Tag Archives: walk for warriors

Memorial Day Walk for Warriors in Los Angeles Supporting New Directions

It is Time for the 2013 Walk for Warriors supporting the incredible programs at New Directions

May 27, 2013

This event is over, but you can still donate to this great cause or check out their website so you can go to the next event.

General Donation

Walk, run or just go out and help support veterans programs in your town. We at On Purpose Magazine support New Directions and their yearly Walk for Warriors.A great day in the sun with color guard, New Directions Choir as seen on America’s Got Talent and so many great vendors and associations that are helping veterans and their families the support they really need. Continue reading

New Directions Color Guard Memorial Day 2012 Walk for Warriors in Los Angeles

Memorial Day Day New Directions Color Guard Tribute to the Fallen Heroes at the 2nd Annual Walk for Warriors

New Directions Color Guard Memorial Day 2012
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVbYpTwebkQ]

New Directions Color Guard

The New Directions Color Guard is manned by US Veterans that are in the recovery program at New Directions.

These men are an exceptional representational cross section of the men and women that are helped daily by New Directions.

These men all have different, yet similar tragic stories of how they struggled with drugs or mental issues after their military service.

They are proud to be vets and are working hard to get their lives together with the help of New Directions, family and the friends they meet there.

Since I used to watch my father march in the Air Force and I myself marched in the Navy, I have been a sucker for watching the color guard. It is one of a few regrets that I have that I was not part of a color guard myself.

I always get such a feeling of pride and reverence whenever I watch a color guard go through their paces. I especially get emotional with the New Directions Color Guard because I know these guys have struggled so hard to get here and that reminds me that there is hope that the thousands of lost vets can find help.

I appreciate the guys giving me a minute to talk with them and that they were so open about their struggles. Thank you New Directions Color Guard- JW

New Directions Walk for WarriorsWalk 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 DirectionsNew 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Christine Devine at ND Memorial Day 2012 Walk for Warriors in Los Angeles

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.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2TJe8kLJAE]

Christine Devine

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

New Directions Walk for WarriorsWalk 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 DirectionsNew 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Memorial Day 2012

My Message to U.S. Veteran’s on LinkedIn on this Memorial Day Weekend

As a U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of the largest military and veterans group on LinkedIn, US Veteran, I do what I have done every year and took some time to send out a message to our over 22,000 veteran members.

To all the our Troops, Veterans and Families I wish you all the best this Memorial Weekend. – JW

This Years US Veteran Post for Memorial Day 2012

I was looking around for something inspirational to send out this Memorial Day Weekend and found this small paragraph by 3rd Grader Ali M.

“As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats,

Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died.

Swimming pools open, BBQs fry. Today is the day to think of what they have done for us.

There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered at half-mast. But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on.

© 2001 Ali M., 3rd Grader, Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut.

How incredible this 8 or 9 year old was to write this wonderful and imaginative description of Memorial Day, but what really came to mind for me was that Ali M. and her dream of this perfect day of remembrance is exactly what our veterans put their lives on the line for.

So this Memorial Day lets remember the veterans and be grateful for this wonderful life they have given their lives to protect.

New Directions Walk for Warriors Memorial Day 2012 Los AngelesI will be covering the Walk for Warriors Event for New Directions in Los Angeles, CA on Memorial Day. If in LA come out and see me and join in… http://www.walkforwarriors.org

Where ever you are and what ever you are doing.. Please have an incredible weekend honoring our fallen heros.

Warmest Regards,
JW Najarian
US Veteran – LinkedIn

Memorial Day 2012 Walk for Warriors in Los Angeles

New Directions and the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Bring you the 2nd Annual Walk for Warriors

Gregory Scott of New Directions and Brendan McMahon talk to me about the second annual Walk for Warriors.

120514 New Directions Walk for Warriors Announcement

WHO: Hundreds of Veterans, their families and supporters of New Directions
WHAT: 2nd Annual Memorial Day Walk for Warriors
WHEN: Monday, May 28th, 2012 (Run starts at 8 a.m., walk starts at 9 a.m.)
WHERE: West Los Angeles Veterans’ Affairs Campus, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, L.A., CA 90073
WHY: To raise funds for New Directions’ transitioning services for returning vets

I was very proud to cover the 1st Annual Walk for Warriors in 2011. I covered an Event for Hemancipation last year and they introduced me to the incredible staff and program at New Directions.

Come join us this year to honor and celebrate veterans who really need the programs that organizations like New Directions provide.

It will be a great day to bring your friends and family out to do the 5K walk or run for vets. Sign the Warrior Wall with a message to a vet you want to honor. Lot of great local businesses will be on hand with booths to promote helping vets or to inform on other veteran resources. Donate or sponsor a runner/walker, win prizes….

There will also be all kinds of things to do for you non-walkers.

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

New Directions Walk for WarriorsWalk 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.

Christine Devine

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

New DirectionsNew 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.