Los Angeles News Anchor Christine Devine joins New Directions and the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to Host the 2nd Annual Walk for Warriors

Christine Devine talks to us about US Veteran Issues and How New Directions is Helping.
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Christine Devine

This year’s event will be hosted by KTTV Fox 11 news anchor and local philanthropist Christine Devine. Christine

Devine is the recipient of 16 Emmys, including the Academy’s prestigious Governor’s Award, and one award specifically for a story on injured and disfigured veterans.

“I’m thrilled to be participating in Walk for Warriors,” Devine said. “With the unique set of challenges facing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this event will bring attention to the urgent need for supporting our vets as they transition home.”

I was very proud to cover the 1st Annual Walk for Warriors in 2011 so I jumped to cover the 2nd annual event.

Local business, media, Veterans and their families and supporters showed up to participate in an 5K walk and run to help bring awareness and needed funds to New Directions, which help get US Veteran homeless men and women, off the streets.

The more that help the homeless. New Directions takes care of all the needs of the veteran to help them get back on their feet and into the community with th knowledge that they have help and the support needed to quit or stay away from drugs and other intolerable situations. New Directions also helps them find work or at least can help them get ready for that all important interview.

I am so proud that we at On Purpose Magazine and US Veteran on LinkedIn get a chance to work with and help this wonderful organization in any way we can.

Thank you so much Greg and Brendan for your time and for putting on this great event. – JW

Walk for Warriors

WEST LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 14, 2012) – The West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and New Directions, Inc. are proud to partner again to announce the 2nd Annual Memorial Day Walk for Warriors on May 28, 2012. Walk for Warriors is a family-friendly 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk to help transitioning veterans in Los Angeles.

Walk for Warriors will help provide assistance for veterans through transitional housing, job training and placement, counseling, adult basic education classes and family reunification services. In addition to the race, Walk for Warriors will feature an Expo booth fair with food and local businesses as well as a performance by the award-winning New Directions Veterans Choir, a singing group comprised of formerly homeless veterans.

Participants can register, form a team and fund-raise by visiting www.walkforwarriors.org. Early registration is $35, and is available until Thursday, May 17. Walk for Warriors is a partnership of New Directions, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services to veterans in Los Angeles and the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

“The West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce is always ready to step up and help those who have served our country and sacrificed for our Freedom,” said Chamber President Ron Adams. “I had so much fun last year. I was ecstatic when we partnered with New Directions again with hopes of helping more veterans. “

Last year, nearly 600 people took part in the Walk for Warriors run/walk. Teams got sponsors from California and all over the United States and beyond via www.walkforwarriors.org.

New Directions

New Directions, a nonprofit transitional living program, has been helping the Los Angeles veteran community since 1992.

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), there are more than 8,000 homeless veterans on any given night in Los Angeles.

New Directions offers a wide variety of services including housing, substance abuse treatment, counseling, remedial education, job training and placement as well as family reunification and money management classes.

Why do we exist?

New Directions provides services, support and transitional housing to homeless veterans with co-occurring disorders. Essential services at New Directions’ five residential homes include drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation, mental health treatment, food, clothing, shelter, job training, and help with finding permanent housing. This nonprofit agency is unique because it was founded by formerly homeless Vietnam veterans, and has developed an effective “veterans helping veterans” model.

As women and men head home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are more and increasingly diverse vets in need of help. New Directions’ individualized care and treatment methods enable the agency to provide comprehensive, holistic services to veterans of all ages and backgrounds – both seasoned veterans and a new generation just now returning from combat.

What have you accomplished?

From its founding in 1992, New Directions’ history has been filled with reclaimed lives, rediscovered futures and re-imagined possibilities for more than 30,000 veterans who have faithfully and generously served our country.

Each year, New Directions extends help to some 600 veterans through residential substance abuse treatment programs, job training and placement, health assessment and emergency shelter services and a permanent housing placement program. Since beginning operations in an 8-person home, New Directions has grown into a major national model for rehabilitating and housing homeless veterans. Now with 5 facilities, 229 beds, and new permanent, supportive housing in development, New Directions makes a difference in the lives of individual veterans, and on the landscape of homelessness in Los Angeles.

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US Veteran and US Veteran Jobs on LinkedIn are groups formed to bring the US Veterans on LinkedIn together to share and find resources as well as job and employment placement help.

All Veterans are welcome as well as their families. We also allow recruiters and other veterant support groups join, that can help with jobs and other veteran resources.

On Purpose Magazine also has set aside an area devoted to US Veterans to share stories, resources, news and support for our US Veterans.

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/US-Veteran-87020
On Purpose Magazine – US Veteran