|
The Staten Island Service Member/Veterans and Families (SMVF) Newsletter
August 2025
| | Welcome to the SMVF newsletter, which provides listings of resources and events important to the Staten Island community of Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members. If you know of someone who is interested in receiving this newsletter, they can sign up at statenislandpps.org/veterans. | | |
End Veteran Debt/SI PPS Micro Summit
Join us for the inaugural Micro-Summit: Righting Veteran Wrongs, Ending Veteran Suicide!
| | |
Where:
Fordham University
(Fordham Veteran Center)
140 W. 62nd St., Room G76
New York, NY, 10023
When:
Tuesday, September 9th, 2025
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
This will be a unique “Civ-Vet” approach, thinking globally and acting locally, to solve veteran and debt issues within a broader community program. The micro-summit will enable artists, independent journalists, healthcare activists, and whistleblowers to engage with the public charities, NGO’s, national veteran and civilian mental health professionals and spokespersons from the VA.
Free enrollment is offered, although we include a donation button for $100 (and up) as a request to help defray our costs and promote our national Operation Debt-Day campaign to raise $50,000 which will abolish $1,000,000 in veteran debt nationally as well as provide local funds to help meet immediate veteran financial challenges.
Learn more and REGISTER HERE!
To make a donation to the SI PPS/EVD Campaign, click here.
| | |
Jerry Ashton of End Veteran Debt Receives Pillar Award at 2025 Whistleblower Summit
On July 30th, Jerry Ashton, Navy veteran and former military journalist, received recognition for his extraordinary post-service mission at the Whistleblower Summit. As co-founder of Undue Medical Debt (2014), he raised national awareness about the cost of unpayable healthcare while also helping to forgive over $20 billion in medical debt for more than 10 million Americans. SI PPS is proud to partner in Ashton's latest charity venture, End Veteran Debt, to extend his life-changing work by eliminating debt for veterans.
Ashton was joined by Mike Matthews, SI PPS Director of Veterans Programs, who participated in a panel alongside Anthony Warren, President and Co-founder of About Face Veterans, and Dr. Mary Roach of JJ Center and National Association of American Veterans.
About the Pillar Award:
Established in 2012, the Pillar Award is the highest honor bestowed upon the whistleblower community. Previous recipients include political leaders from both parties—Elizabeth Warren, Rand Paul, Cory Booker, Chuck Grassley, and Ron Wyden—alongside legendary truth-tellers Daniel Ellsberg, Bradley Birkenfeld, and Frank Serpico.
The award pays tribute to Frank Wills, the 1972 Watergate security guard whose actions uncovered one of America's greatest political scandals, yet who received only a $10 raise and lived in poverty.
About End Veteran Debt:
Staten Island PPS is partnered with End Veteran Debt (EVD) in a campaign to forgive $1 million in Veteran debt and generate $15K to support the Staten Island Veteran and Active Duty Community.
DONATE HERE and help us reach our goal of $50,000!
To learn more about Jerry Ashton and his mission, click here.
To learn how debt can negatively impact social determinants of health (SDOH) and increase risk of suicide in veterans, click here.
| | |
Northwell Military Liaison Services
Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and one of the nation’s top employers for military veterans and families. We are dedicated to meeting the unique need of veterans, service members and their families. Our services include but are not limited to: life after service, women's services, and pay differential program.
For more information about our services, click here.
| | |
VA Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Program
You served us, now let us serve you.
Our suicide prevention program services provide assistance to military personnel and their families. We offer veterans and their loved ones tender loving care and a listening ear.
All services are provided free of charge for eligible veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
To learn more about the program and how to get involved, click here.
| | |
Treatment for Justice-Involved Veterans
VA Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Centers are recruiting eligible Veterans to participate in a research study on treatment for Veterans involved with the criminal justice system.
Learn more here.
| | |
NYU Langone Military Family Center: Caring for military families coping with the invisible wounds of war
Our clinicians at NYU Langone Military Family Center can support you and your family in addressing the needs and challenges associated with military service and life transitions. We offer high-quality, accessible, integrated mental health care, which are free and confidential.
We provide assistance with both physical and psychological concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, and more. Our services include, but are not limited to, individual, couples and family therapy, medication management, and support groups.
To find out more about our services, click here.
| | |
Edge4Vets
Edge4Vets is conducted by the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham in the Gabelli School of Business. This program provides veterans with what they need most: support in translating their military skills into tools for civilian success.
Edge4Vets connects veterans with hiring managers at partner companies for jobs that can lead to careers.
For more information, click here.
| | |
1 Soldier, 1 Dog, 1 Team
What We Do:
1 Soldier 1 Dog 1 Team rescues shelter dogs and matches them with a Veteran and/or First Responder suffering from PTSD.
Learn more here.
| |
|
Priority One
If you have served at least one day in the active military, naval, or air service, including the Reserves and National Guard, you and your spouse are eligible for priority of service.
Our Veteran Specialists are available to help you with training and benefits, job-readiness workshops, and more!
Learn more here.
| | |
Nourish the Service Essentials Market, Blue Star Families
Family Meeting Center - Fort Wadsworth
2nd Floor
455 USS Tennessee Rd.
Staten Island, NY 10305
2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Questions? Contact Consuela Rodriguez at (904) 309-1817 or via email at crodriguez@bluetstarfam.org.
| | |
God's Love We Deliver
God's Love We Deliver is the leading Medically Tailored
Meal (MTM) provider in New York State. We have over 39 years of experience feeding,
nourishing, and improving the health and well-being of individuals living with severe illness.
Proudly serving home-delivered medically tailored meals to Veterans, their dependents, and their caregivers. You have served our country, now let us serve you!
God's Love has no religious affiliation; we serve all clients from diverse backgrounds. All
of our services are provided free to clients and full of love.
To learn more, click here.
For the latest newsletter, click here.
| | |
Staten Island Performing Provider System
1 Edgewater Plaza, Suite 700, Staten Island, NY 10305
(917) 830-1140
SIPPS-contactus@northwell.edu
www.statenislandpps.org
| | | | | |
