State Department of Veterans Affairs Will Be Working With Simmy Foundation

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 -- 1:00 PM

Secretary Mary Kolar of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs announced that the state agency will be working with the Simmy Foundation, a nonprofit focused on veteran mental health, and the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association to increase awareness and enrollment of veterans in the Department’s Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program.

The VORP program has regional coordinators located across the state. The regional VORP staff actively seek out veterans in need and are constantly finding ways to connect directly with new veterans who may otherwise not be aware that help is available.

The Evers administration has made veteran mental health a top priority, including a proposed budget that expanded the VORP program and a final budget that includes an annual $100,000 investment in suicide prevention and awareness efforts among the Wisconsin veteran community.

WDVA and the Simmy Foundation will provide WPMCA and its members with training and materials to raise awareness about issues of veteran suicide, homelessness, substance abuse and other mental health-related conditions like PTSD, as well as what convenience store managers and employees can do to inform veterans about enrolling in VORP.

In addition, partners will be available at WPMCA’s annual conference and WDVA and the Simmy Foundation will distribute materials at the WPMCA trade show. The partnership is being managed by the Simmy Foundation.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.