New Directions for Veterans Receives Grant

The Los Angeles community relations team and other Wells Fargo Team Members came out in force to support local Veterans with two Team Member Volunteer Program (TMVP) events for the non-profit, New Directions for Veterans.  New Directions for Veterans were also the recipients of two other Wells Fargo grant programs, including the Veterans WINS and the Military/Veterans Multi-markets grant totaling $50,000.

Focused on a more holistic approach to Wells Fargo philanthropic giving,  their community relations team leveraged the Wells Fargo’s Team Member Volunteer Program (TMVP) and generated an additional $30,000 incorporating human capital in the form of volunteerism.

Hispanic Lifestyle was on-site for an opening ceremony and $80,000 check presentation followed by WFTM’s volunteering and rehabbing both of New Directions’ Oasis for Women’s transitional housing properties.  Featured in the Hispanic Lifestyle video segment is Byron Reed Senior Vice President, Director of the Community Relations Group for Wells Fargo, Yvette Kelley, US Army (Ret.) President & CEO at New Directions for Veterans MBA, PMP, Jamal Shofani District Manager at Wells Fargo and Jeff Chavannes, PMP Wells Fargo Military Programs Manager – Customer & Community Programs.

New Directions Women’s Oasis program was the first of its kind in the United States designed specifically for female Veterans dealing with issues of homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental health issues. The two houses offer female Veterans a safe place to turn their life around with dedicated 1:1 counseling and other supportive services, to make constructive contributions to the community.

Founded by two formally homeless Vietnam Veterans and a local advocate for homeless persons, New Directions for Veterans are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. They initially operated out of a five-bedroom home serving eight homeless Veterans. They now operate three transitional housing programs, a rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention program, a bridge housing program, and five permanent supportive housing facilities in Los Angeles County, with additional projects in the pipeline.