Koret Foundation Awards $1.2 Million in New Grants to Bay Area Veterans Organizations

SAN FRANCISCO – Organizations that serve San Francisco Bay Area veterans will receive more than $1 million in new grants over three years from the Koret Foundation as part of the Bay Area philanthropy’s focus on supporting veterans.

Grants focus on the issues of workforce development, health care, and transition to civilian life — areas in which government benefits often fail to cover many veterans or fail to meet essential requirements. These new grants will help bridge the significant gap that exists between the benefits offered to veterans though government services and the vast and varying needs of returning veterans.

“Our nation’s veterans have paid a special price in serving our country,” said Michael Boskin, Koret Foundation President. “It is our responsibility to ensure that they have the necessary resources and services to make a successful transition back to civilian life. We hope that our support will raise awareness of the challenges veterans face and encourage other funders to follow suit.”

Bay Area veterans, who number approximately 23,000 in all, face significant challenges when returning to civilian life: Nearly 80 percent left the military without a job and nearly 50 percent experienced financial difficulty in the past year. More than 50 percent of Bay Area veterans with significant physical or mental health issues are not receiving care.

These new grants, which include funding for the Goodwill San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin, will help fund organizations catering to veterans’ needs and empower veterans returning from military service to transition successfully back to civilian life.

“Each year, SF Goodwill helps break the cycle of poverty for Bay Area residents, who need a second chance, through our transformative training and work placement programs,” said William Rogers, President and CEO of Goodwill San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin. “These programs and services are especially important for our returning veterans, to whom we owe a special debt of gratitude and who often face additional barriers to success.

We’re proud to partner with the Koret Foundation to offer critical employment services to vets through our Veterans Employment, Training and Services (VETS)
program.”

In all, Koret will grant $1.2 million to these organizations, including:

• $450,000 over three years to Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo & Marin for its new Veterans Employment, Training and Services (VETS) program.
• $420,000 over three years to the VA Palo Alto Health Care System to support transportation for disabled or impaired veterans from as far away as Livermore, Modesto, Monterrey and Sonora to reach the facility.
• $210,000 over three years to Higher Ground to support week long recreational therapy
  programs for disabled veterans to regain physical activity, reduce the symptoms of PTSD, build a network of peers, and develop skills to improve quality of life.
• $60,000 over three years to Hire Heroes USA, which provides employment support and career coaching for veterans.
• $45,000 over three years to The Mission Continues, which partners with local nonprofits to organize community service projects for veterans.
• $15,000 over three years to Foothill-De Anza Community Colleges Foundation to support the campus Veterans Services Office.

To be connected with leadership at the Koret Foundation and/or grantee veterans organizations, please contact Tony Franquiz at [email protected] or 202-374-5393.

About the Koret Foundation
Based in San Francisco, the Koret Foundation is committed to strengthening the Bay Area community and nurturing the continuity of the Jewish people worldwide. Since its founding in 1979, Koret has awarded over $500 million in grants to an array of outstanding organizations doing important work in these areas