship/room/board/fees to assist him/her with acquiring further education, thus providing greater opportunities for the future. If you know of a vet that may meet the Admissions criteria and has a strong interest in pursuing a college education, please forward this info on to him/her and send that person's contact info directly to Kristi Maxwell, Dean of Student Life at kmaxwell@adrian.edu.
HBO Shipping Care Packages
FREE CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Dr. Stacey Francis of Higher Level Healthcare is offering her chiropractic services and provides unlimited, complimentary chiropractic care to veterans for one year and no charge EVER to active-duty military personnel. To learn more, visit www.staceyfrancisdc.com, 20307 W. Twelve Mile Road, Suite 105, Southfield MI OR call 248-213-1332.
Freedom Team Salute
Phone: 703-325-4002
The Freedom Team Salute campaign gives active-duty soldiers a chance to commend veterans, plus honor their spouses, parents and other family members, or anyone who has supported them, such as a local Pastor (members of the National Guard and Army Reserve can commend their employers as well).
Also, any American can nominate either a living discharged veteran for his or her service to the country or an Army supporter. Freedom Team Salute also offers an Ambassadors program for getting people involved at the local level and it recently expanded efforts to work with various veteran's organizations.
BLUE STAR MOTHERS
There are 17 chapters in Michigan of mothers supporting their service children. It is a nonprofit organization that serves as a social group for mothers that meet to support troops through various efforts. . A new chapter has started at VFW Post 9363, 25570 Telegraph in Flat Rock. Call 734-946-7254 for more info! $7 yearly dues.
