WHAT: IAVA CEO & Founder Paul Rieckhoff will hold a press conference about issues affecting Massachusetts veterans and unveil the findings from IAVA’s 2014 Annual Member Survey on Thursday, July 24th at 11:30 a.m. at the Parkman House in Boston, MA. IAVA’s Member Survey is the largest and most comprehensive nongovernmental yearly veterans survey in the country. Findings are being released Thursday in both Washington DC and Boston. Rieckhoff will also discuss how Massachusetts and IAVA are teaming up to create a national model for local support.

There are more than 381,700 veterans in Massachusetts, including 33,209 who served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Boston veterans face a number of critical challenges. At least 271,300 veterans are stuck in the VA disability claims backlog, including more than 3,500 in the Boston Regional Office, who are waiting more than 125 days. The average wait time here is 168.9 days. In Massachusetts, as well as across the country, 22 veterans die by suicide each day. In IAVA’s 2014 Member Survey, 40% of respondents said they know an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who has died by suicide, and 47% know one who has attempted suicide.

WHO: Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA CEO and Founder

State and Local Officials

Local Post-9/11 Veterans

WHEN: Thursday, July 24, at 11:30 am EST. Doors open at 11:15 a.m.

Light lunch will be served following the press conference

WHERE: Parkman House, 33 Beacon St., Boston, MA