Focus

Dear friends

Over the past four years, The Mission Continues has grown into the nation’s most innovative, high-impact veterans organization uniquely dedicated to empowering post-9/11 veterans to rebuild a sense of purpose through continued service at home. Thousands of veterans return from military service each year. At The Mission Continues, we know that for our veterans to make the transition from military to civilian life—not just survive, but thrive and lead—we must challenge them to continue their service in our communities.

At the beginning of each year, I issue a new “Commander’s Intent” to my team. This document clearly outlines our goals for the year ahead. I’m proud to share with you our unprecedented success in 2010.

• At the end of 2009, we had awarded a total of 36 fellowships in our first two and half years of operation. In 2010 alone, we awarded an additional 60 fellowships, bringing our total to 96.
• In 2010, we increased our number of service projects by 44%, finishing the year with 4,406 volunteers completing 117 projects in cities nationwide.
• In January 2010, six full-time staff members ran operations at The Mission Continues. In order to facilitate program growth, our team doubled in size, ending the year with a staff of twelve.
• Our brand strength and recognition also grew tremendously in 2010. We were proud to partner with Comcast Spotlight to produce our first-ever PSA, which aired extensively nationwide, and, on Veterans Day, we were prominently featured in a Huffington Post article authored by Aaron Sorkin.

Through service with The Mission Continues, hundreds of veterans rebuilt purpose in their lives. And through our outreach, thousands of Americans began recognizing veterans as civic assets, not charity cases. This is a critical step in ensuring this generation of veterans successfully makes the transition home and that, as a nation, we emerge with stronger communities.

Because of our proven impact and your incredible support, the Manhattan Institute recognized The Mission Continues as one of the five most innovative organizations in the country with its prestigious Social Entrepreneurship Award. I was also honored to represent The Mission Continues and my hometown of St. Louis as a winner of the PARADE Magazine/Major League Baseball’s “All-Stars Among Us” Award.

Each and every one of our donors, partners, volunteers and, most importantly, our Fellows, are working to ensure that this generation of veterans will become the Next Greatest Generation. Read on for stories of leadership, strength and service.