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Wounded Warriors of Collier County: The Year 2021 in Review

ver the last year, Wounded Education Initiatives & Accomplishments
Warriors of Collier County have Education is also a challenge for Veterans unprepared for
Omade some amazing strides in transition to civilian life. On a local level, WWCC has raised
bringing local Veterans support within the funding for law school scholarships enabling more than 10 plus
areas of housing, education and mental Veterans to attend the Ave Maria School of Law. WWCC has
health. With the help of our community also continued community awareness efforts and collaboration
partners and supporters, such as the with community agencies in providing educational opportunities
Community Foundation, the Richard M. for Veterans.
Schulze Foundation, the Aron Foundation Financial Initiatives & Accomplishments
and many others. Wounded Warriors of Given the predominantly volunteer structure of WWCC,
Collier County (WWCC) has positively the organization has been able to achieve results while spending
impacted the lives of local Veterans living approximately 10% on administrative and office expenses.
by Dale A. Mullin
in Collier County. Remaining funds are dedicated to Veteran support and
The Warrior Homes Initiative organizational growth. Revenue from donations, grants and
In 2021, the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and increased fundraising events are approximately $1.1 million dollars in 2021,
activity in the real estate market has made affordable housing almost an 100% increase compared to 2020 total revenues. Our
challenging for Veterans and their families, especially those Annual Fundraiser Dinner took place on November 13, 2021, and
living at or below the Individual Average Median Income funds raised has enabled us to provide 90 percent of its proceeds
(AMI). The Warrior Homes Initiative, in collaboration with the towards Veteran services and support.
David Lawrence Center, Veterans Treatment Court, the Hunger Our Work Is Not Done
and Homeless Coalition of Collier County and Community As we move into 2022, there is still much to be done to support
Foundation of Collier County, has helped meet the demand for our local Veterans. The Warrior Homes Initiative will continue
reducing local housing needs for Veterans. The initiative started working towards securing and opening the third long-term
back in January 2020 with the opening of the Alpha House, which housing home, the Charlie House. Just recently, a generous donor
has served as transitional living for 12 Veterans and was funded has provided us with a three bedroom home that will be available
in part by the Richard M. Schulze Foundation, has an 80 percent for move in sometime in late January 2022, thus achieving our
success rate for Veterans transitioning back into community. three year strategic mission of opening our third home in three
The initiative continued with the opening of the Bravo House years.
in March 2021, which provides long-term supportive housing for What’s next? On to Delta House! Our goal is to open a
local senior Veterans. With a major private donation from the multiplex facility that will house more than ten plus Veterans. Stay
Community Foundation, the home was purchased by Wounded tuned.
Warriors of Collier County in July 2021. The three bedroom home We are so grateful for the support of the community, as
provides housing for three Veterans living on a fixed income. well as our collaboration partners, who have been instrumental
Mental Health Initiatives & Accomplishments in providing support and resources to WWCC programs and
The year 2021 also produced additional support for local initiatives, and truly have helped the organization make a positive
Veterans in the critical area of mental health. The Veteran national impact and difference in the lives of our local Veterans.
suicide rate is 20 per day; a high percentage of Veterans returning Happy New Year!
home suffer from mental health/substance abuse issues that result
in difficulties adjusting back into civilian life. WWCC, with the To help support the Warrior Homes Initiative and WWCC, please scan the
support of the David Lawrence Center, has helped raise funding QR Code below or visit
for mental health care for 29 Veterans without VA eligibility or https://www.woundedwarriorsofcolliercounty.com/campaigns/donate/
health insurance. Additionally, a full-time dedicated Veteran
Case Manager, in collaboration with David Lawrence Center, was
funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Collier
County. Additionally, the Veteran Care Action Network (VCAN),
a multiagency local team dedicated to providing emergency
solutions for Veteran care on a case-by-case basis, was assembled in
2021 and now exists to handle emergency Veteran needs.

Life in Naples | January 2022 43