Mayor Newsom, IAVA Launch 311 for Veterans in San Francisco

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 12, 2010

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Mayor Newsom, IAVA Launch 311 for Veterans in San Francisco 

Newsom and IAVA Partner on Critical, One-Stop Portal 

NEW YORK - Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, joined Mayor Gavin Newsom to launch San Francisco’s Veterans 311 Portal.  This innovative, one-stop shop combines resources provided by the VA, federal, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations specifically for veterans in the Bay Area. The online hub includes information about jobs, economic development programs, educational opportunities and information on the New GI Bill from IAVA’s NewGIBill.org, as well as healthcare and mental health resources.  

“Mayor Newsom is leading and innovating in a way that other local leaders are not. His leadership on the Veterans 311 Portal should serve as the standard for other cities across the nation. IAVA was thrilled that Mayor Newsom and the city of San Francisco were so receptive to this idea when we proposed it to them this spring and are excited to be a partner in this effort. We look forward to working with other mayors and elected officials across the country on similar initiatives aimed at improving access to resources for veterans in their local communities,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.  

Mayor Gavin Newsom added, "Providing veterans with streamlined access to information is just one of the ways the city can show our support and express our gratitude for their service. The Veterans 311 Portal, created in conjunction with IAVA, will link vets with crucial services across the Bay Area. We are pleased to partner with IAVA on this vital initiative and to deliver much-needed support for veterans in San Francisco.” 

Created with guidance from IAVA, the Veterans 311 Portal emerged from existing 311 models developed for the San Francisco School District and public housing.  For more information on San Francisco 311 see www.sf311.org.

To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers, who is in San Francisco for the launch of the 311 Veterans Portal, or another member veteran, please contact Isabel Black (212) 982-9699 or isabel@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 200,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide.

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