Keystone Today

On Dec. 13, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced $1.35 million in grants will be awarded to 14 Pennsylvania county veterans affairs offices and 34 charitable or veteran service organizations.

The county veterans affairs office receives $200,000 while charitable or veteran service organizations will receive $1.15 million from the Veterans’ Trust Fund, which is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), according to a press release from Wolf’s office.

“The Veterans’ Trust Fund helps to fill gaps in services to veterans that would otherwise go unfilled,” Wolf said. “The county offices and civic organizations who receive these grants do incredible work supporting our veterans. They truly improve the lives of veterans, providing them with life-enhancing programs and services. Pennsylvania owes a debt of gratitude to everyone who contributes to this program, either as a donor or hard-working recipient.”

The Veterans’ Trust Fund is funded by residents who make a voluntary $5 donation when applying for, or renewing, their driver’s license, photo ID or vehicle registration, the release stated. The VTF also receives money from “Honoring Our Veterans” and “Honoring our Women Veterans” license plates, as well as other private donations. The program began in 2013 and has raised more than $5 million.

Over the next two years more than $2.4 million will be used fort veteran initiatives, according to the release.

The $200,000 in grant funding was for “new, innovative, or expanded programs or services” provided by county directors of veterans affairs or the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs, the release stated. Areas of emphasis include veteran outreach, veteran courts, training and capacity building.

“As Pennsylvania’s biggest veteran advocate, the DMVA connects veterans to benefits that meet their daily needs,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. "Our goal is to reach every veteran in the commonwealth. The best way in obtaining that goal is by collaborating with other organizations to conduct our outreach campaign. It is through this collaboration and these grants that veterans receive the help they need and earned by serving our nation. I would like to personally thank all those that donate to ensure our veterans get the best we can give them.”