Bob Woodruff Foundation Expedites Funding for Organizations Providing Mental Health and Social Support to Veterans
(NEW YORK, NY) September 15, 2021 – The current events in Afghanistan have been devastating to many service members, veterans, caregivers, and survivors. To address the growing and urgent need, the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) announced an expedited series of mental health and wellness grants to support the military/veteran community.
“Our hearts are breaking for the families impacted by the tragedies in Afghanistan, and for our service members, veterans, and their loved ones who are struggling with their mental and emotional health right now. During a year defined by an extended and stressful global pandemic, the military/veteran community is already experiencing unprecedented stressors, and our partners are seeing an increased demand for support. The Bob Woodruff Foundation is in a position to help, and we knew we had to move to action as quickly as possible,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “These five grants are funding best-in-class organizations that will provide peer support, mentorship, and clinical mental health services – all of which are greatly needed during this difficult time.”
Through this expedited funding, BWF is addressing a variety of needs within the military/veteran community. To assist veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders, BWF is investing in Endeavors to provide evidence-based treatment and sober living vouchers that support their recovery. For “upstream support” that helps veterans before they reach the point of crisis, BWF has provided a grant to Vets4Warriors to continue their 24/7 peer support services which are available via email, text, and phone call. BWF is also continuing its support for Project for Return and Opportunity in Veterans Education (PROVE) to connect student veterans with expert social and emotional support, mental health counseling, and crisis intervention.
For children impacted by traumatic loss, youth mentoring from a consistent, stable, and supportive adult role model has been proven to reduce risky behavior and can fill an unmet need for these families. Through their NFL-BWF Salute to Service partnership, BWF is funding Tuesday’s Children to provide mentoring and career resource programming to improve the emotional, academic, and behavioral outcomes of Gold Star children, siblings, and surviving family members. Additional NFL-BWF funding will support the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN) to expand the availability of online and in-person peer support groups for female veterans across the country. These groups decrease isolation and loneliness that contributes to decay in mental health, well-being, and functioning.
To learn more about each of these essential programs, visit their websites:
Endeavors – https://endeavors.org/veteran-wellness-center/
Vets4Warriors – https://www.vets4warriors.com/
Tuesday’s Children – https://www.tuesdayschildren.org/
Project for Return and Opportunity in Veterans Education (PROVE) – http://www.proveveterans.org/
Women Veterans Network (WoVeN) – https://www.wovenwomenvets.org/
About the Bob Woodruff Foundation
The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, BWF has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of today’s veterans, including suicide prevention, mental health, caregiver support, and food insecurity. To date, BWF has invested over $80 million to Find, Fund and Shape™ programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members, across the nation, reinforcing the message that BWF has ‘Got Your Six’. To discover stories of success and innovation from BWF’s network of partners, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @bwforg.
