Returning veterans often face significant physical and psychological challenges upon returning home from combat, and a group of families recently launched an initiative to ensure they get the attention they need. The fundraising challenge, the Veteran Support Fund, began earlier this week and hopes to raise $30 million across five different military charities, Medill News Service reports.
The effort is the brainchild of Glenn Garland, who started the initiative along with Philip Green and Jim Stimmel as way to give back to servicemembers who have put their lives on the line over the last decade. The trio has already contributed more than $1 million to the cause and hopes that others follow suit.
"In the last 10 to 20 years, it was pretty easy for Americans to overlook the contributions made by those veterans," Garland said in his announcement of the launch, according to the newspaper. "Every successful person in this country has enjoyed their success because of the sacrifice of someone else."
The funds raised will go to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Operation Mend, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Operation Homefront and the National Military Family Association.
The IAVA was integral in the creation of the fund. The organization's executive director, Paul Rieckhoff, says its funds will go toward helping military families and supporting other nonprofit services.