Operation Proud To Serve You Again

Accelerate the transition of already working Veterans into owners of a small business by providing access to capital, training, and services to empower them to succeed in any start-up business. In other words, help recruit and train Veterans to succeed as entrepreneurs to start-up a small business in collaboration with their employing industry sector partners. All gifts, grants, and donations support a Veterans Empowerment Revolving Fund for: 1) Risk reduction gap financing to accelerate Veterans becoming small business owners by substituting for down payment equity. 2) Coordinating programs for education & training, accountability, and other vetrepreneur wrap around business management services to ensure financial success with disciplined day-to-day operations. The Foundation measures its success on how well Veterans achieve their personal income goals during a period of 3 years after recruitment for work in a targeted industry segment. For instance in the transportation industry, Alex V. a member of the US Navy from 2006 to 2013 enjoys driving a taxi in Pittsburgh's Eastern communities. Approximately 30% of his revenue base comes from transporting veterans to the VA Medical Center. He loves hearing their experiences and where they served. Alex is embracing the concept of his own free enterprise small business by recruiting a vehicle sub-lease partner, Elena K, to extend his fixed asset taxi vehicle utilization beyond the 50 hrs/wk he drives. Elena asks passengers if they are veterans - hoping to "listen to some awesome stories." Alex with the Foundation's assistance is now developing a business plan to "purchase" 3 vehicles instead of leasing the 1 he drives, and hire 10-12 veterans as drivers. The Foundation locates unique business entrepreneurship opportunities for Veterans within an industry in which they have work experience and a supportive employer.