Gather the Troops!

"Stand Down Fall 2008"

NASA will sponsor the next Stand Down for Veterans on November 10 and 11, 2008 at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin, IL 60102.
(click here for the transportation schedule)

This will be NASA Education's fifth semiannual, two-day Stand Down. At the Spring 2008 event, 227 newly discharged, displaced, disabled, homeless, unemployed, elderly and other veterans in need received services. We expect a record attendance at the next Stand Down! U.S Department of Labor's, Patrick Winfrey, Illinois Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, and McHenry County board member Mary Donner were keynote speakers at the Spring Stand Down.

The Stand Down for Veterans is an ambitious undertaking that takes many hands to produce, but it's a joyful one because the entire community pitches in to help our nation's heroes.

Services to be provided to the veterans include meals and accommodations for the two-day event at beautiful YMCA Camp Algonquin. Representatives will be on hand to assist with employment services, legal counseling, medical screenings and on-site registration for VA medical care, assistance in registering for VA benefits, DD214s and other programs, referrals for housing assistance and food vouchers, referrals for free dental and eye care. There will be information and applications for housing/vocational rehabilitation programs, information about community substance abuse, mental health and other programs, free haircuts, therapeutic massage, Healing Touch Therapy, a distribution of clothes, coats, new underwear, shoes and toiletry items, entertainment and more!

Thank you!

A special thanks goes out to all of those who helped make the Spring 2008 Stand Down a huge success.

Featured Speakers

• U.S Department of Labor's, Patrick Winfrey
• Illinois Representative Linda Chapa LaVia
• McHenry County board member, from District 3, Mary Donner

Veterans' Service Providers

• Michael Iwanicki and Cheryl Kirsch, McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission
• John Carr, Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission
• Ted Biever, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, McHenry County
• NASA Education
• Darlene DeMario, Peggy Curry, Ken Czaplewski, North Chicago VA Medical Center
• Phyllis Taylor Smith, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
• Scott Ottesen, The Vet Center
• Rey Infante, DVOP Specialist, Jeff Johnson, LVER, VETS/Dept. of Labor at IDES
• McHenry County Chapter VietNow
• Tammy Tope, TLS New Horizons
• Derek Jeske, Volunteers of America of Illinois, Chicago

Community Information/Service Providers

• Susan Giannone, Congresswoman Melissa Bean's Office
• Cheryl Schmid, Congressman Donald Manzullo's Office
• The Marine Corp League of McHenry County
• McHenry County College, Helen Jost
• American Consolidation Transportation (Charter Bus Company), Sue Malcomb

Donors of Professional Services

• Jeff Antonelli, Law Office of Jeffrey J. Antonelli, Chicago
• Y-103.9 The Greatest Hits of All Time
• Peggy Dickson, Healing Touch Therapist
• SportClips Haircuts
• Bladez Salon, Algonquin
• Bull Dog Security

Food and Merchandise Donors

• Panera Bread, Algonquin and Crystal Lake
• Kyoto's Japanese Steak and Sushi Bar
• Starbucks, Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills
• Pontarelli's Pizza & Wings, Crystal Lake
• Houlihans, Lake in the Hills
• Fairway Golf Carts, Cary
• YMCA Camp Algonquin/MCCD
• Avis Rental Cars, Crystal Lake

Our thanks go out to the many Donors and Volunteers for the hours of service and generosity. Special thanks to Aaron Syrdahl for sharing the beautiful voice that God so blessed him with during our after hours activities.

The Stand Down is partially funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)/Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS) and the HelpAmerica Foundation.

For more information about NASA Education, contact Amy Johnson, Program Director, at 866-EDU-4YOU (866-338-4968) or send an email to Amy_Johnson@nasaeducation.org