Live from Convention: Service Foundation donates climbing wall to Georgia VA Medical Center

This morning, AMVETS National Service Foundation donated $150,000 to the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., to finance the purchase of a therapeutic rock climbing wall for veterans rehabilitating at the facility.

"On behalf of Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center and our director, Rebecca Wiley, I want to say that we're extremely grateful for this donation from AMVETS, which will help our veterans return to a normal life," said David Patillo, assistant medical center director at Charlie Norwood. "We can't do enough to support our wounded troops who have done so much for this country."

The service foundation made the donation as part of the AMVETS Healing Heroes program, which directly supports wounded veterans and their loved ones. When AMVETS Healing Heroes rolled out in spring 2008, AMVETS National Service Foundation sought to keep families of wounded troops together through the long rehabilitation process.

Today, the program has expanded to seek additional rehabilitation opportunities to support wounded veterans through innovative therapeutic options like the Charlie Norwood VAMC climbing wall.

Every cent donated to AMVETS Healing Heroes goes to help wounded warriors, since the program has no overhead costs. To date, AMVETS National Service Foundation has distributed more than $300,000 in aide since its inception.

AMVETS National Programs Director Beryl Love said he is looking forward to continuing to support healing heroes, as the AMVETS National Service Foundation's fund continues to grow.

(Photo: Leaders from AMVETS and the AMVETS National Service Foundation presented officials from the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center with a check for $150,000 to finance a therepeutic climbing wall at the facility. Pictured, left to right: Joe Peining, executive director of the AMVETS National Service Foundation, Beryl Love, AMVETS national programs director, Kimberly Hoge, chief of voluntary services at Charlie Norwood VAMC, John C. Hapner, AMVETS national commander, and David Pattillo, assistant medical center director at Charlie Norwood VAMC. Photo by Jay Agg.)