It has been just over 5 months since we began the process and took Veteran Outreach from an idea and belief to an organization prepared to begin operations. There have been many milestones achieved during this time, but one in particular is of significant importance. In early December Veteran Outreach received its official IRS Determination Letter designating the organization as a 501(c)(3) public charity. This has and will continue to open many doors for funding and support from private foundations and allows any and all contributions made to Veteran Outreach to be tax deductible.
Since the first of this year we have firmed up commitments from local clinicians and are prepared to begin providing mental health services to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and their family members. At this time, we have decided to focus our efforts on getting the Veteran and Family Counseling Program off the ground first, and hopefully by June, the Veteran Mentorship Program. The next step is for Veteran Outreach to begin marketing our services in the weekly newspapers at Fort Sam Houston and Brooks Army Medical Center here in San Antonio. In addition, through his commercial real estate contacts, Brad Morris is working to get four foot by eight foot signs erected at two shopping centers on major thoroughfares. If all goes well the first will be placed near the Medical Center, just a few blocks from the VA Hospital. Given the organization’s available resources, this will be as much marketing as we can do at this time. The marketing will be crucial in getting the word out about our services and reaching those we are here to serve.
On another note, Directors Brad and Andrea Morris attended to LULAC Veterans Summit in San Antonio on January 24th and 25th. The summit consisted primarily of representatives from various local and state non profit organizations and government entities. We were all there to discuss the ever increasing needs of our new Veterans and what we as a community were doing or must do to meet those needs. Many new contacts were made, hands shaken, business cards exchanged, but most importantly we were able to bring recognition to Veteran Outreach.