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AT&T/Operation Homefront grant to support student veterans at the University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 5/2/2008 ) -- Military Appreciation Month will be recognized at the University of Minnesota this month, when the university's Veterans Transition Center accepts a $40,000 grant from AT&T/Operation Homefront. A check for the grant will be presented during a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 at the center, Room 302 of Wesbrook Hall, 77 Pleasant St. S.E., Minneapolis. Leaders of the university and local military and government community are expected to attend.

The funds for the student-run Veterans Transition Center will go towards new furniture, carpeting, computers and other technology for the '08-'09 academic year. Currently, the center offers Internet access, TV and refreshments to veterans of the United States Armed Forces and non-veteran students, staff and faculty wishing to extend their support. It aims to be a place where students veterans can meet each other and share their stories, in addition to making their transition from military to civilian life as smooth as possible.

To watch a video on the U's commitment to helping veterans transition to campus life, visit: http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/Multimedia_Videos/vets.htm

"As a student veteran at the University of Minnesota, the Veterans Transition Center has enabled me to make a near-seamless transition from the military life into student life, provided me with resources that have helped me get my Veterans Education benefits up and running and has shown me where to find people to talk to when I want someone who understands how I feel," said Alex Dowds, vice president of the Veterans Transition Center. "Most importantly, it has provided me with a way of giving back to other service men and women who have performed amazing feats, both at home and abroad in service of our great nation."

News of the grant has enabled the two-year old center to make plans for the future.

"The Veterans Transition Center has been overwhelmed by the generosity and contribution from AT&T/Operation Homefront," said Justin Riechers, co-president of the Veterans Transition Center. "This donation will be vital in the funding of various campus events and VTC events alike -- strengthening the ideal of providing a welcoming place for veterans to earn their degree and again become part of their community."

The grant comes from Operation Homefront, a grassroots, volunteer-based community that matches troops and military families with the charitable outreach of local volunteers and businesses, and AT&T Foundation, which has provided more than $6 million in grants and contributions since 2000 to organizations that serve active military members and veterans, including the United Service Organizations (USO), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American G.I. Forum.

"AT&T is proud to support Operation Homefront and the University of Minnesota in further establishing this much-needed Veterans Transition Center," said Beth Canuteson, the director of external affairs at AT&T and presenter of Tuesday's grant. "We are honored to give back to veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. This grant cannot adequately repay these veterans for their service but, in a small way, it expresses our gratitude for their patriotism and service."

Limited space is available at Tuesday's event, so members of the public wishing to attend are encouraged to arrive early. The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

Several resources in addition to the Veterans Transition Center are currently in place for the more than 600 student veterans at University of Minnesota campuses. One Stop Student Services provides information for students in the newly created Veterans Services office and through the Veterans Services website, veterans orientations, newsletter and emails. The Veterans Certification office assists students with veteran and military educational benefits. One Stop also sponsors the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs' higher education veterans programs by providing a resource center that offers a wide range of information on other benefit programs for military members, veterans and their families.

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