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We See Green In Our Future
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Greetings friends and supporters,
We have headed into 2011 with a splash! We are excited to share some exciting program updates with you about our initiatives to help raise money for our programs, upcoming training opportunities in Veterans Green Corps, a recent grant award from the Call of Duty Endowment, the importance of volunteers and community building, and other news.
On a more sobering note, we're also sharing with you a guest commentary written by our CEO, Bill Doe, and BG James "Spider" Marks of Activision's Call of Duty Endowment. The op ed was written for the Denver Post to shed light on the recent report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) in its yearly Veterans' Employment Summary. According to the new report, there are currently more than one million veterans who are out of work in the country. This number is unacceptable. We at Veterans Green Jobs feel that in order to combat this trend, communities must work together. With the collective teamwork of nonprofits, government agencies, private corporations, higher education institutions, citizens and others, this battle can be fought. But it is a long road ahead. We've laid out a few ideas in our op ed, but we encourage our friends and neighbors across the country to think about ways they can contribute to this cause. Together, let's help recently returning military vets successfully transition back into civilian life. They deserve no less.
Respectfully,
Veterans Green Jobs Staff |
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Go Green, Save $$, and Help Vets!
 We're excited to share the news that our Go Green Warehouse is preparing to open the doors this spring. The store will be a discount home improvement materials store, where every purchase and every donation directly supports our job and training programs for military veterans! Our Denver-based shop, which will be open to the public, is designed for frugal homeowners who want to save money, protect the environment, and support vets. The warehouse is our way of ensuring that veterans have meaningful employment opportunities - and a chance to continue serving our country and the environment. Income generated from sales will go directly back into Veterans Green Jobs programs. If You Live in the Denver Metro Area, Donate Your Stuff Today!  | | Andy Garza, assistant warehouse manager and U.S. Army veteran. |
By donating functional home remodel materials - ranging from appliances and building materials to furniture, sinks and doors - you'll play an important role in employing military veterans, keeping functional materials out of the landfill, and enabling other metro Denver residents to save money they would otherwise spend at big-box stores.
SEE A LIST OF MATERIALS WE ACCEPT AND SELL, AND SEE HOW TO DONATE. Become a Sponsor Your organization is also invited to be a corporate sponsor - through product donations, marketing sponsorships and other options. Contact Vince Ingram for more about this program. Interested in only receiving emails about the Go Green Warehouse? Scroll to the bottom of this email, click Update Profile, and select the box for Go Green Warehouse.
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Activision's Call of Duty Endowment Awards $100,000 to VGJ!
On March 11, 2011, the Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit organization focusing its resources on helping veterans transition to civilian careers, awarded $500,000 in grants to five organizations working to train, educate and place returning service members and wounded warriors back in the workforce. Veterans Green Jobs was named among the organizations that will receive a grant of $100,000.
This grant will go specifically towards helping fund our Green Force career program. The Call of Duty Endowment's generous gift will allow our program to link veterans with employers who have committed to hiring service members with a variety of job skills and will provide assistance to veterans transitioning into sustainable civilian careers.
Here's a quote from Bill Doe, our CEO, "We are actively engaged in developing staff and infrastructure for a full-suite Outreach, Recruitment and Placement (ORP) Program to serve veterans seeking employment in the green sector. Veterans Green Jobs will be able to network with employers to develop job needs and skill sets that are required for each position."
Thank you, Call of Duty Endowment!
Read the press release.
Watch Videos from the Award Dinner. |
NOW HIRING!
Veterans Green Corps & Montana Conservation Corps
The VGJ program Veterans Green Corps continues to expand and train more veterans for careers in outdoor conservation and forest maintenance through our partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps. Crew members reconnect with fellow soldiers and make new connections with the outdoors.
 | | A burn pile collected after a season of Veterans Corps hard work. Photo courtesy of the Durango Herald. |
The Montana opportunity will be based out of Billings, Montana but the project work will be on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado. The entire project is focused on fuels reduction, so an interest in using chainsaws and crosscut saws is essential. Members receive S212 saw training certification through Colorado Fire Camp, and an AmeriCorps living stipend. Upon completion of the program, participants receive an AmeriCorps education award of $1132 dollars to pursue education opportunities and technical training. Training begins in May. Interested veterans are encouraged to contact Tauzha Grantham at Montana Conservation Corps by phone: 406-651-1311 or email: tauzha@mtcorps.org. More information and applications are available online at www.mtcorps.org. Interested in other Veterans Green Corps opportunities? Contact Garett Reppenhagen with VGJ: 720-236-1313 or garett@veteransgreenjobs.org. Read an article from the Durango Herald on Veterans Green Corps. |
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A Mindset of Getting Things Done
Rae Venturi had been out of work for a year when she stumbled across a job opening at Veterans Green Jobs. She had been searching on the Internet for work in Colorado related to purchasing and inventory, and found a description that matched her qualifications.  A military veteran herself, Rae had had previous experience working with a few other veterans, but it was never a focus. Now, she relishes the chance to be in the company of others like herself. "We share the same mindset of getting things done," she says.
Working for a weatherization program is a first for Rae, but she sees a long-term career path. "This is a good time to get in on it," she reflects. "Our Earth resources continue to decrease, and eventually we'll exceed what's available. Finding alternative energies is good." Read the entire testimonial about Rae. |
Building a Warehouse to Help Military Veterans  At ages 18 to 24, the men and women from the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) travel around the country and, basically, bump around from cool project to cool project. Whether supporting post-hurricane disaster recovery or maintaining hiking trails in national parks, NCCC volunteers set their sights on having huge impacts on local communities.
Here in Denver, Veterans Green Jobs has benefited from two NCCC crews who have helped construct the Go Green Warehouse. The NCCC crews have been an invaluable source of help in getting the store ready - from painting walls and putting up racking, to stocking shelves and cleaning up. Kyla, one of the NCCC crewmembers, had this to say about her experience at VGJ: "Being here has opened my eyes to the veterans who risked their lives to defend our country, and come home to no support. Having Veterans Green Jobs to help them out is amazing." Read an article about NCCC's work here at VGJ. Watch a video of the NCCC crews at work in the Go Green Warehouse. |
Take Steak, Help Vets
Planning on dining out this month? Then download and print out this certificate and help benefit Veterans Green Jobs on Thursday, March 24!
As a way to pay tribute to our U.S. servicemen and women, three Lone Star Steakhouses in the Denver area will donate back 10% of their dinner receipts to our nonprofit if you present the certificate and order a meal that evening. Participating restaurants include the Lone Star Steakhouse in Golden (11905 West 6th Ave.), Littleton (4817 S. Wadsworth Blvd.) and Arvada (7450 West 52nd Ave.).
You'll not only enjoy a great meal, you'll also support a great organization -- so please remember to Take Steak!
Download the Certificate |
Rallying to Support VGJ
On September 11, 2011, several local nonprofits (including Veterans Green Jobs!) will participate in the 9/11 Freedom Rally, a day-long, family-oriented event that will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the eastern U.S. The 9/11 Freedom Rally will be held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City and will include a motorcycle run, simultaneous concerts, a walk/run, multicultural displays, food booths, interactive child and teen centers, and a Tribute Motorcycle Show. You'll also find opportunities to honor and show your support for our veterans, active military and first responders (police, firefighters and EMTs).
Event proceeds will benefit Veterans Green Jobs and more than 10 other organizations that serve these everyday American heroes.
For details on these events and for sponsorship information visit www.911freedomrally.org.
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Donate Your Car to Benefit Veterans Green Jobs
Want to hear about another easy and convenient way to support our organizational mission? Donate your used vehicle - it doesn't even have to run - and Veterans Green Jobs will benefit. You will receive a letter confirming your tax-deductible donation. CLICK HERE TO DONATE YOUR USED VEHICLE
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