Photo: Veteran couple at Virginina Powwow, where Veterans are often celebrated, by Tony Alter, Wikimedia
Letters are being sent out today to 505 veterans announcing that their debt has been extinguished and no longer owed. What better occasion than Valentine’s Day weekend?
This surprise “Operation Debt-Day” gift was made possible through the passionate efforts of veteran and civilian organizations in Staten Island and NYC neighborhoods. Major donors and supporters include the Staten Island North Shore Rotary club, the Road Home Foundation, “Food-is-Medicine” Epicured on Long Island, VA staff, and NYC Veteran Services.
End Veteran Debt founder, Jerry Ashton, and Michael Matthews, Director of Veterans Programs for the Staten Island PPS Social Care Network and co-leader of the SI Service Member/Veteran and Families (SMVF) Taskforce, partnered in its design, scope and execution.
How this came about
“It’s important to get out of one’s comfort zone,” Michael offers. “If SIPPS and SMVF had not accepted EVD’s invitation to co-fundraise monies to abolish veteran debt, we would not be celebrating this wonderful achievement. Imagining the looks on recipients is reward enough for the time and effort our team put in.”
Michael cited another key motivator: the simple act of reducing veteran debt can also help reduce veteran suicide. (Debt is considered a “Social Determinant” of suicidal ideation and the horrific act itself). The alliance produced other interesting results
“I also had not been aware that veteran debt can be bought for pennies on the dollar and that EVD’s partner, ForgiveCo, was remarkably equipped to use the money we raised to buy that debt and then erase it with no tax consequences to the recipient. That’s how we leveraged less than $20,000 to purchase $732,000 in veteran debt.”
Coming to a neighborhood near you – even yours?
This was a pilot project to establish “proof of concept” for larger, nation-wide campaigns to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Achieved – spades. Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico of ForgiveCo had already carved out a respectable track record in erasing debt having in 2014 co-founded the national charity RIP Medical Debt (since renamed Undue Medical Debt). Over the past decade, UMD has erased more than $25B (yes, billion) in medical debt for more than 15 million Americans.
Now, “veterans” in the arena of ending military debt, Michael, Jerry, and Craig, are looking forward to duplicating this important work nationally. If this is of interest, just send us an inquiry at 250thbirthday@endveterandebt.org.
Let’s make Valentine’s Day happen every day on America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Our 501(c)(3) private charitable foundation End Veteran Debt is tackling Veteran debt, in all its forms. Debt that is sapping the strength of those who have served and those still serving. Debt in itself is proven to be a social determinant of suicidal ideation and even the final irrevocable act itself.
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