MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary Mary Kolar announced today $250,000 in grants to 13 registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance or other services to Wisconsin veterans and their families.
“Our veterans’ community in Wisconsin is at its best when organizations work together to provide care and assistance to those who served and their families,” Gov. Evers said. “We are taking yet another important step toward achieving our collective mission of better serving our nation’s heroes and their families by awarding grants to these organizations.”
Since starting in 2015, the WDVA’s nonprofit grant program has awarded more than $1 million in funding to organizations that have a goal of ensuring veterans and their families are properly cared for in Wisconsin. In October, Gov. Evers and the WDVA announced more than $400,000 in grants to organizations providing entrepreneurship training to veterans.
“Our grant programming in Wisconsin had provided millions of dollars to groups and organizations serving those who bravely wore the uniform and their families,” Secretary Kolar said. “By supporting these 13 organizations through the WDVA’s nonprofit grant program, we are further honoring our commitment to service and maintaining Wisconsin’s status as a national leader in offerings to veterans and their families.”
The WDVA is proud partners with more than 1,000 community and nonprofit organizations across the state, forming a network that has resulted in thousands of in-need veterans receiving vital assistance and resources.
This year’s nonprofit grant recipients are:
- Easter Seals Wisconsin Inc., Madison, is awarded $5,000 to help fund and support a veteran and their family by sending them to a camp. The organization helps people in Wisconsin with disabilities get back to a normal life, or start one.
- Fox Valley Veterans Council, Inc., Appleton, is awarded $25,000 to sustain and expand programming for veterans and their families. The organization provides temporary financial assistance to veterans in the Fox Valley area to cover basic needs.
- Guitars for Vets, Kenosha, is awarded $5,000 to continue providing programming to veterans facing physical and/or emotional challenges therapy through guitar lessons. The organization gifts veteran students who graduate from the program a guitar and additional tools to improve their skills and their well-being.
- Heroes for Healthcare, Milwaukee, is awarded $25,000 to provide free-of-cost services to veterans seeking employment in the healthcare industry throughout Wisconsin. The organization offers assistance to veterans in getting required credentials, certification, and licensing regardless of previous medical experience in the military.
- HorseSense, Inc., La Crosse, is awarded $25,000 to fund the cost of horse riding lessons while also helping with job training, equipment, and supplies expenses. The organization seeks to enrich the lives of veterans struggling with mental health challenges through equine therapy.
- La Crosse Area Veteran Mentor Program, La Crosse, is awarded $25,000 to support the organization in improving its training programming while also partially relieving the financial hardship of veterans. The organization seeks to provide support and service to veterans and their families living in the La Crosse area.
- Mental Health of America of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, is awarded $25,000 to provide stipends to veteran-serving partners while also creating training modules, covering travel expenses and helping with the hosting and maintenance of digital training. The organization’s mission is to improve the well-being of veterans in all areas of Wisconsin through increased education, engagement and more.
- Paralyzed Veterans of America, Milwaukee, is awarded $15,884 to help with costs incurred as a result of the organization’s participation in the National Wheelchair Games in Portland, Oregon in July 2020.
- Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, Inc., Dodgeville, is awarded $7,000 to provide funding to homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless veterans in the area to be used in the case of emergencies. The organization seeks to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty by assisting low-income individuals and families, as well as the homeless population.
- USO Wisconsin, Inc., Milwaukee, is awarded $25,000 to support the organization’s expansion of programs throughout the state of Wisconsin. The organization is a charter center that serves current military members and their families, as well as veterans and their families through various resources and forms of support.
- UW Superior Foundation, Inc., Superior, is awarded $25,000 to support the foundation’s programming for student veterans at its Veteran Non-Traditional Student Center. The organization seeks to secure, invest, and manage financial resources that support opportunities for University of Wisconsin-Superior students and its facilities.
- War Memorial Center, Milwaukee, is awarded $25,000 to continue its mission of honoring both living and fallen military veterans by hosting events and programs throughout the year. The organization honors fallen military members by housing monuments or statues and also keeping a roll call of the fallen.
- Workforce Resource, Inc., Menomonie, is awarded $17,116 to implement workshops for veterans to improve job readiness. The organization serves the training and employment needs of at-risk youth, low-income and unemployed individuals in Wisconsin.
