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“Newman’s Own” Awards Totaling $ 200,000 Presented to Five Military Care Initiatives

Christopher Deery with The Veterans Group, accepts top honors at the Newman’s Own Awards ceremony, held at the Pentagon Wednesday.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 26, 2014

General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided remarks at the 15th annual Newman’s Own Award Ceremony at the Pentagon on Wednesday, as awards totaling $ 200,000 were presented to five non-profit organizations for their innovative programs to improve military quality of life.

Operation Warm Embrace received the highest honor and a $ 50,000 award. Located in Philadelphia, The Veterans Group’s mission is to empower veterans who are facing transitional or addiction challenges to once again become productive members of society. Through their housing facility, they help reestablish the veterans’ self-esteem, as being with other veterans with similar experiences helps them grow and recover. They are provided job skills and training on-site and when they are ready, job opportunities are coordinated through the organization with local businesses.

Newman’s Own, Fisher House Foundation, and Military Times, sponsor the competition, which seeks to reward ingenuity for programs that benefit service men and women and their families.

General Dempsey was joined by Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman’s Own; Suzie Schwartz, trustee of Fisher House Foundation; and Peter Lundquist, vice president and general manager of Military Times, in presenting the awards.

“Improving lives for the military is the cornerstone of this program. Newman’s Own is proud to be part of an initiative that helps serve a crucial segment of Americans, those who serve our country,” according to Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman’s Own.

Including this year’s awards, the annual competition that began in 1999 has recognized 158 programs with awards totaling $ 1,125,000 from Newman’s Own.

Over 250 entries were submitted for the 2014 program. Seven judges evaluated each entry based on the organization’s impact to the respective communities, creativity and innovation.

Judges for the 2014 competition were:

Mrs. Deanie Dempsey, Spouse of General Martin E. Dempsey, USA                 

Mrs. Mary Winnefeld, Spouse of Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., USN

Mrs. Tammy Fisher, Trustee, Fisher House Foundation

Mrs. Suzie Schwartz, Trustee, Fisher House

Mrs. Lynne Pace, Trustee, Fisher House Foundation

Mr. Jeff Smith, Vice President of Operations, Newman’s Own

Mr. Mark Tilley, Director, Sales, Newman’s Own

Overall Winning Entry

$ 50,000 AWARD

Operation Warm Embrace

The Veterans Group, Philadelphia, PA

Located in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia, Operation Warm Embrace’s mission is to empower Veterans who are facing transitional or addiction challenges to once again become productive members of society. The organization does this through the operation of a 43 bed transitional housing facility. The warm and inclusive environment helps to reestablish the Veterans’ self-esteem and dignity, as being with other Veterans with similar experiences and challenges helps foster trust, growth and recovery. The Veterans are provided job skills and training at on-site Education and Wellness Center, and when ready, job and educational opportunities are coordinated by the organization with local businesses and universities. For more information, contact Matt Dunphy (mdunphy(at)theveteransgroup(dot)org) or visit http://www.theveteransgroup.org.

$ 37,500 AWARD

MISSION: Youth Outreach

Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, Cypress, CA

Boys & Girls Club of Cypress provides youth development program services and transportation from school to the Club at no-cost to children with parents serving in the military. Youth participate in high-quality, research-based programs that guide and encourage them to achieve Academic Success, lead Healthy Lifestyles, and demonstrate Good Character and Citizenship. All military youth will have access to mentoring, tutoring and leadership development opportunities. All participating children will receive one hour of academic / homework assistance each school day. Youth will also be matched with a professional and caring adult staff or volunteer who will serve as their mentor. For more information, contact Justin Winford (jwinford(at)bgccypress(dot)org) or visit http://www.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com.

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities

University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc., Storrs, CT

The UConn Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), offered at no cost to participants, leverages the outstanding faculty of the UConn School of Business to provide service-connected disabled veterans with cutting edge training in entrepreneurship and small business management. A consortium consisting of eight world class schools offers the EBV program nationwide. For more information, contact Michael J. Zacchea, LtCol USMC (Ret.) (michael(dot)zacchea(at)business(dot)uconn(dot)edu) or visit ebv.business.uconn.edu.

Support of Children of our Fallen

Angels of America’s Fallen, Colorado Springs, CO

Angels of America’s Fallen (AOAFallen) provides long-term developmental support for the children of America’s fallen military and first responders. Focusing on mentor and coach-based activities, AOAFallen helps each child discover a passion or interest, and funds that activity during the child’s most critical developmental years (until they turn 18). In supporting these children, AOAFallen honors their parent, recognizes the child’s ongoing sacrifice, and seeks to stand with them during the crucial time between loss of their parent and adulthood. For more information, contact Joe Lewis (joelewis(at)aoafallen(dot)org) or visit http://www.aoafallen.org.

Adopt a Vet Dental Program

Community Health Alliance, Reno, NV

The Adopt a Vet Dental Program provides quality dental care to low-income veterans by recruiting dental professionals to donate their services and raises funds to offset dental lab and emergency dental care costs. This program has changed the lives of our low-income veterans because it has improved their overall health and self-esteem, allowed them to eat and digest their food properly, and after years of suffering, they are pain free and can smile again. The veterans feel so good about themselves, they pay it forward to other veterans. For more information, contact Linda Haigh (lhaigh@chanevada.org) or visit http://www.adoptavetdental.com.

About Newman’s Own®, Inc.

Newman’s Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, offers more than 100 varieties of great tasting, high quality food and beverage products, including salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, frozen pizza, frozen skillet meals, microwave popcorn and refrigerated lemonades. Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $ 400 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982.

About Military Times

The Military Times newsweeklies and digital platforms are the trusted source for independent news and information for service members and their families. The military community relies on the Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times, and Navy Times for reporting on everything important to their lives, including: pay, benefits, finance, education, health care, recreational resources, retirement, promotions, product reviews, and entertainment. Military Times is published by Gannett Government Media. To learn more, visit http://www.militarytimes.com.

About Fisher House Foundation

Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $ 235 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.

Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.

http://www.fisherhouse.org

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