UW Combined Fund Drive

November 2, 2024

Honor service to our nation this Veterans Day

Many of us are related to or at least know someone who has served in the United States military, be it the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or the new Space Force.

This Veterans Day, November 11, let’s remember all those who have served and honor the sacrifices they have made in defense of our freedoms.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, originally designated by Congress as a U.S. legal holiday in 1938 to remember the end in World War I, which took place on November 11, 1918 — “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”

In 1954, another act of Congress changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day and expanded the scope of the holiday in honor of American veterans of all wars.

After being celebrated for two decades on the nearest Monday, President Gerald Ford signed a law in 1975 returning the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11. It has been observed on this date ever since.

The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but it also focuses attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

The University of Washington hosts Veterans Appreciation Week each November, culminating in a Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11 at 11 a.m. at the Medal of Honor Memorial on the Seattle campus.

Veterans at the UW

The UW has a long history of employing veterans, educating troops and supporting students who are making their transition to civilian lives and careers after military service. The UW served as training ground for troops during World War II and the years after, and educated thousands of veteran students on the GI Bill

Today, the UW offers a wide range of resources to help veterans find community and support as they pursue their educational and career goals. These efforts have earned the UW a #25 national ranking among the Best Colleges for Veterans, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The UW offers dedicated:

Care for mental health

One meaningful way that you can support our nation’s veterans is by donating to a UW Combined Fund Drive organization that supports the physical and mental health of veterans.

Many veterans experience financial difficulties upon returning to civilian life. Others face psychological challenges that most of us cannot even imagine.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), last year’s UWCFD featured nonprofit, as many as 20% of military veterans experience PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in a given year. Cases of mental illness and suicides among veterans are at an all-time high.

Transitioning to civilian work or campus life can be extremely challenging — especially for those who have experienced combat or overseas deployment. So, finding quality care and support is of the utmost importance.

Support veterans organizations

Consider making a one-time gift or setting up a monthly payroll deduction through the UWCFD to one of our member organizations that provide support and service to our veterans. A few opportunities are below. You’ll find many more in the UWCFD nonprofit database.

Everyone For Veterans – Connects low-income combat veterans to individuals who provide free services including dental care and necessary goods to make a difference in their lives (Charity Code: 1482437).

Mercy Housing – Provides affordable apartments to families, seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities plus critical support services such as job training and after-school tutoring (Charity Code: 1479108).

Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound – Provides ongoing support for the operation of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House to ease the burden of our military and veteran families as they care for their loved ones receiving extended care (Charity Code: 1480897).

Seattle Stand Down  – Assists military veterans and their families — especially those at risk of becoming homeless — in every aspect of their transition to civilian life by providing “one stop” access to various community and Veterans Affairs federal, state and county social services (Charity Code: 1482379).

GRuB – Grows fresh food, people and communities while partnering with youth, veterans and low-income families through backyard gardens, experiential farm education, job skills and multicultural training (Charity Code: 1478552).

Invictus Foundation – Increases and improves behavioral health services for military veterans, their families and the families of the fallen. These include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), suicide prevention, depression, substance abuse, sexual trauma, rehabilitation (Charity Code: 1481373).

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. – Transforms the lives of injured veterans and their families through life-changing programs and services all at no cost to them (Charity Code: 1478240).