Twelve Legacy of Valor partners to benefit from fundraising match opportunity

The Patterson Foundation, through its Legacy of Valor campaign,  has announced a dollar-for-dollar matching opportunity for 12 community organizations supporting veterans in Southwest Florida.

From Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, The Patterson Foundation will match donations from $25 up to $1,000 made per donor per organization through the GiveToLegacyofValor.org, a site created in partnership with The Giving Partner. (The GiveToLegacyofValor.org site will be live Oct. 15!)

To be eligible for the match, the 12 community nonprofits had to meet the following criteria:

- Current partners in the Legacy of Valor campaign to honor vets and their families 

- Have updated profiles on The Giving Partner

- Have an ongoing program that benefits those who have, will or are serving in the military

All donations and matched funds will directly benefit the individual veterans programs of each qualifying organization. Eligible organizations differ in the scope of services they provide -- from job placement to service dog and pet therapy --but all are united in their support of veterans and their families. 

The organizations eligible for donations are:

All Faiths Food Bank- The Veterans Appreciation Program provides a week’s worth of fresh produce, bread, meat and canned goods to any veteran in need. Distribution is on Tuesday mornings with hopes to expand accessibility to ensure that no veteran goes hungry in our community.

Goodwill Manasota - The Veterans and Their Families Initiative focuses on providing services to accommodate returning veterans facing heightened risks of unemployment, personal problems, and homelessness.

Habitat for Humanity: Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota and South Sarasota

Charlotte County Habitat For Humanity - The Veterans Repair/Build Program works to help existing veteran homeowners with repairs and will help local veterans achieve homeownership.

Manatee County Habitat for Humanity - The Veterans Repair Project provides critical home repairs to veterans in need.

Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota- The Veterans Repair Project seeks to help qualified veterans in our community with exterior repairs to their homes.

Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County- The Veterans Home Repair Program helps eligible low-income veterans with exterior house painting, landscape refurbishing, and minor exterior home repairs.

Jewish Family and Children's Service Sarasota-Manatee (JFCS) -  The Operation Military Assistance Program offers case management and financial assistance to low-income veterans and their families who are homeless or are on the verge of homelessness while helping them obtain or maintain stable permanent housing.

Military Officers Association of Sarasota- The MOAS Scholarship program provides support to deployed combat troops and educational and vocational merit-based scholarships to qualified and high-achieving high school seniors and returning veterans attending a local educational institution.

Sarasota Military Academy - The Sarasota Military Academy provides high school students the highest quality education possible, incorporating the principles of leadership, discipline, patriotism, and honor in a military environment.

Southeastern Guide Dogs- The Paws for Patriot program pairs guide dogs with visually impaired veterans, trains and places service dogs with veterans living with post-traumatic stress and places therapy dogs in military hospitals and veterans' medical centers.

USF Sarasota-Manatee- The Veterans Legacy Scholarship supports veterans by offering a scholarship to cover the gap between veterans’ eligibility for the GI Bill and their tuition. The scholarships are not repayable and will enable veterans to stay in school and not lose momentum in their studies due to financial need.

Van Wezel Foundation- The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's Military Access program serves Veteran and active military families by providing tickets at no cost to participants.

To learn more and donate to these programs, please visit GiveToLegacyofValor.org, which will be live Oct.15.