Key Seattle Stakeholders Meet with IAVA Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

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NEW YORK-Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country's first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will be in Seattle on Thursday, June 17th and Friday, June 18th to meet with a range of stakeholders, including Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, members of the media, corporate partners and leaders at Fort Lewis. Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers, who will be heading up the delegation, said this:

"Seattle is a crucial city for all that IAVA does. It is one of IAVA's largest membership hubs and home to thousands of military personnel and their families at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Station Everett. We are thrilled to be here meeting with veterans, their families and key partners, including Microsoft. Meetings with Microsoft will focus on 'Elevate America's Veterans,' a recent partnership between IAVA and Microsoft to combat the unemployment rate among new veterans.

Meeting with our members on the ground in Washington gives us an opportunity to hear directly from them about the challenges they are facing in their communities. We look forward to taking the voice of our Seattle-area membership back to New York and Washington, D.C., and continuing to fight for disability reform, GI Bill upgrades and unemployment reform."

On Thursday, June 17th from 7:00 - 10:00 pm at Trinity Nightclub (111 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104), IAVA will host a free membership event for dozens of local Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PRESS.

For more information on IAVA's recent partnership with Microsoft, please click here.

To arrange an interview with IAVA Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers, IAVA Community Manager Jason Hansman (a Washington native and UW alumnus), or a member veteran in the Seattle area, contact Blake Henderson; 212-982-9699; blake@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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