Orange County is home to a diverse population of veterans and military-connected families who experience various needs as they transition to civilian life. In 2015, the University of Southern California (USC) Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, in partnership with the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), conducted a comprehensive needs assessment of Orange County veterans and their families. The study results identified that the highest needs of veterans and military-connected families were in the areas of transition, education, employment, and physical and behavioral health.
In response to these findings, OCCF launched the Orange County Veterans Initiative (OCVI), with initial funding of $500,000 to 14 nonprofits. In 2016, the Orange County Real Estate Industry (OCRE) joined OCCF, becoming the key financial contributor and a thought partner as the OCVI has grown. Since 2015, the initiative has invested over $5 million into 17 nonprofits across Orange County to advance the work in each of these focus areas and ultimately better support veterans and their families. OCVI nonprofits regularly convene as the OCVI Cohort to share data and referrals, collaborate on projects, and ensure veterans’ needs are met.
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