ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Nine organizations that help local veterans will receive $40,000 from Lockheed Martin on behalf of Sandia National Laboratories this year.
The funds will be divided among nine assistance groups to support the needs of New Mexico’s veterans: Operation Homefront; New Mexico Veterans Integration Project; YWCA Henderson House; Metropolitan Homelessness Project; Rio Grande Valley Blue Star Mothers; Kirtland Air Force Base Family Services; What Would You Give; and the American Red Cross for services for the military.
Sandia’s Military Support Committee and Community Involvement team worked together to identify organizations that meet the greatest needs of local veterans. Recipients were selected after a rigorous screening process, and the organizations had to directly, immediately and measurably impact individuals. Sandia organizers visited each organization and met with program leaders before making funding decisions.
“During this very special time of the year when we celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their service, patriotism, love of nation and willingness to sacrifice for all, it’s especially gratifying that Sandia and Lockheed Martin are demonstrating their support with these donations. This year, the needs are greater than ever, and we are pleased help meet more of those needs,” said retired Air Force Col. Michael W. Hazen, vice president of Infrastructure Operations for Sandia.
“I’m delighted that Sandia and Lockheed Martin have chosen to support our Henderson House program with a portion of this funding,” said Andrea Nash, interim president and CEO at the YWCA Middle Rio Grande, which runs the Henderson House, the first transitional facility of its kind in the nation for homeless women veterans and their children. The program offers female veterans education and job and life skills training to help them move back into permanent housing.
“Studies show that women veterans are more likely than non-veterans to face homelessness, unemployment and poverty, and they are twice as likely as their male veteran counterparts to become homeless. This funding will allow us to continue our efforts to help these most vulnerable members of our veteran community,” Nash said.