Unemployment Rate Among Veterans Applying for Industry Grant Program Five Times National Average

ARMing Heroes, the collection industry’s charity for military veterans, is currently reviewing hundreds of applications received from of military veterans seeking grants to help ease the financial hardship associated with returning to civilian life.

With the charity’s fourth annual No Debts for Vets Charity Fundraising Drive in full swing, tens of thousands of dollars have already been raised in 2013 for veterans, most of which will be disbursed through direct grants payable to the creditors of all grant recipients, just in time for the holidays. The current fundraiser, which runs from September 11th through Veterans Day, November 11th, enables companies and individuals with an affinity for helping veterans to make tax-deductible donations online at www.armingheroes.org or via mail to PO Box 353, Collingswood, NJ 08108, payable to ARMing Heroes.

The fact that hundreds of veterans applied tells a compelling story in and of itself – these heroes need your help, and they need it now.  More than 50% of current ARMing Heroes grant applicants proudly served our country in an imminent danger pay area since 2001, and fully 25% of them have expenses that exceed their income every month.  Approximately one third of applicants are unemployed, almost five times higher than the national unemployment rate. Even more tragic is that more than a third of these veterans returned home with service-connected disabilities, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to loss of vision and other physical disabilities, making gainful employment that much more of a challenge.

Previous grant recipients like Jacob Gayer and Javier Herrera attach faces to the names of these alarming statistics, and help us all realize the hope and help these grants offer to those who need them the most. These heroes put their lives on hold to serve our country, and a donation to ARMing Heroes is the perfect way to thank them.

Many companies in the industry have chosen to raise money for veterans by incentivizing their people to give to this worthy cause in exchange for dress down days or for other benefits management might think of.  This is the single biggest way those in the collection industry can help our cause.  Those interested in holding an employee fundraiser should contact the organization through www.armingheroes.org.

ARMing Heroes was founded and began operating in March, 2009. The organization’s mission is to serve the needs of U.S. military veterans, including their spouse and children. ARMing Heroes fills a charitable niche by linking people identified with employment, credit, and financial counseling needs with the accounts receivable management industry, an industry uniquely poised to help in these areas.  Persons interested in volunteering their time and others interested in applying for benefits or pledging other forms of support are encouraged to contact the organization at www.armingheroes.org.

What Can I Do Right Now to Help?

• Visit www.armingheroes.org and donate now.

• Friend us and post this article to your page on Facebook.

• Tweet about this article on Twitter.

• Join our group on LinkedIn, the ARMing Heroes Veterans Charity Supporter / Assistance Center.

• Comment on this article online and ask us to contact you.

• Forward this article via email to your key contacts.

• Print this article and fax it to your local congressional office and ask them to post our website on theirs as a resource for vets.