IAVA Meets with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 5, 2010

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SAN FRANCISCO - Today, Paul Rieckhoff, Founder and Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country's first and largest non-partisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, met with Mayor Gavin Newsom to discuss the key issues impacting San Francisco's newest generation of veterans.

Rieckhoff stated, "As Mayor of San Francisco and the grandson of a veteran, Mayor Newsom has emerged as a leader on veterans' issues.  He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to our returning heroes; expanding tax credits for businesses that hire veterans and securing federal funding to help homeless veterans.  Today's meeting showed his forward-looking approach to serving America's next greatest generation.

IAVA has long advocated for national and local approaches to supporting our nation's veterans. Cities like San Francisco can be a model for the rest of the country in giving our men and women the homecoming they deserve.  We look forward to working with San Francisco and cities across the nation to best serve those who have served."

To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or a member veteran in the San Francisco area, contact Chrissy Stevens, 917-836-1483; Chrissy[@]iava.org.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) 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. Its mission is to improve the lives of this country's newest generation of veterans and their families.

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