NEWS & STORIES
VA Volunteers are a priceless asset to our Nation’s Veterans (VIDEO)
Did you know that over 196 Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing programs are associated with VA healthcare facilities? This great partnership has enabled us to bring our unique form of therapy to an ever-expanding number of disabled veterans who may benefit from it in communities across America. At these locations, our volunteers are VA volunteers: they provide fly fishing, fly tying, and rod building programs and a caring community for the Veteran patients.
“I can’t even begin to explain how I feel about Project Healing Waters volunteers and if I do I usually get choked up and my eyes get misty. Thank you, everybody, from the bottom of my heart for caring enough to volunteer and be involved” – Veteran and PHWFF Participant
To find a PHWFF Program near you click here
Through our collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs our cause has grown from a single program in 2006 to over 200 programs serving over 8,500 veterans annually. We are pleased to announce that we are continuing to grow this relationship by joining over 40 other major veteran, civic and service organizations as members of The National Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS).
The National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) was established on May 17, 1947, and became a federally chartered advisory committee on February 5, 1975. The Committee advises the Under Secretary for Health on matters pertaining to the participation of volunteers in VA medical facilities, assists in recruitment and orientation of volunteers, and keeps the officers and members of participating organizations informed of volunteer needs and accomplishments.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) is the largest volunteer program in the Federal government, with more than 350 national and community organizations involved in support of their mission. Every year, over 75,000 volunteers give more than 11 million hours in service to America’s Veterans. It is impossible to calculate the amount of caring and sharing that these VAVS volunteers provide to Veteran patients. VAVS volunteers are a priceless asset to the Nation’s Veterans and to the Department of Veterans Affairs.