The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services (ADVS) recently announced the 2023 Veterans’ Donation Fund (VDF) Large Grant winners!
The 13 Arizona organizations awarded 2023 VDF large grants, totaling $729,575 include:
Arizona Warrior Hockey Charities (awarded $75,000): Helps improve the quality of life for disabled veterans (PTSD/TBI) through sports and physical activity. They hold regularly scheduled skates every Sunday at 7 p.m. at AZ Ice Arcadia. [email protected]
Ayuda Smiles for Veterans (awarded $55,000): Provides veterans with dental care. smilesforveterans.org
Brain Injury Alliance (awarded $45,500): Brain Injury Alliance provides advocacy, education, information, support, and resources, while promoting brain injury prevention. biaaz.org
Cochise Serving Veterans (awarded $75,000): Provides a transitional assistance program, addressing veteran healthcare, homelessness, housing and basic needs, employment, food insecurities, clothing, transportation, utilities, and financial counseling. chochisevets.org
Duet Partners in Health & Aging (awarded $75,000): Partnering with the Arizona Caregiver Coalition, Unlimited Potential, and the So’Tsoh Foundation to help Arizona veterans and their families regain hope and build resilience when confronting the complexities of caring for individuals with dementia, traumatic brain injuries, or other cognitive challenges. duetaz.org
EMPACT – Suicide Prevention Center (awarded $47,250): Provide 315 sponsored training days designed to increase access to mental health care and prevent suicide for Arizona’s Veterans. lafrontera-empact.org
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation (awarded $50,000): Support services in organization’s Impact Program, which offers women veterans a holistic, personalized pathway to self-sufficiency. freshstartwomen.org
Heard Museum (awarded $25,000): To support the Heard Museum’s annual Veterans Day Celebration and Sunset Tribute. Will also fund an artist’s workshop for Arizona’s Native American Veterans. heard.org
Justa Center (awarded $54,600): Aims to create intervention and provide housing support to older veterans 55+. Program removes street-level barriers for veterans in extended homelessness who are or will be transitioning to independent living. justacenter.org
Law College Association UofA (awarded $45,000): The Veterans’ Advocacy Law Clinic at Arizona Law provides pro bono legal services to veterans. The only law school clinic in Arizona whose clientele are exclusively veterans and service members. law.arizona.edu/clinics/veterans-advocacy-law-clinic
Merging Vets and Players (awarded $57,225): Supporting the mental health of veterans in the greater Phoenix area and Maricopa County through a unique peer-to-peer programming. vetsandplayers.org/locations/phoenix
Power Paws Assistance Dogs (awarded $50,000): Provides trained mobility assistance and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) dogs for veterans, as well as training for the veterans to become primary trainers. Assistance dogs train to calm their handler, help them deal with stressful situations, and wake them from night terrors. azpowerpaws.org
U.S. Vets – Prescott (awarded $75,000): Support long-term supportive housing units across the Prescott and Prescott Valley areas covering a portion of the operating costs such as maintenance and repairs, transportation, property management, case management, and more. usvets.org/locations/prescott
To learn more about the Arizona Veterans’ Donation Fund visit dvs.az.gov/services/financial-assistance/donation-fund.
