Charitable Service Trust funds vital veterans' programs.

From aquatic rehabilitation for recently disabled veterans to vital medical exams for homeless veterans, the DAV Charitable Service Trust is supporting a wide-range of heartwarming programs that honor our nation's veterans by providing the care and services they need to help build productive lives.

"We are excited that the Charitable Service Trust is providing outstanding support to programs helping our nation's veterans," said Trust Chairman Richard E. Marbes. "The Trust continues its long-term commitment to programs helping homeless veterans and other new, innovative programs to assist our newest generation of disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Trust provided $21,000 to Disabled Sports USA of Rockville, Md., this summer that allowed 21 disabled Iraq War veterans to participate in its "SummerFest" program in Long Beach, Calif. At the event, injured veterans received athletic rehabilitation and instruction in the use of adaptive equipment to water ski, cycle, scuba dive, sail, canoe, and rock climb. They also learned from Paralympics coaches how to run wearing new prosthetic devices.

"These veterans also had the opportunity to get acquainted with DAV services and support," Marbes said. "When they leave the service, they know that the DAV will be there to help them with their needs."

The Trust awarded a $50,000 grant to Central City Concern of Portland, Ore., to provide needed eye care and dental exams and treatment for homeless veterans, and to provide them with public transportation to seek gainful employment. Central City Concern connects homeless and needy veterans to the public and private resources necessary to help them rebuild their lives. It works with other agencies, such as Pacific University's College of Optometry and the Willamette Dental Group, to help provide health care services to veterans, and housing for low-income and homeless veterans.

Mental Health Systems, Inc., of San Diego, Calif., received a $40,000 grant to provide food and housing for homeless veterans enrolled in Club Vet, a program that provides employment support services so that veterans can live independently and find gainful employment.

A $25,000 Trust grant was awarded to Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation and Research, Inc., in Bridgeport, Conn., to provide food for 160 homeless veterans living at a transitional center that provides mental health and substance abuse treatment, and vocational and life skills training. The Bridgeport Living Skills Center is a designated VA Center of Excellence for the long-term care of homeless veterans who suffer from mental illness, substance abuse, or chronic illnesses.

The Charitable Service Trust awarded $25,000 to the Jobs for Homeless People, Inc., in Washington, D.C., which provides 120 homeless veterans with case management, counseling, addiction services, training, and job development. The program provides services at seven sites in the Washington area to help homeless veterans obtain the skills they need to find jobs and make the transition from shelter to transitional housing to unsubsidized housing.

The Serenity House of Volusia, Inc., in Daytona Beach, Fla., received a $20,000 grant to provide emergency shelter, medication, transportation, and medical testing for 225 homeless veterans. The Serenity House works with VA specialists and other community agencies to provide residential and outpatient drug and alcohol abuse treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation. It has a 16-bed residential facility designated specifically for homeless veterans.

A trust grant for $10,000 was awarded to Creative Alternatives of New York, Inc., to continue an exciting program of therapeutic theater groups at the Bronx VA Medical Center to help veterans suffering from mental disabilities or substance abuse. The program provides three weekly workshops for 48 weeks for 415 veterans treated at the medical center. The long-standing therapeutic program has become an important part of the treatment for veteran patients.

Housing, counseling, medical treatment, and support services for 125 homeless veterans at the North Charleston Community Interfaith Shelter in North Charleston, S.C., will continue thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Trust. The shelter operates as a transitional housing facility for homeless veterans and has a waiting list averaging 30 veterans.

The Outward Bound West program in Golden, Colo., received a $16,320 Trust grant to continue offering wilderness programs as therapy for 24 veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. The program has proved successful in giving veterans the skills to allow personal growth.

The National Amputee Golf Association received a $10,000 Trust grant to conduct the 2004 "First Swing" seminars and clinics that provide disabled veterans exposure to golf as a sport and rehabilitative tool. It features a seminar to give therapists training in the basics of golf for disabled veterans, then continues with a clinic for disabled veterans to learn how to play golf.

The Charitable Service Trust continued its long-term support for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., with a $50,000 grant to support the Traveling Wall, which is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial called "The Wall that Heals," and multi-media museum that tours our nation's communities. The museum exhibit, called "Echoes From The Wall," is an educational program displayed in small towns across America each year. As part of the program, the DAV logo is featured on the artwork produced and distributed in communities prior to the exhibits arriving, and "DAV" has been added to the truck and trailer hauling the exhibits.

"The DAV Charitable Service Trust's partnership with these organizations ensures essential programs supporting our nation's disabled veterans will continue to perform their outstanding work," said Marbes. "We thank the generosity of those who annually contribute to the DAV Charitable Service Trust, which allows us to support many valuable and important initiatives that assist the men and women who have sacrificed for our nation."

Funds to support the Charitable Service Trust result from the generosity of donors through workplace campaigns like the Combined Federal Campaign, United Way, and other workplace giving programs across the country.