WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has elevated its commitment to veterans
across the nation with the announcement of its philanthropic grants
to the National Park Foundation (NPF) and The Mission Continues to
support a programmatic partnership between The Mission Continues
and the National Park Service (NPS). The Veterans in Parks
program, launched during the centennial year for both Boeing and
the NPS, supports and expands opportunities for volunteer service
and career development for post-9/11 veterans within the hundreds
of National Park Service sites and programs nationwide.
"Veterans have answered the call of duty time and again, and
through our partnership with Boeing, we have the opportunity to
give back to the incredible women and men who have sacrificed so
much to protect our country by connecting them with our national
parks," said Will Shafroth,
president of the National Park Foundation, the official charity of
America's national parks. "Not only can parks provide a career
path, but they can also serve as settings for reflection and
healing. We are grateful that, together with Boeing and The Mission
Continues, we will connect more veterans to our national park
community."
In 2014, Boeing connected NPF, the official nonprofit partner of
NPS, and The Mission Continues, a non-profit focused on providing
career and service opportunities to post-9/11 veterans, with a
planning grant to develop a public-private partnership to help
returning veterans build careers and engage in volunteer service
protecting, restoring, and rebuilding America's natural and
cultural resources. Built around a strong volunteer ethos towards
service alongside communities, this programmatic partnership will
help to significantly expand national park access and services to
America's underserved young veteran population.
"Boeing and its employees are deeply committed to supporting our
nation's military personnel, veterans and their families," said
John Blazey, Boeing's vice president
of Global Corporate Citizenship. "As we celebrate our centennial
year, we recognize the service and sacrifice of our veteran
workforce and the unique role this community has played in the
success of our company over the past century. That's why we are
proud to partner with the National Park Foundation and The Mission
Continues – developing pathways for military personnel and veterans
to build better lives for themselves, their families, and their
communities."
On Sunday, September 11, the
Veterans in Parks program officially kicked off at a service
event hosted by The Mission Continues at Fort Battery Ricketts Park
in Washington, DC, a national park
site. Fort Battery Ricketts, within the Civil War Defenses of
Washington, was constructed after
the Battle of First Manassas in a larger attempt to fortify the
city. Despite the park's rich history and prime location in
the city, it has been underutilized by the surrounding community.
Yesterday, more than 100 military veterans, supporters, and Boeing
employees came together to beautify the park and to make it more
accessible and attractive to local residents.
"I'm very proud that we have developed such a strong partnership
with our veteran community. Veterans represent many of the ideals
the National Park Service holds near and dear; serving our nation
and preserving our country's resources," said National Park Service
Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "We
appreciate that the veterans supporting the Mission Continues have
chosen national parks as one of their major focus areas. Their work
will go a long way in ensuring these culturally and historically
rich spaces will be accessible to generations of visitors."
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the September
11 attacks. The Mission Continues organized the event at Fort
Battery Ricketts to honor Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans who fought and sacrificed
in the wake of 9/11 and who now continue to serve at home,
strengthening our communities through service. Boeing funds The
Mission Continues Service Platoon that led the 9/11 Project at Fort
Battery Ricketts Park in Washington,
DC. The event gathered multiple service platoons from The
Mission Continues as well as Boeing, NPS, and NPF employees working
toward a common objective: rehabilitation and beautification of the
park to create a safe space for the community to play, learn, work,
and serve. The project is a great example of how the Veterans in
Parks program will engage veterans in service and careers with
NPS.
"Our nation's military veterans have joined with the National
Park Service and, through our partnership with the National Park
Foundation and Boeing, are now serving in national parks across the
country. We recognize the incredible value that the parks
provide, both as a tremendous career opportunity, and as a national
resource to be treasured and protected," said Mary Beth Bruggeman, Marine Corps veteran (OIF)
and executive director for the southeast at The Mission Continues.
"We also see the opportunity for veterans to ensure that the value
of the national parks is visible and accessible to our most
underserved urban communities. Through this partnership, we hope to
continue our mission making a generational impact on
communities."
ABOUT THE BOEING COMPANY
Boeing is the world's largest
aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes
and defense, space and security systems. In addition, Boeing
supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more
than 150 countries. The company's products and tailored services
include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons,
electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced
information and communication systems, and performance-based
logistics and training. Boeing employs approximately 160,000 people
across the United States and in
more than 65 countries. Company revenues for 2015 were $96 billion.
ABOUT THE MISSION CONTINUES
The Mission
Continues is a national nonprofit organization that empowers
veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through
community impact. Our operations in cities across the country
deploy veteran volunteers alongside non-profit partners and
community leaders to solve some of the most challenging issues
facing our communities: improving community education resources,
eliminating food deserts, mentoring at-risk youth and more. Through
this unique model, veterans build new skills and networks that help
them successfully reintegrate to life after the military while
making long-term, sustainable transformations in communities and
inspiring future generations to serve. To learn more,
visit: www.missioncontinues.org or follow us on
Twitter @missioncontinue.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's
413 national parks and work with communities across the nation to
help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational
opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park
Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks and
nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by
Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds
to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks
through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all
Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant
culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park
stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service's
100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign
for America's National Parks, a $350
million comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and
enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred
years. Find out more and become a part of the national park
community at www.nationalparks.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alanna
Sobel
202-796-2538
asobel@nationalparks.org
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SOURCE National Park Foundation