SSV recognizes all who make a difference in the lives of Veterans

JULY 2022

Helping Veterans

build rewarding careers

& meaningful lives

Team Building Benefits
Mission Moment
Bob Woodruff Gift
Charlie's Impact
Tools for Success
NEW '988' Crisis Line
Job Fairs/ Events/ Training

Team Building Generates Smiles & Support

One company has developed a unique way to honor both its employees and the Veterans of our community. Here is the story of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems’ employee appreciation lunch.

“Once a month, for the past 8 years, we've hosted a fun employee team building charity lunch." General Atomics EMS provides the meal and invites employees to attend and donate to the chosen charity if they want to. Everyone sits at the tables in groups of 4. "We encourage people to sit with folks they don’t know. Together we enjoy food, fun conversation, and a rather lively game of team trivia, where we compete for the coveted ‘Top Banana’ trophy. The only rule is that you can’t be on the same team each month. This helps us get to know our coworkers and experience working as a team with people we may not work with normally.”

“Beyond building camaraderie throughout the company, it allows us to give back to local charities." One charity per quarter is selected to receive the employee donations. "We've supported charities that help fight food insecurity, homelessness, and animals in need, but Still Serving Veterans is a charity that is personal for a lot of people here at GA EMS. As a defense company our primary objective is to support the war fighter; but we also have many employees who have served or have a family member who served. Several Veteran employees have also benefited directly from SSV’s services, finding assistance with VA benefits and locating civilian careers after transition. SSV was an easy choice for our support.”

- Rusty Anderson, CCC (Chief Camaraderie Coordinator) General Atomics EMS

MISSION MOMENT: How Your Support is Helping Veterans

Together we empower Veterans to find fulfilling post-military careers & build meaningful lives they love.

"This team LOVES what they do, and really helped me see that I could also pursue my passion of helping our Military Community. Now I have my dream job at Veterans ASCEND as a Military and Veteran Family Advocate, and my heart couldn’t be more happy!" - Amber

CAREER COUNSELING

1085 Active Clients

724 New Clients

574 Hires

Average Salary $63,282

VA BENEFIT ASSISTANCE

1054 Active VA Clients

365 New Clients

VA Benefits Received $1,293,066

RESOURCE CONNECTIONS

49 Active VRC Clients

108 New Clients

Assistance Value $59,983

All of our services are offered at no cost to the Veterans and employers we serve through the generosity of our benefactors, like The Call of Duty Endowment.

Catching Our Veterans Before They Fall

With generous support from the Bob Woodruff Foundation and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Still Serving Veterans was able to help 55 Veterans in North Alabama who were experiencing food insecurity and/or were at risk of becoming homeless or without utilities. The past six months have been challenging for everyone, but rising inflation, unusually hot weather and COVID outbreaks have hit Veterans working in hourly jobs and on fixed incomes especially hard. We are grateful for this opportunity to support Veterans in our community who are struggling - whatever the reason.

“Most of us are just a few steps away from falling into a real struggle for survival. Bless those who reach out a hand to help fellow Veterans back onto our feet.”

Jack, a Vietnam era Navy Veteran, recently traveled across the country to visit family, but a string of events, including a loved one’s death and personal health issues, left him out of money, food, and hope, and living in his van. Support from the Bob Woodruff Foundation provided the nourishment needed to keep going. With his immediate needs taken care of, SSV was able to connect him with the First Stop Program, a local nonprofit that helped him find a safe spot to land while he earned funds for a bus trip home. Jack is back on his feet now and has decided to help others who find themselves in hard times by donating his van.

Leaving a Deep Impact in the Valley

Seven years after opening our doors in Huntsville, AL, Still Serving Veterans wanted to expand our services into and around the Fort Benning Army Installation. Charles Livings enthusiastically raised his hand. We never dreamed of the impact one man would have on this mission to touch the local, and national, military community.

Starting from just the trunk of his car, Charlie freely shared his knowledge and offer of transition assistance. As the need for Charlie's services grew, he built a team and stood up the SSV Chattahoochee Valley Regional Office in Phenix City Alabama in 2014. Nine years later, SSV has become a valued resource in the community thanks to Charlie's guidance.

“Under Charlie Livings' leadership, SSV's Chattahoochee Valley Regional Office has helped over 2,533 Veterans find good jobs since 2014. Charlie epitomizes the SSV mission of collaboration and leadership at both the local and state levels. He is leaving a wonderful legacy of service to Veterans.” - Paulette Risher SSV President/CEO

Charlie is a gifted educator and developed more than half a dozen key courses designed to guide Soldiers through the transition process into the civilian workforce, courses which SSV has made a standard operating practices and now offer virtually. He has mentored a dedicated and talented staff who are committed to serving Veterans and their community with the same passion.

Although we're very sad to see Charlie leave Still Serving Veterans, we will be eternally grateful for the contributions he has provided, including his bottomless energy and ability to inspire so many. From SSV and the more than 3,400 clients you've impacted, 'Thank you!'

Continuing a Long History of Providing Tools for Success

Good deeds add up! Northrop Grumman has provided over $100k of support since our founding as a nonprofit organization in 2006! Their many gifts have allowed SSV to offer all of our services without a charge. Services like our Veteran Career & Transition Education Program. The educational training now includes over a dozen online courses we offer monthly or the recent 'Owning Your Transition' in-person workshop hosted at Fort Campbell, KY for over 30 active duty soldiers preparing for transition. This candid, in-depth, 5-hour workshop helps individuals define and plan their post-military future. All courses are provided at no fee thanks to the support from companies like Northrop Grumman.

Learn More 988-1

Fast Help & Hope:

988 + 1 for Veterans

On Saturday, July 16th, 988 debuted nationally as the new mental health phone number. People in mental health crisis will have a new way to reach out for help, in the same way one dials “911” for emergency services. This is a critical step in providing fast and accurate 24/7 confidential support to anyone with thoughts of suicide or those experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

For those that serve or who have served, crises can be heightened by their experiences during military service. If you or someone you care about is struggling or in crisis, Dial 988 - Press 1 for Veteran. There is hope.

New Course:

Hiring Event Tips

& Best Practices

with Rob Mulvihill & Dave Lakin

Wed., August 17, 2022

VIRTUAL - 10:00am (EST) (no-cost)

Join us to learn:

What to expect at the Event
Making a great first impression
Crafting your elevator pitch
Networking and follow-up best practices …and more

Every Job Fair (in-person or virtual) has the potential to be incredibly productive, or a colossal waste of time. How it turns out depends on your personal approach. Join us for this half-hour discussion every other week as RecruitMilitary and Still Serving Veterans partner to co-host a webinar that will help you prepare for your next hiring event. (256) 384-7271

JOB FAIRS, EVENTS & TRAINING:

Sign up to take any of our no-cost career preparation workshops to get ready for the civilian job market, or meet one-on-one with a Veteran counselor for Career Assistance. NEVER A FEE at SSV! LEARN MORE