Publisher's Corner
Guest Viewpoint
My Life is a Drain on My Family
Staten Island puts into practice the principle of “think global – act local”
“The moment I first learned about Operation Debt-Day and the collaboration between the Veteran Task Force of SI PPS and End Veteran Debt (EVD),” said Alex Marrocco, President and Director of the Road Home Foundation for Injured Warriors and Families, “I was all-in.”
“First, the cause of reducing Veteran suicide by relieving past and current debt burdens for these returned heroes is consistent with our mission and purpose. Secondly, EVD’s unique model of combining funding with awareness raising we feel could attract local and national interest in Road Home.”
Since its launch as a 501(c)(3) private charitable foundation in 2014, Road Home has raised and spent over $320,000 to give wounded Veterans and their families much-needed financial grants. Unfortunately, the number of Veterans and active-duty military who could benefit from this help has multiplied over that time.
“We need to treble donations to meet that need,” Alex added. “We won’t do that using yesterday’s marketing or social media skills, and that’s where EVD excels.”
Road Home stepped up to become the first SI PPS Veteran Task Force organization affiliate to donate $2,500 towards the $50,000 campaign goal and becoming the first member of the “Five-Percenter-Plus-Club.” This added lift-off heat to the site’s “thermometer” tracking contributions. When this goal is reached, the $50,000 will buy and eliminate $1,000,000 in Veteran debt nationally and release funds locally to support community efforts.
Not just past debts but here-and-now financial crises will be addressed
Road Home operates on four principles:
#1. Commitment.
#2. Transparency.
#3. Accountability.
#4. Education.
The first three principles were already shared in the DNA of EVD and Road Home. The challenge was how to partner in putting the fourth principle, education, to work. It is easy to see how relieving a Veteran or family member of past unpaid bills is a good thing. However, educating someone on how to deal with an immediate financial problem or, better yet, how to avoid the problem to begin with is even better.
To that end, Road Home and EVD are conducting once-monthly educational seminars through March. The first is How to Handle Calls and Communications from Debt Collectors. Given today’s economic climate, this is a timely subject. Nationally known industry experts will participate in this online webinar during the third week of this month to provide financial do’s and don’ts essential to Veterans and their families' survival.
Click here to be placed on the attendance list. Click here to donate to the SI SIPPS/EVD Operation Debt-Day Campaign.
