NEWS!!

Veteran's Gift is looking for a volunteer fund raiser.  With two young children and going to school full-time, I am having trouble getting the funds needed to start our bigger programs (scholarships, plate reimbursements, etc.).  We are looking for a volunteer to head up our fund raising.  Experience with fund raising a must, with grants a big plus.  Email veteransgift@gmail.com if you would like to help us out!

VG Founder Chad Freeman has decided to train for and run in the 2011 Boston Marathon (if able to get in as a charity), in order to raise awareness for veterans and the cause.  If unable to get in as a charity, then options for other marathons will be evaluated.  Follow his journey on the Veteran's Gift Marathon Blog!

Welcome to the Veteran's Gift website.  We are an organization dedicated to helping the honorable veterans of our United States Armed Services.  We aim to do this through scholarships, services, benefits, and information for our returned warriors.  We currently have several projects in the works for our troops and their families:

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As time and funds allow, we will be implementing more and more into this fledgling operation.  Here are some ideas that we are working to make operational:

We plan on providing scholarships for veterans (and eventually, their families) to be used in any educational institution.  The amounts and number of scholarships will depend on funding available.

In many states, veterans are charged a fee in order to get a veteran plate, on top of the standard registration fee (unless you meet certain qualifications).  Now, it is great that the fee sometimes benefits charities, like the Soldiers’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke, but we believe you shouldn't have to pay this fee for a status that you have earned.  We want to begin a program to reimburse veterans for this fee.

We will go around to local businesses and ask them to pledge that, when someone shows the $10 discount card, they will get a discount on an item or service, or a portion of the purchase goes to Veteran's Gift.

Packages for Troops

With donations from businesses and generous people, we want to send out packages to our troops, both overseas, and who are recovering in hospitals.

Events and Fundraisers

Conduct and sponsor events geared towards helping the communities, especially where it benefits veterans.  Fundraising will also be key in gaining the funds needed to implement our programs.

Information

We are already beginning to work on a network of information, which will be used to provide veterans and their families with the information they will need about benefits, events, coping with various war related diseases/injuries, etc.  We hope to become a one-stop informational hub for veterans and their families.

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Thank you for viewing our page, and please let your friends and family know about us.  You just might be the key to getting a veteran the help that is needed.

Very Respectfully,

Chad W. Freeman

Founder of Veteran's Gift

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Over $49,000 Now Available through GI Bill

The Post 9/11 GI Bill officially started paying out last Saturday,
Aug 1. Here is what your new benefit can offer:

• Up to 100% Tuition Assistance
• Monthly Housing Stipend up to $2,700
• Annual Book Stipend up to $1,000
• One Time Relocation Allowance up to $500
• Benefit Transferability to Spouse

The new GI Bill discards the outdated Montgomery GI Bill style system and replaces it with a World War II style GI Bill that provides: upfront tuition payments directly to the school, a monthly living allowance and a book stipend of $1,000 per year.  For more information, check out the IAVA Post-9/11 GI Bill website.

Now is the perfect time to start working on a degree. Connect with Military Friendly Schools that not only work with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, but offer college credit for service in the Army.