Grants designed to improve veterans’ conditions related to mental health, homelessness and successful transition from service
ATLANTA – Nov. 7, 2019 – The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is announcing a total of $587,800 in grants made in 2019 to nonprofit organizations in Georgia that support veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The ten grants were made through The Overwatch Fund, a committee of eight veterans and associates across the Blank Family of Businesses who manage grantmaking on behalf of The Blank Family Foundation to improve outcomes for veterans in Georgia.
“It’s our goal for Georgia to be the most welcoming state for veterans, and we are focused on grantmaking that supports veterans and treats them with the honor and dignity they deserve after service,” said Penelope McPhee, President, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “From grants that provide workforce readiness training to those that combat veteran suicide, we’re proud to continue to serve those who’ve served us.”
The Overwatch Fund has made the following commitments on behalf of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation:
Camp Southern Ground – Two-year $200,000 grant to engage third-party evaluation of Warrior Week, which offers an increase in workforce readiness, professional advancement and purpose, and funds Georgia veterans to attend programming.
Emory Law Veterans Clinic – One-year $43,000 grant to establish a Probate and Estate Planning clinic, including assistance with wills and advance directives, to maximize access to benefits and ensure control of financial and healthcare decisions for Georgia veterans and their families.
Furniture Bank – One-year $55,000 grant to deliver programming that helps homeless veterans with the highest employment barriers gain full-time employment.
Georgia VECTR Center – One-year $100,000 grant to create veteran employment opportunities by helping establish a new lab on campus offering an accelerated electrical construction training program.
Houseproud Atlanta – One-year $40,000 grant to stabilize housing for metro Atlanta low-income veteran homeowners by providing critical home repairs.
Operation Healing Forces – One-year $16,000 grant to deliver programming designed to strengthen relationships between couples as well as peer networks for Special Operations Forces veterans and their companions.
Soldiers’ Angels – One-year $30,000 grant to provide transportation support and other basic services to veterans participating in federal health programs that address homelessness and mental health needs.
Top Dogg K-9 – One-year $10,000 grant to increase dog trainer capacity to provide cost-free service dogs to veterans coping with the invisible wounds of war, to maximize their well-being and quality of life
Up2Us – One-year $10,000 grant to recruit, train and support veterans to serve as coaches for youth participating in sports programs on Atlanta’s Westside.
Upstate Warrior Solution – Two-year $83,800 grant to establish a peer-learning cohort to increase program capacity of The Warrior Alliance in metro Atlanta and enhance service access for veterans in Northeast Georgia and throughout the Atlanta-Charlotte corridor.
About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Formed in 1995, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation promotes innovative solutions to transform the lives of youth and their families, seeking results that move communities beyond what seems possible today.
The Foundation invests in education, parks and greenspace, youth development, community redevelopment, and the arts, and leads giving programs for each of the Blank Family of Businesses, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PGA TOUR Superstore, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, and West Creek Ranch.
Mr. Blank, chairman of the foundation, co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001. Through the foundation and his family’s personal giving, Mr. Blank has granted more than $425 million to various charitable organizations.
For more information about The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, visit www.blankfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook @BlankFamilyFoundation or Instagram and Twitter @BlankFoundation.
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Media Contact:
Caroline Huston, APR
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
470-341-2054
