Tag Archives: veterans day

AboutFace-USA: Honoring Service, Growing Impact, and Looking Ahead

CUMMING, Ga., Oct. 21, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — For more than 12 years, Joe LaBranche has been a driving force behind AboutFace-USA, a veteran-founded nonprofit dedicated to healing veterans, strengthening families, and uniting communities. Under his leadership, the organization has grown into a vital resource for Georgia’s veteran community, including the 2024 launch of AboutFace Farm, an aeroponic farm that grows fresh produce and nutrient rich microgreens to support whole health wellness and provide meaningful work for veterans.

Image caption: AboutFace-USA Founder Joe LaBranche and Executive Director Carol LaBranche.

This fall marks an important new chapter: Carol LaBranche, Joe’s wife and longtime partner in the mission, has taken the helm of AboutFace-USA as Executive Director. Carol brings a strong nonprofit business background, receiving her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Georgia. She is past president of the VFW Auxiliary Post 9143 and AboutFace-USA’s Veteran Resource and Community Center.

Her strength in understanding and empathizing with veterans and family members with mental and behavioral health concerns come from life lessons and self-educating on trauma-informed care practices. With Carol developing community involvement, as well as a veteran coalition for the area to focus on veteran suicide and homeless prevention, Joe remains deeply involved, focusing on expanding the reach of AboutFace Farm, growing produce that can now be ordered online and mentoring veterans who find purpose and connection working there.

Since opening the Veteran Resource & Community Center in 2023, AboutFace-USA has significantly expanded its reach and impact. The Center has welcomed thousands of veterans and their families, offering free VA benefits guidance, transportation to healthcare appointments, mental and behavioral health services, Veteran-led support groups, food security initiatives, and critical connections to life saving resources. Many veterans credit the Center with restoring their hope and sense of belonging, and in some cases, their very lives.

This progress was made possible through a $1.2 million grant awarded in 2023 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to improving the nation’s mental and behavioral health. Now, ongoing generosity from community partners, corporate sponsors, and individual donors keeps the doors open and services available.

“Our veterans have given us so much, and AboutFace-USA exists to give back in every way we can,” said Carol LaBranche, Executive Director. “We are focused on improving access to healthcare and raising mental health awareness, and, importantly, giving veterans hope. To sustain this work through the holidays and beyond, we are inviting mission aligned partners to join us. Your support today, changes a veteran’s tomorrow.”

As the organization looks to the future, the community is invited on November 11, 2025 to join its annual Veteran’s Day Celebration: Salute to Service, featuring a reception, keynote remarks from Georgia State Representative Todd Jones (District 25), and the live drawing of winners from the first annual Patriot Prizes Raffle. This tradition offers Georgians a meaningful way to honor veterans while ensuring that AboutFace-USA can continue delivering services that change lives.

Learn more at: https://aboutface-usa.org/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Carol LaBranche
Executive Director, AboutFace-USA
188 Tri County Plaza, Cumming, GA 30040
888-766-0222 | carol@aboutface-usa.org | aboutface-usa.org

NEWS SOURCE: AboutFace-USA

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (AboutFace-USA), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/aboutface-usa-honoring-service-growing-impact-and-looking-ahead/

Down Payment Resource highlights 49 homebuyer assistance programs offering up to $117,000 in funds for Veterans and service members

DPR reports on programs from its national down payment assistance database for Veterans Day and Military Family Appreciation Month

ATLANTA, Ga., Nov. 11, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, is highlighting homebuyer assistance programs to support Veterans, service members and their surviving spouses in conjunction with Veterans Day and Military Family Appreciation Month, both observed in November. While service members are eligible for any of the 2,400-plus U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, DPR found there are 49 programs offering up to $117,000 in assistance specifically developed to help our military community members build, buy or make accessibility-related home renovations.

Image caption: Down Payment Resource (DPR).

“Owning a home is foundational to long-term financial stability, and our goal is to ensure Veterans and their families are aware of the assistance available to them,” said DPR Founder and CEO Rob Chrane. “As we celebrate Veterans Day and Military Family Appreciation Month, we’d like to thank our Veterans, service members and their families. It’s our hope that these programs can unlock the doors to homeownership and all the benefits it brings for them in the coming year.”

An analysis of the 49 programs from DPR’s database showcases the range of assistance available to promote homeownership among Veterans, active-duty service members and their surviving spouses:

Financial assistance range: The programs offer homebuyer assistance ranging from $2,500 to $117,000.
Program types: The homeownership assistance program types consist of 20 second mortgage programs, 15 grants, 12 affordable first mortgage programs, one below market rate (BMR) program, and one other program.
Repayment features: Fifteen programs offer forgivable assistance, provided that all program conditions, such as owner-occupancy, are met. Fifteen are grant programs that do not have to be repaid.
Multi-family support: Twenty-four programs support the purchase of 1-4 unit residential multifamily properties.
Veterans exemptions: In addition to the 49 programs that exclusively serve Veterans, there are 211 homebuyer assistance programs that exempt Veterans from first-time homebuyer requirements.

Individuals can search for their homebuyer assistance program eligibility for free at https://downpaymentresource.com/are-you-eligible/.

Methodology:

DPR produced homebuyer assistance program findings by analyzing its DOWN PAYMENT RESOURCE® database for programs with incentives for people with disabilities. The DOWN PAYMENT RESOURCE® database tracks the funding status, eligibility rules and benefits of all U.S. homebuyer assistance programs using data sourced from more than 1,300 housing finance agencies (HFAs), municipalities, nonprofits and other housing organizations. Homebuyer assistance programs of all types are tracked, including down payment and closing cost assistance, Mortgage Credit Certificates and affordable first mortgages.

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is the housing industry authority on homebuyer assistance program data and solutions. With a database that tracks more than 2,400 programs and toolsets for mortgage lenders, multiple listing services (MLSs) and API users, DPR helps housing professionals connect homebuyers with the assistance they need. DPR frequently lends its expertise to nonprofits, housing finance agencies, policymakers, government-sponsored enterprises and trade organizations seeking to improve housing affordability. Its technology is used by seven of the top 25 mortgage lenders, the three largest real estate listing websites and 600,000 real estate agents.

For more information, visit https://downpaymentresource.com/.

X: @DwnPmtResource #downpaymentassistance #VeteransDay #MilitaryFamilyAppreciationMonth #Veterans

NEWS SOURCE: Down Payment Resource

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Down Payment Resource), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/down-payment-resource-highlights-49-homebuyer-assistance-programs-offering-up-to-117000-in-funds-for-veterans-and-service-members/

NotaryCam’s ‘Help a Hero’ Initiative Resumes for Eighth Consecutive Year

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R), the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that in honor of Veterans Day, it would once again offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative.

Starting Wednesday, November 11 and running through Saturday, November 14, the initiative allows active duty and retired service members to connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

"For the past eight years, NotaryCam has been honored to offer this token of appreciation to all who have served and continue to serve our county," said NotaryCam founder Rick Triola. "NotaryCam's technology offers the convenience and security to perform a RON transaction from anywhere in the world at any time; a service we proudly provide to our veterans and active duty military members at no charge each Veterans Day."

Since 2013, NotaryCam has held its Help a Hero promotion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Current U.S. military service members and veterans who wish to take advantage of this offer need only notify their notary and present a valid military or Veterans ID card during the promotion. USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union members are also eligible for the promotion. For more information, please visit https://www.notarycam.com/.

About NotaryCam

After pioneering the world's first multi-party/multi-state remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam and completed the first RON transaction in 2012 and the first mortgage remote online closing (ROC(tm)) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states and more than 150 countries. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction and supports all eClosing scenarios - RON, IPEN or Hybrids - with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. NotaryCam also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

@NotaryCam #ROC #RON #digitalmortgage #emortgage #eclosing #enotary

NotaryCam, the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that in honor of Veterans Day, it would once again offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative.

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

NotaryCam’s Continues ‘Help a Hero’ Initiative for Seventh Consecutive Year

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R) today announced that in honor of Veterans Day, it would once again offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative. Starting Friday, November 8 and running through Monday, November 11, the initiative allows active duty and retired service members to connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

"NotaryCam is proud to be able to provide our remote online notarization services to our veterans and active duty military members at no charge this Veterans Day," said NotaryCam founder Rick Triola. "There is no way we can repay our retired and active duty service members, but NotaryCam is honored to offer this token of our appreciation to all who have served and continue to serve our country."

Since 2013, NotaryCam has held its Help a Hero promotion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Current U.S. military service members and veterans who wish to take advantage of this offer need only notify their notary and present a valid military or Veterans ID card during the promotion. USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union members are also eligible for the promotion. For more information, please visit https://www.notarycam.com/.

About NotaryCam

After pioneering the world's first multi-party/multi-state remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam and completed the first mortgage remote online closing (ROC) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states and more than 146 countries. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. NotaryCam also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

NotaryCam(R) today announced that in honor of Veterans Day, it would once again offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative.

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

Celebrity Chris Spencer Partners with Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs on Golfing for Families

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- In an historic move, on Monday November 11, 2019 Veterans Day, Golfing for Families and Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs will hold its fourth annual charity event in Sun Valley at Angeles National Golf course. This year's event will be hosted by Celebrity Comedian / Producer Chris Spencer and friends.

"As we enter our fourth year of raising money for families, we recognize the challenges presented by the social economic disparities in our communities," states Dr. Norris Dorsey. "The Dorsey Academy for Entrepreneurs continues to change this narrative by educating people on how to start businesses and run them successfully. We know the old saying "give them a fish they can eat for a day, teach them to fish and they can eat for a lifetime."

"This is one of the most important golf tournaments I've ever been a part of," said Chris Spencer. "Golfing for Families is for people who look like me, and we really need more people like me. My celebrity friends and I will raise money for those families in need during the holidays."

"I love what Dr. Dorsey stands for (education) and the causes he is raising awareness for," adds Spencer.

Since its inception, the "for Families" initiatives (including Bowling, Skating, and Concert) have raised over $34,000 to feed the families affected by lack of food security in the very communities in which Dorsey Academy runs programming. In 2019, Golfing for Families (#GFF) goal is to raise over $40,000 to help feed over 800 people over the holidays.

Dorsey Academy partners with other local non-profits to feed families and individuals on Los Angeles's Skid Row every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday as well as for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Partners include: We Feed the Hungry, The Peggy Beatrice Foundation, and My Friend's House.

Ticketing information available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golfing-for-families-tickets-71919119021 or http://www.dorseyacademy.org/

Join us Monday, November 11, 2019 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Angeles National Golf Club 9401 Foothill Boulevard Sunland, CA 91040

About the Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs:
The purpose of the Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs is to deliver affordable education to individuals who want to be entrepreneurs. Our goal is to make education great and educational again. Our focus is on entrepreneurship by meeting the needs of the communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Motto: "Start your business and business classes simultaneously."

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/7K-U7HMnSoM

Media Contact:
Norris Dorsey
Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs
Los Angeles, CA
(888) 348-5688
Email: norris.dorsey@dorseyacademy.org

In an historic move, on Monday November 11, 2019 Veterans Day, Golfing for Families and Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs will hold its fourth annual charity event in Sun Valley at Angeles National Golf course. This year's event will be hosted by Celebrity Comedian / Producer Chris Spencer and friends.

Related link: http://www.dorseyacademy.org/

Reality of a Veteran-Owned Family Business: Daniel and Joy Symonds, Funeral Home Owners, Available for Veterans Day Interviews

ELGIN, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- As Veteran's Day approaches, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home announced that Daniel and Joy Symonds, the husband and wife team behind the family-run funeral home in Elgin, Illinois, are available for interviews about life as veteran and military spouse owners of a family business.

"I have served in the Army for 17.5 years and have owned my business for six years," said Daniel Symonds, Owner of Symonds-Madison Funeral Home. "The military taught me how to take charge and get the job done, in a disciplined manner. I also learned the importance of real-time feedback, and how to use that information to improve your performance. This translates well to customer service, because any successful business needs the ability to make adjustments to better serve your customers."

Symonds is currently a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is a second-generation licensed Funeral Director and U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, following in his father's footsteps of military and funeral service. In addition to working in funeral service for 25 years, Daniel has served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and throughout the world on training missions in Panama, Germany, Korea and Malaysia. He serves on the Executive Board of American Legion Post 57. He has owned Symonds-Madison Funeral Home together with his wife since December 2013. He has two daughters who he hopes will follow in his footsteps of military.

"On Veteran's Day, it is important to remember the families behind the soldiers. My husband really has three wives - the Army, our business, and me," said Joy Symonds, Owner and Director of Community Engagement for Symonds-Madison Funeral Home. "Balancing the demands of work and family life amidst the needs of the military can be challenging. You truly have to embrace flexibility and work hard to prepare for those times when your spouse and business partner has to be away on military business, anywhere from a weekend to an extended deployment. Having a supportive community all year long is so very important to making it through those challenging times."

To schedule a Veteran's Day interview with Daniel or Joy, please call 847-741-1168 or email joy@symondsmadison.com.

At Symonds-Madison Funeral Home we believe every funeral should be as special as the person it honors. We are a veteran and family-owned funeral home that thrives on helping you create a final, heartfelt experience that exceeds your expectations, regardless of budget.

Visit our website at http://www.symondsmadisonfuneralhome.com/ or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/symondsmadison.

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-1030s2p-DanielandJoy-Symonds-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: Daniel and Joy Symonds, Owners, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home.

As Veteran's Day approaches, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home announced that Daniel and Joy Symonds, the husband and wife team behind the family-run funeral home in Elgin, Illinois, are available for interviews about life as veteran and military spouse owners of a family business.

Related link: http://www.symondsmadisonfuneralhome.com/

NotaryCam’s to Offer Complimentary Notarizations for Active Duty, Retired U.S. Military Members in Honor of Veterans Day

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R) today announced it would offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members in honor of Veterans Day as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative. From Friday, November 9 through Monday, November 12, active duty and retired service members can connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

"The brave men and women of our armed forces deserve our respect, and Veterans Day provides the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate our appreciation for the sacrifices these individuals make in the name of our freedom," said NotaryCam founder Rick Triola. "NotaryCam is honored to provide our remote online notarization services to our veterans and active duty military members at no charge this Veterans Day."

NotaryCam has held its Help a Hero promotion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day since 2013. Current U.S. military service members and veterans who wish to take advantage of this offer need only notify their notary and present a valid military or Veterans ID card during the promotion. USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union members are also eligible for the promotion. For more information, please visit https://www.notarycam.com/.

About NotaryCam:

After pioneering the world's first remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam in 2012, and shortly thereafter, the company completed the first remote online closing (ROC) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. NotaryCam also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

Twitter: @NotaryCam #VeteransDay #notarization

NotaryCam(R) today announced it would offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members in honor of Veterans Day as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative. From Friday, November 9 through Monday, November 12, active duty and retired service members can connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Scheduled to Honor Veterans at Clarke County Freedom Rock Dedication

MURRAY, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- Clarke County, Iowa's favorite daughter, Governor Kim Reynolds will join hundreds of community members, leaders and veterans in a ceremonial dedication of Clarke County's Freedom Rock. On Saturday, November 11, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the latest installment by Freedom Rock painter, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen, will be the site of a Veteran's Day celebration and dedication. Those in attendance will hear from Governor Reynolds, along with local leadership, military officials, and community members from throughout south-central Iowa.

The dedication ceremony will be held at the recently constructed Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall, located at the Murray Cemetery off Highway 34 and County Highway R16.

Jason Gibbs, member of the Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall Committee said the program should last about 30 minutes, and guests are invited to lunch at the Murray High School following the program.

Seating will be limited, so guests are encouraged to arrive early, use the shuttle services available from Murray, Osceola, and the Bunn Manufacturing locations and to bring their own lawn chairs.

About the Clarke County Freedom Rock:

Sorensen began painting the original Freedom Rock, located north of Greenfield, Iowa, in 1999 after being inspired by the movie "Saving Private Ryan."

His original rock, which was painted with a new design each Memorial Day, quickly garnered local, regional and national recognition. Sorensen soon decided to spread the message of the Freedom Rock by committing to painting a Freedom Rock in each of Iowa's 99 counties and beyond. According to TheFreedomRock.com Web site, the Clarke County Freedom Rock is 67th of 68 current honorary displays.

Since Sorensen designs each rock to represent the military members and history of each county, Sorensen and the Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall committee started conversations in the fall of 2015 to brainstorm ideas and themes for the rock being dedicated on Saturday.

"That usually means finding specific veterans," Sorensen said while working on another Freedom Rock in Cresco. "We landed on killed in action. That's why the front side of that (rock) is a gold star family member clutching a flag that was given to them and the ghost of the fallen soldier touching her."

The front face of the Clarke County Freedom Rock also features a quote from Abraham Lincoln.

The back face of the Clarke County Freedom Rock, facing the Honor Wall, features illustrations of Maxton Daniel, Raymond Harris, George Horton, Herschel Oehlert and Bert Keeler - Clarke County residents who were killed in action.

The west side of the rock features a large red bull logo, signifying the 34th Infantry Division, which Highway 34 is named after.

"There was a guy from Garner, Iowa, driving by and he saw that red bull's face," Gibbs said. "It's got great history. This guy's dad was in the 34th Infantry Division. That was something Bubba added and thought would be appropriate. I'm so glad he did. That's a big deal to tens of thousands of people."

The Clarke County Freedom Rock Honor Wall:

Constructed behind the Freedom Rock is the Clarke County Freedom Rock Honor Wall, which gives individuals the opportunity to have a veteran's name engraved into plaques placed on the wall. To date, the Honor Wall has plaques representing over 450 veterans from Clarke County and surrounding areas. The Honor Wall is not limited to veterans who lived in Clarke County.

Gibbs said the committee wanted to give everyone an opportunity to have their veteran recognized on the wall, especially since there will be people from all over the country visiting the Freedom Rock and Honor Wall.

Plaques for the Honor Wall can be purchased by contacting Gibbs at 641-414-1117.

Governor Reynolds and Clarke County:

Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds, has a special connection with the community in Clarke County. A southern Iowa native, Reynolds started her political career serving four terms as the Clarke County Treasurer before moving on to the Iowa Senate representing district 48 in 2008. In 2011, Governor Terry Branstad hand-picked Reynolds as Lieutenant Governor where she served until Branstad's departure in 2016.

For more information on the Clarke County Freedom Rock Project and the Clarke County Freedom Rock Honor Wall, contact Jason Gibbs Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall Committee at 641-414-1117.

Learn more about Clarke County at: http://osceolaclarkedev.com/

Drone Video footage of the Clarke County Freedom Rock site can be found at: https://vimeo.com/241939685

Video and photos provided by Andrew Clark and SPOKE Communications, LLC.

Clarke County, Iowa's favorite daughter, Governor Kim Reynolds will join hundreds of community members, leaders and veterans in a ceremonial dedication of Clarke County's Freedom Rock. On Saturday, November 11, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the latest installment by Freedom Rock painter, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen, will be the site of a Veteran's Day celebration and dedication. Those in attendance will hear from Governor Reynolds, along with local leadership, military officials, and community members from throughout south-central Iowa.

Related link: http://osceolaclarkedev.com/