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Cook County Awarding $1.5 Million in Honor Grants to Nonprofits That Serve Veterans

Awards will help expand existing programming for veterans and their families

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced $1.5 million in funding for Honor Grants, a program spearheaded by the Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs (CCVA), to expand programming offered by nonprofit organizations that serve the veteran community and their families.

Applications close Friday, September 30.

“Supporting nonprofits doing the heavy lifting to assist our veteran community is essential,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

“Honor Grants will help alleviate the financial burden for nonprofits while expanding much needed services and resources they offer our veterans. This programming is a crucial component in creating a better quality of life for those who have served.”

Honor Grants are available to nonprofit organizations that have existing programs for veterans and their families that provide resources and services to address mental health, education and job placement, home and food security in addition to making benefits more accessible.

“In America, veterans volunteer to protect this country. They show courage and embrace all challenges when serving both overseas and at home. When their tours are over, we must be there to support them and give them the tools they need to succeed in life,” said Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar.

“By funding specific organizations who are equipped to help veterans, we are making sure these funds are used appropriately, delivering the most effective relief to those who served.”

CCVA will distribute:

- 20 – $25,000 grants
- 10 – $50,000 grants
- 5 – $100,000 grants

The County is funding the Honor Grants program through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). CCVA was allotted nearly $5 million in ARPA funding to support programs that assist veterans and their families.

An informational session for nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about Honor Grants and how to apply will be held virtually on Thursday, September 15 at 11 a.m. Register to attend here.

For more information and to apply, visit www.cookcountyil.gov/honorgrants

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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