FCA Foundation Helps Veterans Deploy on New Missions in Their Communities and the Workplace

November 9, 2017 /3BL Media/ - The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, today awarded $250,000 to The Mission Continues and $50,000 to Forgotten Harvest. The grants will support community impact and workplace development initiatives for veterans who are adjusting to life at home.  

“As a proud employer of more than 5,000 veterans, FCA US understands firsthand the contributions these men and women continue to make after their military service is complete,” said Barbara Pilarski, Head of Human Resources, FCA - North America and Trustee, FCA Foundation. “The FCA Foundation is pleased to offer grants to organizations that provide veterans opportunities to help themselves and their communities.”

FCA Foundation Veteran Support Grants 
$250,000: The Mission Continues empowers veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact. The organization deploys veterans on new missions in their communities, so that their actions will inspire future generations to serve. Operations in cities across the nation send veteran volunteers to work alongside non-profit partners and community leaders to solve some of the most challenging community issues: improving community education resources, eliminating food deserts, mentoring at-risk youth and more.

“The Mission Continues is proud and excited to partner with the FCA Foundation and FCA US to empower more veterans across the country to serve again in their hometown,” said Spencer Kympton, President, The Mission Continues. “As a company who cares strongly and believes in the power of veterans here at home, we know that this partnership will strengthen our ability to engage more veterans across the country as well as FCA US employee volunteers to have a deep impact in local communities.”

$50,000: Forgotten Harvest’s Workforce Development Program supports the growing food and agriculture sector in Southeastern Michigan by expanding the numbers of skilled men and women qualified for jobs and careers in the food and agriculture business sector. The ultimate goal is to make sure everyone has a job after graduation. Veterans and others, who have had difficulty seeking employment for a variety of reasons, will learn about food processing, distribution, logistics, and basic farming at Forgotten Harvest Farms.

“Forgotten Harvest is honored to receive FCA Foundation support for our collaborative workforce development program for veterans with barriers to employment,” said Kirk Mayes, CEO, Forgotten Harvest. “FCA’s generous funding supports a food industry-focused program, which builds upon lessons learned in our 18-month pilot workforce development program.”

The Mission Continues in Detroit
FCA US volunteers will join The Mission Continues’ Detroit 2nd Service Platoon for “Veterans Day Cody-Rouge Carry On” (Saturday, November 11, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at Stein Park, 9258 Stahelin Avenue. The mission at the park -- adopted by Motor City Grounds Crew and The Mission Continues -- includes hands-on revitalization and maintenance projects working alongside youth, community members and fellow veterans. 

FCA US has several programs in place to support veterans: 
Recently, the FCA Foundation announced support of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, including underwriting special $10 tickets for veterans to attend “Heroes Night” concerts (all in 2018) performed in Orchestra Hall. The funding will also enable the DSO to collaborate with the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Hospital, sending musicians to perform at the hospital and providing for DSO webcasts in patient rooms. 

• In 2011, FCA US joined forces with supplier Prestige Group, based in Clinton Township, Mich., to offer a life-changing program for returning veterans, who earn engineering internship positions at FCA US while they finish their undergraduate degrees. More than 100 veterans have taken advantage of this program, with eight having completed their degrees.
• FCA US received Silver Status as a Michigan Friendly Employer by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency in recognition of recruitment strategies aimed at veterans.
• The Company’s Belvidere Assembly Plant teamed up with PepsiCo Recycling to support PepsiCo Recycling’s partnership with the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities.
• FCA US also received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s prestigious Freedom award for its exceptional support of enlisted employees.

FCA US currently has 23 employees on active military leave, with 434 currently serving as active or inactive reservists and guardsmen and more than 5,100 employees are military veterans.

About the FCA Foundation 
The FCA Foundation is committed to rebalancing inequalities to promote the full realization of every human being. We seek to support outcomes in our communities that ensure people can enjoy equality and dignity. The FCA Foundation directs its resources toward the following areas of focus:

• Youth Development – helping young people develop the leadership qualities and resiliency necessary to succeed in school, at work and in life.
• Education – building the skills and competencies that lead to achievement and support educational access and success.
• Military/Veterans – ensuring veterans successfully transition to civilian life and that the needs of military service members and their families are supported.
• Service – leveraging the talents and contributions of all members of the community.