Tag: Warrior Salute

Warrior Salute veterans’ celebration to be held in person Thursday

Warrior Salute Veteran Services will celebrate veterans and rally the Rochester community Thursday at the 6th Annual Salute “A Toast to Our Veterans” event at the Strathallan Hotel.

The fundraising event will feature celebrated military generals who have been supporters of Warrior Salute Veteran Services since its inception in 2011, as well as voices of program graduates.

Organizers noted that up to 30 percent of veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and one in 10 returning veterans experience alcohol or drug addiction. Homelessness affects veterans at a level that is 1.5 times the incidence level for the general population. The biggest challenge for returning veterans is re-acclimating to non-military life.

“We are thrilled to return to a live format on Veterans Day for this critical CDS Wolf Foundation fundraiser,” said Andrew Sewnauth, chief operating officer of CDS Life Transitions. “Salute ‘A Toast to Our Veterans’ event is an opportunity to assemble alumni, current participants and benefactors in a show of solidarity, appreciation and support to ensure the ongoing funding of a local resource for veterans.”

The mission of Warrior Salute Veteran Services is to help veterans and military families heal and transition back to civilian life through person-centered therapies and community support. Warrior Salute Veteran Services assists area veterans through personalized case management and transitional housing at the Nucor House in Penfield. Case management, housing, food, amenities and transportation are provided to veterans free of charge.

The event will take place on Nov. 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rooftop Ballroom of the Strathallan Hotel. The celebration is first come, first serve.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer

L3Harris awards grants to six local charities

Six area nonprofits have received social impact grants from L3Harris Technologies Inc. as part of the manufacturer’s effort to provide relief to communities it resides in.

The L3Harris Foundation this month distributed grants in 19 states to organizations that applied for funds to address a wide range of needs, including the digital divide, food insecurity, veteran aid, mentorships for STEM students, economic opportunities for small businesses and more.

Local recipients include Cameron Community Ministries, Gigi’s Playhouse, Gilda’s Club, Rochester Education Foundation, Warrior Salute Veteran Services and Young Women’s College Prep Foundation.

“The pandemic has placed a tremendous strain on all facets of our Rochester community,” said Dana Mehnert, president, communication systems for L3Harris. The division is based in Rochester. “The L3Harris Foundation social impact grants will help provide some relief to those most in need, especially students, parents, communities and small businesses in areas where our employees work and live.”

Cameron Community Ministries’ goal is to serve the community and to break the cycle of generational poverty by teaching independence. The grant will fund full day and hybrid models of academic support for Rochester City School District students during the COVID crisis.

Gilda’s Club will use the grant to provide cancer transitions and survivorship classes to patients in the wake of COVID-19, while REF plans to use the grant to promote college empowerment and FAFSA aid, which has been absent due to the pandemic.

Warrior Salute Veteran Services will provide no-cost telehealth and tele-therapies for veterans dealing with isolation and depressions due to COVID-19, and the Young Women’s College Prep Foundation will use the grant to buy new Chromebooks for students in grades 7 through 12 that attend its charter school.

In addition to the grants, L3Harris has provided more than $450 million in accelerated payments to small-business suppliers in 45 states to sustain the nation’s supply chain. Company employees have volunteered to provide respirators, free communications apps and STEM-oriented “Tech in 10” videos for students.

Staffers also are volunteering to assist organizations through the company’s L3Harris Investing for Tomorrow volunteer program, which supports numerous initiatives throughout the year.

In New York state, L3Harris has donated $267,000 to charities. The company has 20 locations and more than 5,000 employees statewide.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer