TUCSON, Ariz. -- Hire Heroes USA, an Alpharetta, Ga.-based nonprofit placement firm for returning war veterans, is the recipient of a $100,000 donation from the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), the professional trade association for 7-Eleven storeowners.
The award was made at the grand banquet on the last night of the National Coalition's 35th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Washington, July 21-25.
Hire Heroes is a not-for-profit organization that provides career placement assistance to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation [image-nocss] Enduring Freedom veterans, specializing in the placement of those service men and women from all branches of the military injured or with any level of disability. Hire Heroes USA provides all services at no cost to veterans or hiring companies.
"Donating to Hire Heroes USA is the right thing to do at this time, to support our men and women of the Armed Forces worldwide," said NCASEF chairman Bruce Maples, who was instrumental in identifying the charity. "Our decision was based on need at a time when we have many men and women transitioning from military service to civilian life," he added, "and 7-Eleven franchisees are glad to be able to help."
Hire Heroes executive director Brian Stann said, "We are extremely grateful for the patriotism and the generosity of the national coalition and for the efforts of the coalition leadership in making this happen. This money will be used to not only support veterans getting jobs, but to also allow us to train them."
Stann added, "The National Coalition's donation to Hire Heroes will be used primarily to support our transition assistance workshops that we run at military installations nationwide. Hire Heroes USA staff travel to wounded warrior rehabilitation facilities and transitioning warrior battalions around the country to train veterans in the skills of resume writing and interviewing. Then we come up with strategic plans and self-marketing plans for their employment search."
The money was raised through generous donations from many vendor companies and franchisees playing in the Joe Saraceno Memorial Golf Tournament, named for the former coalition chairman who started the group's charitable work. The tournament was played at The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base.
"A generous donation from Anheuser Busch underwrote the cost of the course, making it possible to donate all proceeds to Hire Heroes," said Maples. "We would like to thank Anheuser Busch and all of the manufacturers and franchisees that donated to this cause."
Tucson, Ariz.-based NCASEF represents the 4,800 U.S. 7-Eleven franchised stores and the 38 U.S. franchise owners' associations. The donation brings to $220,000 the amount earmarked for charity by the coalition in 2010, including $110,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and $10,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
[Pictured (left to right): Tim Powers, Anheuser Busch; Nathan Smith, Hire Heroes; Bruce Maples and Joe Galea, NCASEF.]
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.