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Fall E-News Program Updates, Events, Partnerships and More
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State of the Organization
Dear veterans, family members, friends and supporters:
It was nearly one year ago that I took on the position of Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Green Jobs. What a year it has been! Record numbers of our nation's military are returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These veterans are struggling to find a place in civilian life during a time of economic hardship and high unemployment that is impacting the entire country. Media, lawmakers and politicians have shone a spotlight on the challenges that veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.
With veteran unemployment rates reaching as high as 20 percent, this is a critical time for Veterans Green Jobs to raise awareness of our commitment to helping military veterans find and secure meaningful career opportunities. This year has clearly been a time of growth for our organization as we continue to address these challenges.
Key programs, including our home weatherization services in Colorado and our Veterans Green Corps outdoor conservation program (which now reaches eight states), have connected hundreds of veterans with vital training and employment opportunities. Last spring, we won a grant to start building an outreach, recruitment and placement program that matches military veterans with green sector jobs. We are actively seeking partnerships to support us in this work. In May, we opened the Go Green Warehouse, where we sell deeply discounted donated home improvement items that would otherwise end up in landfills. Proceeds benefit our job and training programs, and we're off to a strong start with initial sales projections nearly doubled. This fall, we won a grant to equip homeless and low-income veterans with green job skills, and we've hired a veteran to build and manage this program.
We continue to partner with other nonprofits, veterans organizations, private companies and government agencies to reach even more former members of the armed forces and raise awareness for Veterans Green Jobs. Visit our website to learn more about the work we are doing.
I hope to see you all at the second annual Veterans Day Breakfast in Denver on Nov. 11. Together, we will continue to put veterans to work in jobs that benefit our communities and the nation.
In Service to Veterans,
Dr. Bill Doe
U.S. Army Veteran and CEO
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Veterans Green Jobs and America's Great Outdoors Initiative
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Quarry Visitor Center
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Garett Reppenhagen, director of Veterans Transition Programs for Veterans Green Jobs, joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior-and Colorado's own-Ken Salazar for the opening of the new Quarry Visitor Center at Dinosaur National Park in September. They discussed job growth through the America's Great Outdoors initiative. During the past two summers, our Veterans Green Corps program has completed invasive species removal on two rivers in the National Park. At the ceremony, Secretary Salazar reinforced his commitment to conservation and preserving natural resources while creating jobs. Learn more about collaborative efforts between Veterans Green Jobs and the America's Great Outdoors initiative.
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Go Green Warehouse Off to a Strong Start!
Within five weeks of the Go Green Warehouse launch in May, our new social enterprise had surpassed its projections by more than 44 percent in sales. Our 40,000-square foot warehouse sells new and used home improvement materials at heavily discounted prices (up to 75% off retail), and by shopping in and donating to the Warehouse, customers help prevent usable items from being thrown into landfills.
 | Doors are open at
Go Green Warehouse! |
Income from the Go Green Warehouse supports our job and training programs for military veterans seeking employment opportunities in sustainability sectors.
Do you have items to donate? Our sales are strong, but we are currently in need of more donated products to fill our shelves. Call us for a free pick-up. Want to volunteer in our store? Visit our website to learn how. Or, call 720-236-1340.
Check out this feature about the Go Green Warehouse on Tom Martino TV.
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It's EZ to Help
Did you know? Veterans Green Jobs is an approved Enterprise Zone charity. Donors who contribute $500 or more may receive a 25% Colorado state tax credit for cash contributions and a 12.5% tax credit for in-kind gifts, such as goods and services. Visit our website, or call Jo at 720-236-1315.
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Congratulations Graduating Corps Crews!
Veterans Green Corps wrapped up another successful crew season putting veterans to work providing conservation improvements on public lands. Several cohorts graduated in August, including the Nevada Conservation Corps, which hired seven U.S. military veterans to build and improve trails at Spring Mountain National Park. The Montana Conservation Corps crew employed 10 veterans who worked to clear beetle-infested trees at Medicine Bow National Forest.
 | | California Conservation Corps Crew |
The California Conservation Corps crew, through an extended season of 22 weeks, graduated seven veterans at the end of September. This cohort camped and worked in super-remote locations building bridges, steps and retaining walls with primitive tools. They also garnered the attention of the New York Times.
These projects have proven to be life-changing for many of the corps members, and some plan to continue on in conservation work and outdoor careers. Andrew, a U.S. Navy veteran, describes the challenges and rewards of working outdoors with a tight knit community of fellow veterans. "The work becomes harder every day, but the laughter grows louder and the embraces warmer. I look around now and see my new family." Read more from Andrew and other veterans.
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Making Homes More Efficient
In June, Veterans Green Jobs successfully fulfilled its contract period with the Colorado Governor's Energy Office to weatherize income-qualifying homes in Denver and Jefferson counties and the San Luis Valley. About 1,630 households were weatherized under the July 2010-June 201l contract funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The successful program continues uninterrupted under a new $8.5 million contract that began July 1.
Our weatherization services give hope for a more comfortable winter to residents like Renee Shirley. "In the winter we keep the cold out by stapling Army blankets to the walls and putting plastic on the windows. We'll be warmer this winter, thanks to these upgrades. I'm hoping our bills will go down by at least $100 a month," she says.
Learn more about VGJ's weatherization program.
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Remember and Donate
Remember Pearl Harbor. Make an end-of-year contribution in honor or in memory of a serviceman or woman and Veterans Green Jobs will acknowledge the contribution on our website (no dollar amounts will be revealed). Your gift will be a tribute to those who have served and continue to serve our nation. Make your gift on Colorado Gives Day Dec. 6 and your donation will be partly matched with incentive funds.
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Andy Garza
Assistant Store Manager, Go Green Warehouse
 | | Andy Garza |
When Andy Garza saw the job listing for warehouse work at the Go Green Warehouse, he knew it was the right job for him.
Before coming to the Go Green Warehouse, Andy studied recreational facilities management in college, ran his own golf shop and spent 13 years managing warehouses. A military veteran who served on active duty in U.S. Army starting at age 22, he appreciates the difficulty veterans have transitioning to life in the civilian world. "Some people stay in the military because they have no other skills and don't know what they'll do. There's a mission here at Veterans Green Jobs to train vets and help them get skills. It makes me feel very patriotic." Read Andy's story.
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Save the Date! Veterans Day Breakfast 11/11/11
 Don't miss the second annual Veterans Day Breakfast hosted by Veterans Green Jobs. Join us Nov. 11 from 7:30 - 9:15 a.m. at the Denver Police Protective Association, 2105 Decatur St. in Denver. The keynote speaker will be James F. Yacone, West Point graduate, decorated Army veteran and special agent in charge of the FBI's Denver Division. We anticipate more than 350 attendees including elected officials, military honorees, veterans, active servicemen and women, local luminaries and event sponsors. Sponsorships are still available, starting at $350 for a table of eight. Individual tickets are $35 each. For information, contact Leigha at 720-236-1300, x5506. We hope to see you there!
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Join us! Veterans Green Jobs Open House
Join us at our Go Green Warehouse on Wednesday, Oct. 12, for the Veterans Green Jobs' Happy Hour Open House and Networking Mixer. This free event runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Show your support for veterans and enjoy plenty of food, drinks and opportunities to connect. Register now.
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Making Green Healthy and Healthy Green
Veterans Green Jobs is hosting the Making 'Green' Healthy & 'Healthy' Green Symposium on Monday, Oct. 24, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Learn how to work toward the dual goal of increasing energy efficiency and producing healthy, safe conditions for workers and occupants. The focus will be on energy efficiency, weatherization and green building efforts that target existing residential environments. View the agenda online.
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CEO at Clinton Global Initiative
Veterans Green Jobs' CEO, Dr. Bill Doe, was among 75 national business, government and non-profit leaders invited to explore economic issues including employment, education and community engagement related to America's newest veterans during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) held in Chicago in June. The veterans-specific working group addressed six key aspects for veterans: outreach, reintegration, training, education and employment, and made specific recommendations for follow-up. Learn more about our involvement in the Clinton Global Initiative.
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Celebrating Hispanic Veterans in Washington, D.C.
 | | From left: Vice President Joe Biden, Sheila and Charlie Sanchez, Dr. Jill Biden |
Charlie Sanchez, program director for Veterans Green Jobs' San Luis Valley operation, recently returned from Washington D.C., where he attended the Hispanic Heritage Month reception at the residence of Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. Read Charlie's account of this exciting visit!
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Veterans Green Jobs joins Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is a national public-private partnership that focuses on repairing and improving housing in economically challenged communities. The GHHI is leading a national strategy to make sure all families and children live in homes that are healthy, safe, energy-efficient and sustainable. Veterans Green Jobs will support the initiative in Denver by providing job training and certifications in green jobs. Veterans Green Jobs participated in the National Healthy Homes Conference hosted by GHHI in Denver in June.
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Answer the call! Volunteer
Veterans Green Jobs is playing a bugle call for volunteers. Individuals and groups can directly contribute to our mission by participating in volunteer activities. The Volunteer Program can be customized based on you or your group's availability, needs, and experience. Opportunities include team building and retail work in the Go Green Warehouse, assisting in the weatherization and national headquarters, veteran mentoring and community outreach at special events. Contact Kynnie Martin at 720-236-1336 or kynnie@veteransgreenjobs.org to see how you or your organization can contribute to the mission of Veterans Green Jobs.
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Call of Duty Endowment and Microsoft® Donate Software
 Microsoft donated $250,000 in cash and software to the Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit organization focused on helping veterans transition to civilian careers. The Endowment provided $36,000 worth of Microsoft software to Veterans Green Jobs. Thank you!
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Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships Funds Energy Assistance
The Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships reported in a recent e-newsletter that it would provide $2.2 million in funding for energy assistance programs this year. Veterans Green Jobs was among the organizations receiving funding. The monies will help Veterans Green Jobs provide home weatherization and energy efficiency services to financially strapped families and create jobs for military veterans. Learn more about the DOSP Awards.
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Workplace Giving Made Easy
Veterans Green Jobs is now part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Colorado Combined Campaign (CCC). These campaigns offer federal and state employees the opportunity to donate to charities through workplace giving. The contributions can easily be made by payroll deduction, cash, check or credit card. Donations to the CFC and the CCC are voluntary, confidential and tax deductible. If you are a federal or state employee, please consider Veterans Green Jobs for your charity of choice for the 2012 campaign.
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