The ARIZONA DISABLED VETERAN FOUNDATION, Inc. was formed as an organization in October of 2010, incorporated in the State of Arizona, to aid and assist Arizona’s Veterans and particularly our disabled Veterans. We are a 501(c) (3), tax exempt, organization under the Federal Internal Revenue Service statutes.
All contributions to the Foundation stay in Arizona to provide aid and assistance to Arizona resident veterans.
We have an elite Board of Directors who oversee the administering funds to ensure the best possible use of those contributions entrusted to Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation by our donors.
- We are not a national organization, nor we do not solicit members from the veteran community to join the Foundation.
Why Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation was Formed.
The Arizona Legislature changed the law regarding Non-Profit Qualified Charitable Organizations and the new law went into effect January 1st, 2010. No longer may a Non-profit organization remain on the list of Qualified Charitable Organizations unless they were strictly a 501(c)3 organization.
This change disenfranchised an entire group of non-profit organizations, the traditional veterans’ organizations which are primarily 501(c)4, 501(c)19, or 501(c)23 institutions, which have been around in many instances for 100 plus years. This change in the State’s tax code was the catalyst for the formation of the Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation.
Who and How We Help
We will take referrals of veterans needing emergency financial help from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion (TAL), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and any other traditional non-profit veterans’ organization. If funds permit, we will take referrals from any other source devoted to the cause of making the lives of Arizona Veterans more self-empowering and productive.
The majority of all Veterans and especially our disabled Veterans fall below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. The federal government does not provide all the services disabled and non-disabled veterans so desperately need. In many instances veteran’s disability compensation falls short of meeting our veterans’ needs.
Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation will support Veteran organizations and other non-profit organizations by accepting referrals of local Veterans. It is our belief that working alongside, and in conjunction with, other Veteran and non-profit organizations we are best able to assess the needs of and directly assist our local veterans and their families to overcome unforeseen emergency situations and temporary financial hardships.
Once referred to Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation, the Veteran will go through our application process to apply for emergency assistance. Determination of assistance will be on a case-by-case basis overseen by a committee made up of Arizona Disabled Veteran board members. After the application process and upon approval of the board committee a onetime financial aid may be granted to the Veteran.
Emergency situations may include but are not limited to the following:
1. Transportation Services: We may be able to assist a veteran with bus passes to get to and from work or to their medical appointments.
2. Hospital, Chapter and Post Claim Services: We will refer veterans out to competent sources who provide advocacy for veterans before the Department of Veteran Affairs.
3. Homeless Veterans Programs: We will refer veterans to sources that may provide this type of assistance and we might be able to help if any financial assistance is required.
4. Emergency Assistance Programs: As stated previously this will be the core purpose of the Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation. Assistance may be provided for the following needs:
- Assistance in the form of Gas cards, payment of utilities or phone bills.
- Food, and Shelter (Rent or Mortgage).
- Clothing
- Medical care
- Job training referrals and assistance with supplies
- Short term support for childcare
- Other emergent needs (on a case by case basis deemed necessary for the stability of the Veteran and or family).
5. Free Legal Advice and Assistance
Several studies have shown that one of the primary unmet need of veterans is access to pro-bono and affordable legal advice such as: a basic will and last testament, powers of attorney, medical directives, child support issues as well as custody issues and other family law needs.
The Foundation and the DAV Department of Arizona have formed legal clinics with aid of volunteer attorneys and paralegals to try and address this need in our veteran community.
- We do not provide criminal law services.
Many other services not listed above, might be provided by Veteran organizations and other non-profit community groups. The Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation will do it’s best to financially assist those Veterans’ organization by serving Veterans referred to us, so that those much-needed services will continue to be available to our Arizona veterans. Your tax credit support will enable us to continue those programs our Veterans in Arizona so desperately need.
Mission
This corporation is organized and operated for the following purposes, as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation shall be a nonprofit corporation.
Our purpose is to provide emergency financial assistance to our local Veterans and their families who have experienced hard times which could not have been planned for.
Furthermore, it is our mission to aid and assist members of the Arizona National Guard or Military Reserves and their families who have experienced hard times which could not have been planned for.
(For purposes of this web site when we mention veteran, we will also be referring to Guardsman and Reservist by reference.)
It is Arizona Disabled Veteran Foundation’s intent; to cooperate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and all other public and private agencies who are devoted to the cause of improving the following: health; welfare; and/or pursuit of VA benefit entitlement of Arizona’s disabled and non-disabled Veterans as well as their families.
(We believe that our local Veterans and their families can be best served when we communicate and work with other organizations with the common goal of assisting our local veterans.)
In furtherance of these purposes, the Foundation directly aid and support to individual Veterans (including their spouses, and on rare occasions their children) upon application for financial assistance and upon approval by a panel made up of the Board of Directors.
Financial assistance may be provided primarily for unforeseen emergency circumstances. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind the generous support we have received from our benefactors, past and present, who have made our mission possible. We understand that we are the caretakers of their contributions and will strive to exercise sound judgement in determining financial need of all applicants requesting assistance. It is our Mission to aid our local Veterans while maintaining their individual dignity and empowering them to reach financial stability.
Board of Directors
PATRICK R. YOUNG – Glendale
President/Founder
Medically retired Navy Corpsman, served with Fleet Marine Force. Twenty Seven years Veterans Disability Claims Advocate.
Memberships:
- Disabled American Veterans
- American Legion
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- First Marine Division Association
- Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame
RICHARD L. PARK – Glendale
Treasurer, Executive Secretary
Founding Member
Served with 101st Division, 101st Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Thirty One years employed by the City of Phoenix.
Memberships:
- Disabled American Veterans – 12 years as Treasurer of the Largest DAV Chapter
- American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
WILLIAM R. GREEN – Tucson
Founding Member
Service in the US Air Force for 26 years, retiring in 1982. Mr. Green saw service in Vietnam.
Memberships:
- Active Member of the Moose Lodge in Tucson
- Disabled American Veterans
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Air Force Sergeants Association
ERIC R. JACKSON – Tucson
Member
Service in the U. S. Air force having retired after 22 years active duty. Retired Illinois State Police Office after 25 years of service.
Memberships:
- Military Order of the Purple Heart
- Disabled American Veterans
- National Oder of Trench Rats
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame
MARY L. DUNBAR – Peoria
Member/Administrative Assistant
Currently employed by the Disabled American Veterans as their Department Administrative Assistant. Serves the Foundation in the same capacity.
Memberships:
- Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary
- National Notary Association
RON COX – Benson
Member
Service in the US Army both during the Vietnam Era and the Cold War Era, after which he was medically retired. Successful businessman in the area of dairy farming, ranching, and the trucking industry both in Idaho and Arizona.
Memberships:
- Disabled American Veterans
- Fraternal Order of Eagles
ROGER FERLAND – Scottsdale
Member
Service in the US Army during the Vietnam Era after which he was medically retired. Attended Law School at Duke University. Partner at Quarles and Brady law Firm. Founder of the Disabled American Veterans Legal Clinic. Disabled American Veterans Disabled Veteran of the Year.
Memberships:
- Disabled American Veterans
- Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame
JOHN R. TOKARZ – Gilbert
Member
Twenty Years of Service in the US Army and Army National Guard both during the OEF and OIF Era. Disabled American Veterans Legal Clinic Director for Seven Years.
Memberships:
- Disabled American Veterans
- United States Warrant Officer Association