FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 15^th, 2010

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In Austin and Fort Hood, IAVA Highlights the Power of Technology to Change the Lives of Veterans

  South by Southwest (SXSW) presentation is Followed by Visit to Fort Hood

New York - Tomorrow, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will present at the highly-esteemed music, film and interactive conference South by Southwest (SXSW). The innovative presentation, delivered by IAVA Founder Paul Rieckhoff, will focus on the impact of new technology on the lives of returning veterans and their families. Following the presentation, IAVA will travel to Fort Hood to meet with member veterans and top leadership, tour the base, and learn about the challenges facing the veterans community in the area and throughout Texas.

“IAVA is excited to be presenting at SXSW with some of the key leaders in the music, film and interactive sectors. We will show that online technology is not just for entertainment or list building, but that it can also transform the way communities organize to support veterans. In less than two years, our social network, ‘Community of Veterans,’ has redefined how new veterans interact with their peers, cope with the transition from combat to civilian life and seek mental health resources. Our work is a powerful example of how technology is literally saving lives,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.

Following SXSW, IAVA will visit Fort Hood and hold a membership event in Austin, Texas for veterans, supporters and their families. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 16 at the Submerged Martini Lounge, 333 E. Second Street, Austin, TX, from 7:00-10:00 PM CST. THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PRESS.

Rieckhoff added, “After an exciting week at SXSW, IAVA is thrilled to head to Fort Hood to meet with the base leadership, veterans and their families. We also look forward to bringing veterans together in their community to support, engage and empower each other. Meeting with our members on the ground gives us an opportunity to hear directly from them about the most important issues impacting their community in Texas ranging from Traumatic Brain Injury to disability reform to the new GI Bill. We look forward to taking the voice of our Texas membership to Washington D.C. and to showing veterans nationwide that we've got their back.”

IAVA’s SXSW Presentation is Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 16th at 3:30 PM CST at The Radisson, Travis. The Presentation is open to credentialed attendees. # SXSW #unlikelyreinforcements .

To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or a member veteran, contact Michael Houston, 212-982-9699, Michael@iava.org .

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America ( www.IAVA.org ) is the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 180,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide.

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