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American Legion national leaders visit MACV's Building 47
To celebrate and recognize the courageous veterans who have served our country, hotel Sofitel Minneapolis' Colette Bar & Bistro catered a summer BBQ lunch hosted by The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) on Monday, August 29th for about 45 guests. Sofitel staff prepared a delicious picnic with a variety of meats, salads, and desserts for veterans living at a MACV residential program located on the Minneapolis VA Health Care System campus. The picnic was held to welcome national leaders of the American Legion who were visiting the facility as part of their national convention activities.
MACV's President/CEO Kathleen Vitalis attends the Homeless Veterans Symposium during the American Legion's National Convention in Minneapolis.
Click here to read the article.
VA Launches New National Prevention Initiative to Serve 22,000 Veteran Families at Risk of Homelessness
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the award of nearly $60 million in homeless prevention grants that will serve approximately 22,000 homeless and at-risk Veteran families as part of the new Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. This initial $60 million award will serve Veteran families at 85 non-profit community agencies in 40 states and the District of Columbia under VA’s new homeless prevention initiative. MACV has been selected to receive one of these grants. Read more:
Minneapolis Star Tribune
ota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/07/26/grant-homeless-vets/
 
June 2011: Fishing Trip to Veterans on the Lake Resort in Ely
MACV was able to take 17 of our veterans to the Veterans on the Lake Resort in Ely. While there, they were able to enjoy three days and two nights at the resort, and had some pretty good luck fishing.
 The 3rd Annual Veterans Aid Concert was held Memorial Day - May 30th, 2011 at the Fine Line Music Café
The event’s mission is to raise awareness of veterans in need, and to raise funds for programs that support veterans. The event is hosted by local singer/songwriter/veteran Matthew Griswold (matthewgriswold.net). This is the second year proceeds from the event were donated to MACV. The concert is held each year on Memorial Day, so mark your calendar for next year.
Thank you to Matthew, and all the musicians who made this event possible!
 
(left) Matthew Griswold, Concert Organizer (right) MACV President/CEO Kathleen Vitalis with Steve Parry, and Matthew Griswold
Homeless Vets Get Left Out of Recent Budget Deal
by Jessica Mador, Minnesota Public Radio
Click here to read the full article on MPR.
Supporting our Troops: Ending Veteran Homelessness Click here to read.
by Richard Hooks Wayman
Qwest Pioneers Centennial Project Supports MACV With Hygiene Kits for Our Veterans
 Expanding to the East Metro
MACV Held a Flag Raising at Birmingham Place in Maplewood
Birmingham Place, a Structured Independent Living (SIL) house for veterans in Maplewood, had a flag-raising and ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 11, 2010, Veterans Day. MACV‘s Birmingham Place will provide transitional housing and supportive services for seven veterans faced with challenges and life crises. MACV’s SIL programming and services facilitate movement to independent living and support veterans as they once again become productive members of the community.
For many years, MACV had been looking to establish a transitional housing site in Ramsey County where there is a high concentration of veterans. The plan for Birmingham Place began with a call from developer Mike Tobias to program manager Denise Beigbeder of the Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority and evolved into a partnership with MACV. In June 2010, Ramsey County purchased and renovated the foreclosed property using federal stimulus funding for programs that stabilize neighborhoods, meet community needs and accomplish goals through public–private partnerships.
The home built in 1978 which was once a traditional family home has been renovated to provide seven beds for MACV veterans. Many of the updates that brought the house up to health and safety codes were completed with volunteer services provided by local trade unions, electric and plumbing businesses.
MACV President/CEO Interviewed by St. Paul Foundation for MNSights
Click here to read this edition.
 July 2010:
MACV President/CEO Kathleen Vitalis addressed the Spring Lake Park Lions Club to raise awareness of the current challenges veterans are facing and to educate on the programming and supportive services MACV provides to homeless veterans, veterans in crisis and their families. Approximately 50 club members attended this monthly membership meeting.
Left to right: Bob Pederson, President of the Spring Lake Park Lions Club, Kathleen Vitalis, MACV President/CEO and Lion Bob Nelson, Mayor of Spring Lake Park
June 2010: Exciting Funding News!
MACV has been awarded two grants under the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS) funding program appropriated by Congress under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) - a $300,000 Metro Urban Grant and a $120,000 Non-Urban Grant.
Click here to read the press release.
 MAY 2010: Pat Costello and Tom Hipps recently donated their time and musical talent to the MACV Metro StandDown. We look forward to enjoying their music again in October at MACV’s 3rd Annual Benefit Event.
left to right: Pat Costello, Kathy Vitalis, Floyd and Dilly Olesen (Operations Support Our Troops) and Tom Hipps.
MAY 2010: MACV Featured in the Compassion Action Network (CAN) Spring Newsletter
Click here to view the article.
 
MAY 2010: Veterans Helping Veterans Terry Pieper, Army Veteran representing VFW Post 295 and Kathleen Vitalis, President/CEO of MACV, at Terry’s fundraiser for MACV in South St. Paul, “Veterans Helping Veterans”.
MAY 2010: MACV Supported at the Veterans Aid Concert!
The second annual Veterans Aid Concert at The Fine Line Music Café, hosted by MN Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, singer-songwriter and veteran’s activist, Matthew Griswold. All ticket proceeds went to benefit MACV. Click here to read the event announcement.
 Union Pacific Foundation Awards
MACV $2,000
Union Pacific Foundation representatives Robert Miller and Lance Hardisty present a donation check for $2000 to MACV’s President/CEO Kathleen Vitalis and Metro Regional Director, Jimmy Collier.
Click here to view the Union Pacific Newsletter.
 January 2010: MACV Receives 2009 Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to Homeless Veterans
Governor Tim Pawlenty presents MACV with the 2009 Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to Homeless Veterans at the State Capitol on Monday, January 11, 2010. The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) is pleased and honored to announce that the organization was recognized by Governor Tim Pawlenty in an award presentation at the State Capitol on Monday, January 11, 2010. MACV was commended on the recent high honor received from the Department of Veterans Affairs for its community service, the 2009 Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to Homeless Veterans.
Click Here to read more about this event.
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