NewsVGM Group’s Q4 Community Giving Focuses on Veterans and Active Military

Each November, VGM's employee owners set aside time to be thankful on Thanksgiving and to honor our country’s veterans and active military on Veterans Day. For Q4 of 2023, VGM is showing thanks by focusing its community giving efforts on organizations that support veterans and active military.

These donations benefit six area organizations and total $12,600.

Get to know these organizations below, and join us in honoring our nation’s veterans and active military.

Americans For Independent Living (AFIL)

Donation amount: $5,000

AFIL provides transitional resources to veterans and their families to improve their quality of life. They are currently working to establish a Veteran Resource Center, increasing their capacity to support veterans by about 40% in the next two years.

Part of VGM’s donation benefits AFIL’s annual Music with a Mission fundraising event on Nov. 10. Proceeds from the fundraiser help AFIL renovate homes and rent them to low-income veterans and their families at reduced rates to help them get back on their feet.

Visit www.afil.org for more information about Americans for Independent Living.

Cedar Valley VETS

Donation amount: $1,000

A tradition started by Len Swiatly, a Vietnam combat veteran, Cedar Valley VETS organizes and facilitates dinners for area veterans and their families. VGM Group is sponsoring, along with other area organizations, to provide these dinners which help support camaraderie within the veteran community. Cedar Valley VETS has also helped establish various parks around the Cedar Valley, including Veterans Memorial Park at East 14th St. & Waterloo Rd.   

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post #49-Cedar Falls

Donation amount: $1,000

AMVETS helps show our troops that we care and are thinking of them. This is especially true around the holidays. VGM Group’s contribution goes toward helping AMVETS send holiday care packages to deployed active military members. Packages include items such as shampoo, soap, snacks, books, and socks, among others.

Flag Donation to City of Waterloo

Donation amount: $1,000

VGM Group has been a longtime supporter of area vets by donating a large flag to the city. In the past, VGM employee owners pooled their money to make a donation on behalf of VGM founder Van Miller and other leaders. Today, the VGM Community Giving Committee continues that tradition.

Waterloo Black Hawks: Seats of Honor

Donation amount: $3,600

During home Black Hawks games in the 2023-2024 regular season, VGM will thank veterans for their service with a Seats of Honor program. Selected veterans or active-duty personnel will receive four Black Hawks game tickets in order to bring family or friends.  During each game, the night's honoree will be highlighted on Young Arena's video board, allowing the crowd to acknowledge their years of service and the branch in which they served. Please nominate your veteran here.  

Sullivan Hartogh Davis Cedar Valley Honor Flight

Donation amount: $1,000 

VGM Group is helping send area veterans on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.  On this trip, veterans have the opportunity to visit the memorials and sites commemorating their service; as well as spending quality time with their fellow brothers and sisters in arms. Sullivan Hartogh Davis Cedar Valley Honor Flights proudly serves Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, North Tama, Grundy, and several other Iowa counties.

Learn more at cedarvalleyhonorflights.org

Questions? Contact members of the VGM Community Giving Committee at [email protected]