"Leave No One Behind"
The USS Midway Museum will donate one dollar for each paid admission on Veterans Day, November 11, to the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD).
“We believe the USS Midway Museum has an obligation to be a resource for all communities in San Diego. Given the role and contributions of Veterans Village of San Diego, it’s a natural fit that we establish a partnership on Veterans Day,” said president and CEO Mac McLaughlin.
The USS Midway Museum’s contribution will go toward funding the City of San Diego’s Veterans Winter Shelter, which is about $50,000 short of funding this year. VVSD has operated the shelter since 1997, providing beds, shelter and food for 150 homeless veterans each night.
“In these tough economic times, we are short of funds to provide shelter for the same number of homeless veterans as in years past,” said VVSD president and CEO Phil Landis. “Even though we are committed to continuing to provide shelter for 150 veterans a night, if we can not raise the extra money we may be limited to serving only 100 a night. Reducing our services by 33% would be a terrible loss for those who have served our country.”
“The USS Midway Museum’s wonderful partnership and contribution will launch our fundraising efforts,” added Landis. “The Veterans Winter Shelter will open the first week of December, so funds raised by the Midway as well as donations from the public could not come at a better time.”
The City of San Diego funds most of the costs, and this year increased their support. But despite that, there has been a decrease in other donations that has led to the $50,000 shortfall.
The Veterans Winter Shelter operates from December 2009 through March 2010 and is located in Point Loma on land provided for by the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center.
VVSD has served all veterans since 1981, and is dedicated to the promise to “Leave No One Behind.” VVSD operates the annual Stand Down event in July each year.
VVSD is the only facility of its kind in the United States and is nationally recognized as the leader in serving homeless military veterans with comprehensive, innovative and pioneering programs that have an unparalleled rate of successfully restoring lives.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
