The Call of Duty™ Endowment Announces 2015 Seal of Distinction Awards
Operation: Job Ready Veterans, the Mt. Carmel Center of Excellence
and Paralyzed Veterans of America Recognized for Commitment to Veteran
Employment
SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Call of Duty Endowment is proud to announce the selection of three
veteran serving organizations to receive its prestigious 2015 Seal of
Distinction award, the preeminent standard of excellence in the
veterans’ employment sector. Winners each receive a $30,000 unrestricted
grant and the opportunity to apply for additional funding. In the last
year alone, organizations supported by the Endowment placed 7,773
veterans in jobs at an average cost-per-placement of $901—less than one
third the cost of federal placement programs. Since 2013, the Endowment
and its grantees have placed more than 17,000 veterans into high quality
jobs.
“Veterans have tremendous skills and experiences that can help
businesses thrive. It’s so important that our vets secure quality jobs,
because meaningful employment is the single most important way to
transition the vast majority of service members back to civilian life,”
said Dan Goldenberg, executive director of the Endowment. “The Seal of
Distinction means these three organizations are extraordinarily good at
getting veterans into quality jobs—and it’s an accolade that should make
other funders take notice.”
Goldenberg added, “We’re very grateful for Deloitte’s efforts in the
Seal of Distinction awards. Their work is instrumental to evaluating
Seal of Distinction candidates and ensuring winners are top performers.”
The 2015 Seal of Distinction recipients are:
-
Operation:
Job Ready Veterans provides employment transition
programs and services in the Indianapolis, IN area to ensure that
veterans have the opportunity to realize their educational, employment
and career goals. The team coaches clients through creating a
transition plan, preparing for interviews, working with recruiters,
networking and onboarding strategies. It also provides up to six
months of follow-on employment and supportive services for clients.
Operation: Job Ready Veterans reported placing 166 veterans in 2014 at
an average cost-per-placement of $476. -
Mt.
Carmel Center of Excellence provides “one-stop”
transitional services in and around Colorado Springs, CO with a
special emphasis on veterans, military personnel, and their
families. Through its Peer Navigators Veteran Integration Program, the
Mt. Carmel Center of Excellence provides individualized support to
transitioning service members in their quest to find civilian
employment. This assistance includes helping to define goals and
objectives, providing resume and search assistance, honing interview
skills and coordinating networking events. It also delivers space,
expertise and other resources to veterans and the military community
in collaboration with community partners. Mt. Carmel Center of
Excellence reported placing 151 veterans in 2014 at an average cost
per placement of $1,721. -
Paralyzed
Veterans of America is a Washington, DC based
organization that aims to create an America where all veterans and
people with disabilities, and their families, have everything they
need to live full and rewarding lives, including employment. Through
Operation PAVE, a vocational rehabilitation program, Paralyzed
Veterans of America provides one-on-one career counseling and
assistance to veterans and their families. All services, from resume
assistance, interview preparation, vocational counseling to employer
networking are provided at no charge—and are available to dependents
as well. Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Operation PAVE reported
placing 312 veterans in 2014 at an average cost per placement of
$1,398.
Applicants for the Seal of Distinction had to meet rigorous criteria to
be considered, including opening their books to provide extensive
documentation about their job placement results. The metrics assessed
included number of placements made, average cost per placement, average
starting salary, six-month retention rate, key employee background
checks and a variety of organizational financial health indicators. All
qualified applications were initially reviewed and evaluated by the
Endowment’s outside Board
of Advisors. Semi-finalists were then independently assessed on a
pro bono basis by Deloitte and ultimately approved by the Endowment’s
Board of Directors.
“Deloitte is honored to partner for a third year with the Call of Duty
Endowment to help identify top of the line organizations in the veterans
non-profit sector worthy of the Seal of Distinction,” said Mark Goulart,
principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and lead client service partner for
Veterans Affairs. “Once again, our rigorous vetting process—with an
emphasis on metrics, transparency and high standards—has identified
best-in-class organizations that are fully deserving of the Endowment’s
support.”
Operation: Job Ready Veterans, the Mt. Carmel Center of Excellence and
Paralyzed Veterans of America join an elite list of non-profit
organizations that are winners of the Seal of Distinction and making a
major difference in the lives of our nation’s veterans:
-
Able-Disabled
Advocacy -
American
Red Cross - AMVETS
-
Career
Source Palm Beach County - CASY
-
Easter
Seals of DC, MD and VA’s Veteran Staffing Network -
Hire
Heroes USA -
Hiring
Our Heroes -
National
Able Network -
Project
Renewal -
Salvation
Army Haven -
Still
Serving Veterans - Thresholds
-
USC
School of Social Work’s Center for Innovation and Research for
Veterans and Military Families -
US
Vets -
Veterans
Inc. -
Veterans
Leadership Program -
Weingart
Center for the Homeless
The Call of Duty Endowment launched the Seal of Distinction in August
2013 and awarded $5.1 million in grants this year, including additional
funding to eight previous Seal of Distinction winners.
About the Call of Duty Endowment:
The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit, public benefit corporation
co-founded by Bobby
Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. The Endowment helps veterans
find high quality careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the
job market and by raising awareness of the value vets bring to the
workplace. For more information about the Call of Duty Endowment, please
visit www.callofdutyendowment.org.
ACTIVISION and CALL OF DUTY are trademarks of Activision Publishing,
Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their
respective owners.
Contacts
Rubenstein Communications
Lauren Condoluci, 212-843-8493
lcondoluci@Rubenstein.com
