DOCSLIB.ORG

ANSWERS for VETERANS a Year in Review: May 2013 – May 2014 Our Mission the Founding of Gratitudeamerica Inc

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ANSWERS for VETERANS a Year in Review: May 2013 – May 2014 Our Mission the Founding of Gratitudeamerica Inc ANSWERS FOR VETERANS A Year in Review: May 2013 – May 2014 Our Mission The Founding of GratitudeAmerica Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that GratitudeAmerica strives not to compete, but rather to complement and supplement other veterans’ service programs for the Lewis and Joni Jordan founded GratitudeAmerica in late greatest common good. Our primary goal is to stand 2011. Lewis now serves as CEO of GratitudeAmerica, Inc. by our heroes through their daily struggles and victo- Prior to devoting himself to this mission, he had a distinguished career in commercial aviation spanning ries and to provide access to answers and resources nearly 50 years. Highlights include serving as president through our network of community partners and orga- and chief operating officer for Flying Tigers and for nizations that work hard to ensure our heroes receive Continental Airlines during its major growth and acquisition the services they deserve. As we grow our partnership period. network and demonstrate the success of our programs, In 1993, Jordan co-founded ValuJet Airlines and served as we will seek to expand from northeast Florida to other president of the company and as president and chairman communities that would benefit from our model and of its successor AirTran Airways until his retirement from programs. active management in 1997. Lewis and Joni then decided to dedicate themselves to assisting the men and women of our armed forces. In September of 2012, Lewis and John Henry November, the organization’s Executive Director, met with Colonel David Sutherland and the current mission of the organization was born. John, a native Floridian, specializes in nonprofit law and is working hard to create strong and replicable programs that will benefit current and prior service members in Northeast Florida and additional communities in the future. Army Veteran Sammie Cosby and his girlfriend, Deidra Coleman, use teamwork during an equine therapy during our first retreat in June 2013 . Retreat Facillitator Vic Bruner leads particpants through a breath awareness exercise during the June 2013 retreat. FOUNDER’S MESSAGE It is my pleasure and honor to be I am proud to serve with the other members of our corporate releasing GratitudeAmerica’s first Board of Directors, retired U.S. Air Force Four Star General annual report. I am proud of the J.B. Davis; Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D.; and Mr. Jim exciting progress that our Jacoby. I am extraordinarily honored that Senator Bob Dole, organization has made thus far in a war hero and great American, serves as GratitudeAm- our young existence as we seek to erica’s esteemed Honorary Chairman. We are also greatly fulfill our mission of championing appreciative of the support of the outstanding members an alliance of service and support of our prestigious advisory board who all have unique organizations that partner to knowledge and experiences that benefit the organization. provide comprehensive community resources for veterans, their famlies, and the families of the fallen. As you read through this annual report, please consider pledging your support to help us assist the deserving We are proud to be affiliated with numerous organizations, heroes and their families. We owe them more than we can including the Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon Center and Easter ever repay. Seals, in our endeavor to assist communities and individuals throughout the United States with initiatives that benefit our Thank you for your interest and your support. heroes and their families. Combining efforts and best God Bless America! practices will allow us to achieve the greatest benefit for the men and women of our armed forces. We know a stronger Lewis H. Jordan and better America will result from improving the Founder and CEO support network for these heroes as they navigate the path GratitudeAmerica to returning to productive roles in civilian life. Bob Dole John Henry November World War II Veteran Executive Director Honorary Chairman Gratitude America Jacksonville, FL STAFF J.B. Davis Victoria Bruner Chair LCSW-C, RB, BETS Retired Four Star General Clinical Consultant Concluded an illustrious 35-year career Chicago, Illinois with the U.S. Air Force in 1993 Tampa, FL Lewis Jordan David Shoots CEO LCSW, MTH, CAPP Distinguished 49-year career Daytona Beach Vet Center in commercial aviation. Combat Veteran Lewis and his wife, Joni, founded Daytona Beach, Florida GratitudeAmerica in 2011 Fernandina Beach, FL BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD Jim Jacoby Tracy S. Hejmanowski Founder, Chairman and CEO Clinical Psychologist and Jacoby Development, Inc. Program Manager of the Veteran Deployment Health Center Atlanta, Georgia Veteran Jacksonville, Florida Charles Nemeroff Ann McCulliss Johnson Director Military Outreach Coordinator Center on Aging for the Department of Psychology Department of Psychiatry and University of Cental Florida Behavioral Sciences Combat Veteran University of Miami School of Medicine Vilano Beach, Florida Miami, Florida John Parrish Jack English Edward Wigglesworth Distinguished Television Producer Professor Emeritus of Dermatology Decorated Army Medical Harvard Medical School Service Officer - Vietnam Inaugural Director Atlanta, Geogira Boston Red Sox/Massachusetts General Hospital’s Home Base Program Served as a Vietnam Marine battlefield M.D. Boston, Massachussetts John Bradley Terence Keane Jonathan Sherin Chief of Psychiatry and Deputy Asst. Dean for Research, Professor Executive Vice President, Veterans’ Af- Director for Mental Health, Vice-Chair of Dept. of Psychiatry fairs Chief Medical Officer, Volunteers VA Boston Healthcare System B.U. School of Medicine of America Boston, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts Alexandria, Virginia L. Elaine Harris James P. Kelly Robert Taylor Partner, Allen and Associates Director Fernandina Beach, Florida Partner, Ernst and Young (Ret.) National Intrepid Center of Excellence Los Angeles, California Bethesda, Maryland Rick Hartley Alicia Wadas Charles Marmar Executive Director COO The 100 Club Professor of Psychiatry The Lavidge Company Houston, Texas NYU Department of Psychiatry Phoenix, Arizona New York, New York ADVISORY BOARD ADVISORY Philip J. Hickey Jr. Kimberly M. Mitchell Rev. Ted Wiard CEO Deputy Director LPCC, CGC Park Row Ventures Staff Sergeant Co-Founder and Director Atlanta, Georgia Donnie D. Dixon Center for Golden Willow Retreat Military Veterans and Community Service Taos, New Mexico Washington D.C. Bruce Hicks Marcia H. Scott James E. Williams Jr. Principal Director President and CEO The Alliant Group Corporate Communications Easter Seals, Inc. Houston, Texas Mesa Airlines Chicago, Illinois Phoenix, Arizona Clark Howard Steven Schacter Rachel Yehuda Consumer Advocate CAO Program Leader of NeuroTech- Professor of Pychiatry and Broadcast Journalist nology Neurobiology Atlanta, Georgia CIMIT Professor of Neurology Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Harvard Medical School Bronx, New York Boston, Massachusetts Jerry C. Jones David Sutherland Rob M. Ray CLO Chariman, Attorney Acxiom Corporation Easter Seals Donnie Dixon Center Savannah, Georgia Little Rock, Arkansas First Advisory Board Member Special Advisor Washington D.C. CONNECTING VETERANS TO THE SERVICES THEY DESERVE Alliance & Resource Guide Creation “We can help ourselves to take more control.” - PAST RETREAT PARTICIPANT GratitudeAmerica is working to expand our network of alliance members that can assist us in directing our heroes and families to the myriad support services available to them. Since our launch in 2012, our initial focus has been on developing a resource guide for current and prior service men and women in Northeast Florida. We hope this resource guide assists the government, nonprofit, private and faith-basedinstitutions serving our military heroes by facilitating connections and referrals between the organizations listed in the guide. February 2014 Retreat Participant Kim Specht relaxes with her service dog ,Toby, after a peaceful Yoga Sess- sion. Outreach & Retreats “The retreat helped our marriage to be stron- While GratitudeAmerica’s primary mission is to ger.” connect our military heroes to service and support - PAST RETREAT PARTICIPANT organizations, we also organize outreach programs that provide a pathway to gain access to available services. Our signature program, hosting retreats for military families at Florida’s landmark town of Marineland, has been received with great enthusiasm by all involved. The Retired Army Veteran John Smith hugs his wife, Lynette, as they purpose of the Marineland Military Support Retreats is to are presented a quilt during a retreat’s closing ceremony. provide intensive and integrative short-term retreats for service members and their primary support persons, and to build toward our goal of establishing a permanent wellness/healing restoration center for military personnel at Marineland. GratitudeAmerica’s Marineland Military Support Retreats are designed to assist participants affected by deployment exposures such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury by using holistic, supportive and educational approaches structured to renew connections to one’s self, peers, family and community. We provide numerous activities including: healing through immersion in nature, recreation, equine/ canine therapy, tai chi, breath awareness, dolphin interaction and guided meditations. The opportunity to explore on one’s own terms in a supportive setting has been shown to improve relationships, health conditions and promote healing where needed. Our first two
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Roadmap for Auto Community Revitalization
    REVITALIZATION RD SUSTAINABLE WAY ROADMAP FOR AUTO COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION A Toolkit for Local Officials Seeking to Clean Up Contamination, Revive Manufacturing, Improve Infrastructure & Build Sustainable Communities iii Roadmap for Auto Community Revitalization Acknowledgements This document is the result of the combined efforts of a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR), the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, and the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities (formerly the Mayors Automotive Coalition (MAC)). DOL, EPA, and the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities acknowledge the assistance provided by OBLR’s contractor, Environmental Management Support (EMS), Inc. In addition, several organizations and individuals provided valuable assistance to the authors of this report. We acknowledge the cooperation of the mayors, city managers, economic development directors, and other officials from localities across the nation that are the drivers of automotive community revitalization. These leaders dedicate themselves to better communities and a better nation. Their struggles, stories and successes form the basis of this roadmap. DOL, EPA and the MAC also acknowledge the cooperation of The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth & Livable Communities, The Ford Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation in their collective efforts to support communities in the revitalization of brownfields. Please note that DOL and EPA do not endorse
    [Show full text]
  • Participant Biographies
    Co-sponsored by: The White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers United States Department of Labor The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities MAY 18, 2010 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Ellen Alberding Ellen Alberding is president and a board member of the Joyce Foundation, which has assets of $750 million and makes grants of $40 million a year for projects to improve the quality of life in the Great Lakes region. The foundation is a major funder of environmental groups in the Midwest, with a particular focus on water and air quality. Other foundation priorities include improving educational outcomes for low-income children; employment and workforce issues; and other initiatives that promote democracy and a diverse and thriving culture. Ms. Alberding is a founder and board member of Advance Illinois, which advocates for public education reform in Illinois. She is a board member of Independent Sector, where she has worked to establish improved accountability and governance standards for non-profits. She is a board member of the Economic Club of Chicago as well as a trustee of the National Park Foundation. She has served as president and chairman of the investment committee for the Chicago Park District pension fund (1993–2001); trustee of Aon Funds (2000–2003); trustee of the American University of Paris (2007–2008); treasurer of Grantmakers in the Arts (a national organization of arts funders); member of the Public Trust Task Force for the Donors Forum of Chicago; and member of the Cultural Advisory Board for the City of Chicago. She is a member of the Commercial Club, the Chicago Network, and serves on the advisory boards of several nonprofit organizations.
    [Show full text]
  • Easterninfluence
    Sunday Edition December 2, 2018 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER $1.50 MPO touches $1.4B economic corridor plan unveiled upon Cass- BY JAMES SWIFT include 900 single family units, 2,100 active adult [email protected] facility units, 300 townhomes and 75,000 square White Road feet of medical office. The completed development Bartow County got its first glimpse of a pro- is projected to top out at around 3,700 residential posed tax allocation district (TAD) in and around units and 565,000 square feet of commercial and improvements, Emerson Wednesday morning, as plans for the residential property. $1.4 billion Etowah-Allatoona Economic Corridor The Allatoona Landing project would include a sidewalk work were revealed to the public. 100-key hotel, 500 marina expansion slips and an The plans largely revolve around two major pro- 8,000-square-foot amphitheater. grant monies posed economic developments — a 1,000 acre- The plan was presented as part of a public hear- plus commercial and residential mixed-use site, ing concerning a resolution to authorize a TAD BY JAMES SWIFT called Etowah Highlands, and a revamped Alla- “down around the proposed Jacoby development [email protected] toona Landing project with 30,000 square feet of at Paga Mine Road,” said Bartow County Admin- retail and 200 vacation rental units. istrator Peter Olson. Bartow Transportation Planner Tom Sills ran down a lengthy list RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS The Etowah Highlands project would be con- Jim Jacoby, the Atlanta-based real estate devel- The proposed Etowah Highlands project would create 3,700 structed atop the old Paga Mine property, abutting oper referenced by Olson, hasn’t been secretive of updates at Wednesday’s residential units and 565,000 square feet of commercial and the Etowah River to the north and Red Top Moun- Cartersville-Bartow Metropolitan residential properties on the old Paga Mine site.
    [Show full text]
  • Aerotropolis Atlanta Brownfield Redevelopment Health Impact Assessment
    Aerotropolis Atlanta Brownfield Redevelopment Health Impact Assessment Produced for Health Impact Project, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prepared by Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology Catherine L. Ross, Ph.D., Director and Harry West Chair Michael L. Elliott, Ph.D., Associate Director Michelle Marcus Rushing & Jason Barringer, Research Scientists Sarah Cox, Alexandra Frackelton, John Kent, & Arthi Rao, Research Assistants December 2011 Atlanta Aerotropolis Brownfield Redevelopment Health Impact Assessment About the Health Impact Table of Contents Project Acknowledgements ........................................................................... 1 The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Executive Summary........................................................................... 2 Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, is a Understanding the Aerotropolis HIA ............................................. 5 national initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as HIA Results and Recommendations ............................................ 6 a decision-making tool for policymakers. HIAs use a Reading the Report ..................................................................... 10 flexible, data-driven approach that identifies the health Using the Results and Recommendations ................................ 11 consequences of new policies and develops practical Resources
    [Show full text]
  • PAWS and EFFECT Anticipates Director More Speaks in Details on Bartow Mixed-Use
    Sunday Edition July 28, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER $1.50 SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 GRESS EDITION 2019 PROGRESS EDITION Ashley Capital building in INSIDE • Cartersville venues Adairsville on ‘entertain and delight’ theatergoers • Savoy Automobile Museum eyes late 2020 RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS opening Ashley Capital representatives said their fi rst building in • Georgia Museums Inc. venues mark pace for November Adairsville is on pace for completion in November. attendance, anniversary milestones BY JAMES SWIFT panels on the building now,” said “We will be rough-graded for Schneider said Ashley Capital [email protected] Ashley Capital Vice President a pad site of about 1.1 million recently sought several variance Tim Schneider. “A tremendous square feet,” he said. “We are requests from the City of Adairs- Not only is Ashley Capital’s amount of progress has been still designing the adjacent 95 ville. roughly 769,000-square-foot made over the last 60 days on the acres that we recently purchased, “The City building code re- In This Issue: spec building project in Adairs- construction there, and we are but we are anticipating about 1.4 quires a signifi cant amount of ville rapidly approaching com- currently scheduled to deliver the million square feet in either two alternate material other than pletion, the New York-based real building in November.” or three buildings on that site.” concrete facing the public road,” estate investment fi rm is also But that’s just the beginning of Offi cially titled the Georgia he said. “Most of the industrial expanding its footprint near the the project, which Schneider said North Logistics Center, the de- buildings that we build, we don’t Georgia North industrial park in will likely entail an additional velopment is is situated north of have a requirement for that, and northern Bartow.
    [Show full text]
  • ANSWERS for VETERANS a Year in Review: May 2014 – May 2015 Participants Striking a Pose While Playing Bocce During Marineland July 2015 Retreat
    ANSWERS FOR VETERANS A Year in Review: May 2014 – May 2015 Participants Striking A Pose While Playing Bocce During Marineland July 2015 Retreat FOUNDER’S MESSAGE GratitudeAmerica continues to make your support to help us assist our deserving heroes and their tremendous progress as we seek to families. We owe them more than we can ever repay. fulfill our mission to provide critical support for our past and present military Thank you for your interest and support. God Bless America! service members and their families during Lewis Jordan their return to civilian life. Over the past Founder & CEO year we have expanded our retreat GratitudeAmerica programs to assist participants affected by deployment exposures, such as Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury, and have successfully connected “I had a lot of pain, anger, and grief. Now I am warriors to the resources they deserve through our network a man of hope, smiles, and a little more joy. of community partners. This retreat treated me as future potential, not All of these efforts to support our military would not be possible as a mistake. I learned about non-traditional without the dedicated support of our corporate Board of ways to deal, address, and move forward in a Directors, Advisory Board, and the generous donors who happier state. Your small, but important, support support our programs. I pledge to ensure that every dollar helped me make a better future. Thanks for donated is spent prudently to positively impact the lives of saving my life (in more ways than one.)” as many military families as possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Designing Community: the Application of New Urban Principles to Create Authentic Communities
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 11-13-2009 Designing Community: The Application of New Urban Principles to Create Authentic Communities Margaret Embry University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Embry, Margaret, "Designing Community: The Application of New Urban Principles to Create Authentic Communities" (2009). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1954 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Designing Community: The Application of New Urban Principles to Create Authentic Communities by Margaret Embry A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Geography College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Elizabeth Strom, Ph.D. Martin Bosman, Ph.D. Kevin Archer, Ph.D. Date of Approval: November 13, 2009 Keywords: social capital, Amelia Park, “traditional neighborhood development”, West Park Village, Atlantic Station © Copyright 2009, Margaret Embry Table of Contents List of Tables iv List of Figures v Abstract vii Chapter One: Introduction and Background 1 Introduction 1 Methods for Research 2 Crime
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis+Strategy Parking
    INNOVATION SQUARE. PARKING ANALYSIS+STRATEGY PARKING ANALYSIS+STRATEGY. CONTENTS. 05 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................07 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ......................................................................................09 EXISTING ASSETS ....................................................................................................15 RECOMMENDATIONS ...............................................................................................25 PHASING ..................................................................................................................53 CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................75 APPENDIX A: CASE STUDIES ...................................................................................81 CREDITS CRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS COLLEGE PARK UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD Susan Bottcher, Chair Brad Pollitt, Chair Yvonne Hinson-Rawls, Vice Chair Anne Haisley Ed Braddy Billy Beltz Todd Chase Clay Kallman Thomas Hawkins Eric Wild Lauren Poe Robert Wallace Randy Wells Tom Rider Wells The Losen 06 INTRODUCTION. PARKING ANALYSIS+STRATEGY. PARKING ANALYSIS+STRATEGY. INTRODUCTION. 07 PARKING ANALYSIS+STRATEGY. INTRODUCTION A key component of Innovation Square’s vision is to create a vibrant, urban district that encourages walkability and promotes alternative forms of transportation. Critical to that vision is ensuring that parking
    [Show full text]
  • A BRUSH with the LAW Development May Begin Before 2020
    WEDNESDAY August 14, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 cents Sheriff’s deputy arrested, fi red after incident goes viral BY JAMES SWIFT from an incident that happened to “[expletive] off” and to “not BCSO, on and off, for about sev- [email protected] at the Rosewood Apartment knock on our [expletive] door.” en years. Homes off Grassdale Road Sat- The video also shows one of the According to BCSO records, A Bartow County Sheriff’s urday night. parties apparently shoving the Smith was also charged with deputy has been terminated af- A video uploaded on Aug. woman. misdemeanor disorderly con- ter a video went viral on social 11 apparently shows Strickland The press release from the duct, while Strickland was addi- media. and Smith shouting profani- Bartow County’s Sheriff’s Offi ce tionally charged with maintain- In a press release, Bartow ty at a woman who knocked indicates an investigation began ing a disorderly house, another County Sheriff Clark Millsap on their door and complained Monday morning, with Strick- misdemeanor. announced that 28-year-old dep- about noise emanating from the land immediately suspended. Jail records indicate both uty Brison Chancez Strickland apartment. He was terminated following a Strickland and Smith were re- has been fi red after he and his During the confrontation, subsequent review by the BCSO leased from custody at the Bar- 25-year-old fi ancé, Kristen Paige Smith shouted “we are the [ex- Criminal Investigations Division tow County Jail on Tuesday af- Smith, were arrested and charged pletive] police,” while Strick- and Internal Affairs Offi ce.
    [Show full text]
  • What's Inside
    JewishTHE Georgian Volume 23, Number 2 Atlanta, Georgia JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011 FREE AJFF ushers in 2011 with a bigger roster of films and venues What’s Inside By Bradford R. Pilcher Fans of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by the 2011 event. This cultural institution of Atlanta Jewry, which this year runs February 8-27, has expanded to six ven- Big Changes at ues and spreads across three full weeks, with a slate of films that now totals well over 60. The festival’s footprint now touches East Cobb, Sandy Federation Springs, and the northern metropolitan areas near John’s Creek, as well as As Steve Rackitt heads to Washington, downtown. Federation begins the search for some- So where to start? Opening night is a safe bet for both excitement and value. The one to fill his shoes. Fabulous Fox Theatre will play host to the festivities, meaning more seats Page 20 than ever. General admission is just $10, making it easily affordable for the entire family, and kids in Little League can get in free just by wearing their uniforms. (Red Carpet VIP tickets are available and include a pre-film Being Jewish party with celebrity chefs and a live auction.) An encounter with a customer is an And the reason for baseball uniforms? That would be the movie Jews important reminder of what it means to and Baseball: An American Love Story, which chronicles the Jewish love be Jewish. affair with America’s pastime. Sandy Koufax sat for an interview in the By R.M.
    [Show full text]