Media

IAVA’s 10th Anniversary Includes New Digital Makeover

November 11, 2014
Press

New York, NY (November 11, 2014) – After a decade of transforming the community engagement experiences of the post-9/11 generation of veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) this week relaunched its website, www.iava.org. The launch coincides with IAVA’s Veterans Week celebrations and will help members and the public better connect with the group and with each other. IAVA’s new website tells the story of the evolution of the 10-year-old veterans service organization — started in a New York City apartment by current CEO Paul Rieckhoff and a small group of veterans and now 300,000 members strong — which manages programs throughout the country to improve the lives of veterans and their families.

“This website will take IAVA to the next level and better share the story of our members,” said IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff. “We’ve performed a complete overhaul of not just our site, but our user experience. Our new platforms provide immediate feedback and data, allowing us to respond quickly to the demands of our users. We are rewriting the playbook on what it means to be a Veterans Service Organization. Our goal is to not just serve vets; it’s to empower them. We want to be known as the first-ever Veterans Empowerment Organization.”

The new website showcases how the organization takes the online veteran community experience and interaction to a whole new level by:

● Reflecting the breadth and diversity of the veterans empowerment movement;

● Presenting a style that conveys the dynamism and energy of post-9/11 veterans;

● Creating a user-friendly on ramp to access IAVA’s first-in-class programs;

● Educating users on the core issues affecting post-9/11 veterans through a sleek interface and an advanced sorting feature for official news and blog posts; and,

● Providing shareable social media content, so users can become advocates and change agents.

The IAVA site highlights the group’s unique resources, like its Rapid Response Referral Program (RRRP) team. In just two years, the program has already connected more than 3,000 vets with Masters-level veteran transition managers who engage with users for needed resources on disability claims, education benefits, for-profit school counseling, mental health, financial assistance, employment services, housing services and public benefits.

Finally, as a unique VSO that both supports veterans and advocates on their behalf on policy issues, IAVA’s work in Washington, D.C. is front-and-center on the website. The site helps educate policymakers and the public on issues of vital importance to the vet community. From the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which will combat the shocking numbers of vets who die by suicide, to regulations that will hold the VA accountable to the community, IAVA’s public policy work is highlighted and accessible for millions of visitors.