ANNVILLE, PA — If there’s one state that believes in the principle of ‘paying it forward’, it’s Pennsylvania. Recently, the Shapiro Administration announced that it has granted $800,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)’s Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF) – to support those who served us best: our veterans. These funds are geared towards county directors of veterans affairs, nonprofits, and Veteran Service Organizations.
This state-driven financial injection, amalgamating with matching grants procured by VTF recipients, is set to generate an impressive sum of over $3.5 million. These funds are to be expended into transformative initiatives for the betterment of veterans in Pennsylvania over the forthcoming two years.
The planned programs are wide-ranging and cover various areas of veteran welfare: from guaranteeing the availability of healthy, nutritious food for military veterans and their families to facilitating the provision of service dogs. Additionally, the funds are set to boost transportation services for veterans across the entire Commonwealth.
The VTF is fundamentally a people’s project, funded by the charitable hearts of Pennsylvanians themselves. As they apply for or renew their driver’s licenses, photo IDs, or motor vehicle registrations, they can opt to donate $5 to the cause. Additional income for the VTF is generated through the sale of specialized ‘Honoring Our Veterans’ and ‘Honoring Our Women Veterans’ license plates, reliant on private donations. From 2013 to date, the collective generosity of Pennsylvanians has allowed the awarding of a total of $7,482,860 to organizations dedicated to serving Pennsylvania veterans.
Governor Josh Shapiro affirmed the administration’s commitment to the fund: “Our veterans have served our country and fought for our freedoms, and my Administration supports them wholeheartedly. We ensure they have the food, transportation, and benefits they earned through their service. We will not cease in our work to provide opportunities for the brave men and women who have protected our freedoms to prosper here in the Commonwealth.”
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA, recognized the efforts of the non-profit organizations, Veteran Service Organizations, and county Veterans Affairs Offices: “They do an incredible job in developing programs and services with these grants to improve the quality of life for veterans and their families.”
The DMVA currently has allocated $145,670 in grant funding for novel, innovative, or further developed programs or services. These are provided by county directors of veterans affairs or the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. For this funding category, the primary focus of the grantees was veteran outreach.
Additional funding of $654,330 has been identified by the DMVA for Veteran Service Organizations and non-profit charitable organizations, both categories having a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans. These grants are aimed at alleviating transportation woes, food insecurity, housing difficulties, and providing psychological help or suicide prevention initiatives, and legal assistance.
Given the size and scope of this program, it’s clear that the Shapiro administration has placed high priority on the well-being of its veteran population. As the VTF funding continues to impact the lives of thousands of Pennsylvania veterans over the coming years, the ripple effects of these generous donations will be felt throughout the entire Commonwealth. A heartfelt salute is in order for the many Pennsylvanians who have opened their wallets and hearts to those who have served their country.
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