Wounded Warrior ProjectWounded Warrior Project

By: Adrian OrtizBy: Adrian Ortiz

Our Greatest Casualties Of War Our Greatest Casualties Of War Are Being ForgottenAre Being Forgotten

• The Army’s first study of the mental health of troops who The Army’s first study of the mental health of troops who fought in Iraq found that about one in eight troops, reported fought in Iraq found that about one in eight troops, reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

• The survey of Army and Marine combat units was The survey of Army and Marine combat units was conducted a few months after their return from Iraq or conducted a few months after their return from Iraq or Afghanistan last year. “Most studies of past wars’ effects on Afghanistan last year. “Most studies of past wars’ effects on mental health were done years later, making it difficult to mental health were done years later, making it difficult to compare the latest results with those from the Vietnam or compare the latest results with those from the Vietnam or Persian Gulf wars”Persian Gulf wars”

• The survey also showed that less than half of those with The survey also showed that less than half of those with problems sought help, mostly out of fear of being problems sought help, mostly out of fear of being stigmatized or hurting their careers. The numbers are stigmatized or hurting their careers. The numbers are increasing daily and many increasing daily and many inquisitive inquisitive people help to people help to reduce the number of service members that don’t receive reduce the number of service members that don’t receive help. Unfortunately many veterans, unaware of these help. Unfortunately many veterans, unaware of these symptoms, are left untreated. symptoms, are left untreated.

• Since march of 2003, 152,669 veterans Since march of 2003, 152,669 veterans have filed disability claims after fighting in have filed disability claims after fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. Of the more than Iraq or Afghanistan. Of the more than 100,000 claims granted, Veterans 100,000 claims granted, Veterans Administration records show at least 1,502 Administration records show at least 1,502 veterans have been compensated as 100 veterans have been compensated as 100 percent disabled. percent disabled.

• The numbers are growing rapidly, with a The numbers are growing rapidly, with a plethoraplethora of the older veteran generation of the older veteran generation that have been excluded from theses that have been excluded from theses statistics, to the current warriors coming statistics, to the current warriors coming home from deployment this year. We must home from deployment this year. We must be be vigilant vigilant for those in need who do not for those in need who do not seek or are unaware of needing help.seek or are unaware of needing help.

About WWPAbout WWP

•

WWP was founded in Roanoke, Virginia by a group of veterans and friends who took action to help the injured service men and women of this generation. One night while watching the news, the group was moved by the difficult stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. They realized then and there that something needed to be done for these brave individuals beyond the brass bands and ticker tape parades.

•  WWP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL with additional program offices located in New York City and Washington D.C.

About WWPAbout WWP

• We continuously strive to keep administrative and fundraising costs associated with the operation of WWP as low as possible. Based on our FY2009 audited financial statements ending September 30, 2009, 81% of total expenditures went to provide services and programs for our wounded warriors and their families.

ValuesValues• FunFun

• IntegrityIntegrity

• LoyaltyLoyalty

• Innovation Innovation

• ServiceServiceHaving this Having this adept adept teamwork and armed with FILIS, teamwork and armed with FILIS,

the WWP staff works to foster the most well the WWP staff works to foster the most well adjusted, successful generation of wounded adjusted, successful generation of wounded warriors in the history of our nation.warriors in the history of our nation.

MissionMission• We We aggrandizeaggrandize public awareness about the public awareness about the

casualties that are being forgotten on a daily casualties that are being forgotten on a daily basis. Helping our injured warriors, from present basis. Helping our injured warriors, from present and past world conflicts. Also providing services and past world conflicts. Also providing services and programs to help rehabilitate veterans and and programs to help rehabilitate veterans and service members’ specific needs. service members’ specific needs.

• The problems are never ending, so The problems are never ending, so the solutions are constantly the solutions are constantly analyzed analyzed in order to in order to improve improve our services. our services.

• There is no right way to There is no right way to approach approach each individual warrior, nor can we each individual warrior, nor can we conceptualize conceptualize each service each service members’ problems can be tackled members’ problems can be tackled with the same process. with the same process.

ProgramsPrograms• As our innovative programs As our innovative programs

and outreach efforts and outreach efforts continue tocontinue to improve improve andand expand, we categorize our expand, we categorize our programs into four main programs into four main focus areas - Mind, Body, focus areas - Mind, Body, Economic Empowerment, Economic Empowerment, and Engagement. Under and Engagement. Under each of these focus areas, each of these focus areas, you will find a variety of you will find a variety of programs to meet needs programs to meet needs ranging from benefit ranging from benefit assistance to PTSD assistance to PTSD identification.identification.

TRACK ProgramTRACK Program• We envision a generation of wounded We envision a generation of wounded

warriors who are economically empowered. warriors who are economically empowered. They are not unemployed or underemployed They are not unemployed or underemployed and have opportunities to pursue a and have opportunities to pursue a meaningful career.meaningful career.

• This program offers the participants a wide This program offers the participants a wide variety of college classes and services variety of college classes and services specific to their needs, helping them expand specific to their needs, helping them expand their career skills, train in veterans’ their career skills, train in veterans’ advocacy, and continue recovery toward a advocacy, and continue recovery toward a more independent life.more independent life.

TRACK ProgramTRACK Program• Each TRACK student receives a scholarship, which Each TRACK student receives a scholarship, which

provides all class fees, books, materials, and a provides all class fees, books, materials, and a laptop, as well as individual housing and living laptop, as well as individual housing and living expenses.  TRACK students receive a student grant expenses.  TRACK students receive a student grant the entire 12-month period.  Each TRACK student is the entire 12-month period.  Each TRACK student is required to save a portion of their pay, returned to required to save a portion of their pay, returned to the student at the successful completion of the the student at the successful completion of the program.program.

• Classes are provided through Florida State College at Classes are provided through Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) or The Alamo Colleges in San Jacksonville (FSCJ) or The Alamo Colleges in San Antonio Texas, and credit can be applied toward a Antonio Texas, and credit can be applied toward a bachelor’s, associate degree, or vocational bachelor’s, associate degree, or vocational certificate. The second phase of TRACK consists of an certificate. The second phase of TRACK consists of an employment externship with local employers in employment externship with local employers in Jacksonville or San Antonio, most of these students Jacksonville or San Antonio, most of these students are often provided with employment following their are often provided with employment following their externship with the individual companies.  externship with the individual companies. 

The Shuttle Worth The Shuttle Worth FoundationFoundation

• We provide funding for dynamic leaders who are at the forefront of social We provide funding for dynamic leaders who are at the forefront of social change. We identify amazing people, give them a fellowship grant. We are change. We identify amazing people, give them a fellowship grant. We are looking for social innovators who are helping to change the world for the better looking for social innovators who are helping to change the world for the better and are looking for some support through an innovative social investment model and are looking for some support through an innovative social investment model

• What this foundation looks for, Wounded Warriors Project provides. What this foundation looks for, Wounded Warriors Project provides. • By sponsoring our non-profit we ensure our clients, the Wounded Warriors, By sponsoring our non-profit we ensure our clients, the Wounded Warriors,

succeed in the concept of social change and giving back to our economy succeed in the concept of social change and giving back to our economy mentally and physically.mentally and physically.

The Shuttle Worth The Shuttle Worth FoundationFoundation

• Wounded Warrior Projects’ first TRACK facility was opened in Wounded Warrior Projects’ first TRACK facility was opened in August 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida, with a great impact. In August 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida, with a great impact. In January 2011, WWP celebrated the grand opening of the second January 2011, WWP celebrated the grand opening of the second TRACK facility, which is located in San Antonio, TX. This new TRACK facility, which is located in San Antonio, TX. This new facility will expand WWP's ability to reach out to wounded facility will expand WWP's ability to reach out to wounded warriors and empower them with education and training. But as warriors and empower them with education and training. But as time progresses, the number of our wounded warriors will time progresses, the number of our wounded warriors will aggrandizeaggrandize, as the need for space and critically thinking , as the need for space and critically thinking educators will increase. educators will increase.

• With your With your engagement engagement in our program we can in our program we can generate generate a a greater impact on expanding the future of our wounded warriors, greater impact on expanding the future of our wounded warriors, while empowering them with skills to while empowering them with skills to approach approach their personal their personal and civic lives.and civic lives.

How You Can HelpHow You Can Help

• For More Information Visit Our WebsiteFor More Information Visit Our Website

• http://www.woundedwarriorproject.orghttp://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

• Sponsor, Volunteer, Share, and Show Your Sponsor, Volunteer, Share, and Show Your Support Support

• Follow us on Twitter-Facebook-Connect.Follow us on Twitter-Facebook-Connect.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

THINK OF THIS AS A WAY TO THINK OF THIS AS A WAY TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO THOSE SHOW APPRECIATION TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND CONTINUE WHO FOUGHT AND CONTINUE

TO FIGHT THE GREAT FIGHT AND TO FIGHT THE GREAT FIGHT AND GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRAFICE.GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRAFICE.