INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — At the April 1, 2015 Veterans Council meeting, Ed Friedman, a Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program (GHCOP) representative presented the Council with a check for $6,500.
Friedman said, “I’m delighted to present this check on behalf of Community Outreach. We are honored to help our local veterans obtain services they deserve to improve their quality of life.” Accepting the check was Sam Kouns, Colonel (ret) US Army, 2nd Vice President of the Veterans Council Executive Board.
This grant will help fund the Upward American Veterans Committee (UAV) which provides emergency basic living financial support to qualified Veterans and their families, assisting them with future family sustainability. Sam Kouns is the Executive Board officer in charge of the UAV Committee which has distributed more than $73,000 to qualified veterans in the last two years. He noted that “support such as this grant from the generous Grand Harbor Community will make a meaningful and immediate difference in the lives of Indian River County veterans and their families.”
The Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program (GHCOP) is a non-profit and member-driven organization dedicated to improving individual lives, families and the community. They have distributed more than $340,000 to worthwhile agencies in Indian River County this year alone and nearly $3 million since its inception just 14 years ago. Doug Sweeny, GHCOP VP Philanthropy, said ,“We have always been very eager to support the Veterans of our county who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
The Veterans Council of Indian River County assists local veterans and their families by providing transportation to VA medical facilities, helping qualified veterans with emergency basic living expenses, and providing referrals to local organizations for assistance. The Council is initiating a program placing special emphasis on supporting returning veterans as they transition to civilian life. In addition, the Council hosts military ceremonies, such as the 2015 Memorial Day observance on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary with keynote speaker Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney, USAF (ret).
For more information regarding the Veterans Council of Indian River County, call (772) 410-5820 or visit their website at veteranscouncilIRC.org.