May 2011

New Directions
We cannot salute the military without taking a look at the veterans who have served and have sacrificed for this country. Since 1992, New Directions has provided comprehensive services to thousands of veterans in Los Angeles County. More than 600 men and women seek assistance from the agency each year. As many as 220 veterans can receive round-the-clock care at five different residential treatment centers. Some of the services provided by New Directions include: substance abuse treatment, counseling, remedial education, job training and placement, as well as parenting and money management classes. Veterans leave New Directions with a savings account, housing, a job or other income, computer skills, renewed self-confidence and the support of mentors and peers. Such a transformation takes hard work, motivation and accountability, but the results are life altering-and for many veterans, life-saving. To find out more about New Directions, please visit www.ndvets.org.

USO
Throughout our country's history, Americans have felt profound appreciation and gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of our troops and their families. For the last 70 years, the United Service Organizations (USO) has provided a tangible way for all of us to say thank you. While not part of the U.S. government, the USO is recognized by the Department of Defense, Congress and President of the United States, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the USO. As a nonprofit, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities which include a variety of programs and services to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families, free of charge. An example of these programs include USO Wounded Warriors, the $100,000,000 initiative to help those who sacrifice so much move from the battlefield to a full and productive future, and the Sesame Workshop which helps children between the ages of 2-6 cope with deployed family members. These services, along with the support of thousands of USO volunteers, provide a home away from home for U.S. troops and keeps them connected to the families they left behind. To learn how you can be a part of the USO, visit www.uso.org.

Operation Gratitude Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm's way. Tens of thousands of American Service Members are deployed in hostile and remote regions of the world, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, and on ships throughout international waters. The physical conditions they must endure are difficult and they may be separated from loved ones for long periods of time. Operation Gratitude sends at least 100,000 care packages per year which contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.

Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of funds for shipping expenses, Operation Gratitude provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. Military in an active, hands-on manner. For more information, log onto www.opgratitude.org.