Funding will help support IAVA’s efforts to defend veterans education benefits

NEW YORK (April 22, 2016) — Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing post-9/11 veterans and their families, today announced the receipt of a $15,000 grant from the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation. The grant, presented to IAVA by MDRT Foundation Board Member David Bailin, will help IAVA further its mission to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans.

“The MDRT Foundation and David Bailin have been longtime supporters and friends to IAVA,” said Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA Founder and CEO. “We are honored that David recommended our organization for this incredible support. The MDRT Foundation’s ongoing generosity is having an incredible impact on the lives of our members across the country, and we are so proud to call them a partner in our mission.”

The grant from the MDRT Foundation comes at a critical time as IAVA and its 425,000 members are in an all out effort to protect veterans education benefits from cuts to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Since IAVA launched the #DefendTheGIBill campaign in March 2016, IAVA members have sent more than 17,000 letters to Congress asking representatives to oppose any cuts to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

IAVA led the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008 and in championing upgrades in 2010 and 2014. These upgrades simplified and improved tuition benefits, expanded eligibility to the National Guard, included vocational programs, and made nationwide in-state tuition rates a possibility for new veterans beginning this year.

About the MDRT Foundation
The MDRT Foundation was created in 1959 to provide MDRT members with a means to give back to their communities. Through its global grants programs, the MDRT Foundation is committed to building stronger families and communities around the globe.Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $30 million in more than 70 countries throughout the world and in all 50 U.S. states. This year, the MDRT Foundation will award nearly $1 million in MDRT member-endorsed grants to more than 100 charitable organizations worldwide.These funds were raised by MDRT members and industry partners.