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Building Capacity with Our Partners Across the Nation

Building Capacity with Our Partners Across the Nation

“Enabling the enablers is a mission imperative. We do that by supporting partners in events across the country.”

– Colonel Duncan Milne, President,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Summer is always a busy time at the Center, but this July and August have been among our most exciting. After years of building public awareness, encouraging community involvement, and promoting grassroots solutions that are making a difference, we participated in dozens of engagements and activities surrounding the Nation’s 250th Anniversary and Independence Day celebrations.
 
With more than half the year behind us, there is still much work ahead. Our team is constantly on the road, serving, engaging, and advocating on behalf of veterans and their families. Here are just a few recent examples:

– Serving those who support and serve veterans. We were proud to sponsor and participate in the General Dynamics Soldier On Golf Tournament, supporting efforts to end veteran homelessness.

– Engaging with the Nation’s veteran community. Our team met with veterans and their families at Soldier On transitional, permanent, and affordable housing communities in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. We also visited Jake’s Java, a Gold Star Family-owned business in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. 

– Advocating by fostering, strengthening, and expanding community-based connections for veterans and their families. We participated in and spoke at the International Union of Elevator Constructors’ 33rd Convention, highlighting the achievements of service members during and after military service.

– And so much more.

Thank you for your support and understanding how the Center’s critical work is making lives better. 

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Leveraging the Center’s Greatest Asset, Our Command Council

Leveraging the Center’s Greatest Asset, Our Command Council

“The Center’s Command Council serves as an advisory committee and is a crucial part of our development strategy.”

– Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development

The Command Council members at Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) generously give both their time and treasure. Our Command Council has continued to generously donate this fiscal year, adding to the financial strength of the Center.
 
More importantly, members provide the Center with their strategic expertise, recommendations and access to their networks.
 
Just in the last few weeks, the development team can attribute several development-related movements to our Command Council:

  • Invited Center team members to high-profile events, including the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade and this year’s Veterans Day Parade.
  • Shared ideas, presented insights and offered feedback during one-on-one conversations and small group convenings.
  • Directly referred us to three major foundations/major donors for introductions. This has resulted in meetings with managing partners at high-profile financial firms and influential philanthropists (one of which has arranged to host a private fundraising dinner).
  • Agreed to host and provide corporate office space for our 2026 Holiday Reception.
  • Scheduled intimate tours at Arlington National Cemetery with potential funders.
  • Increased engagement on social media, by posting stories about their experience and involvement on the Center’s Command Council.

We appreciate the actions, support, and commitment of all of our Command Council members.

Command Council Members
  • Latrese Dixon – Blue and Gold Star Family Partner
  • John Anderson – Spring Creek Partners and Anderson Enterprises
  • John Coonradt – Marine for Life
  • Rick Freedman – Freedman Family Foundation
  • Danny Gardner – Affordable Housing Subject Matter Expert (SME)
  • Frank Gaudio – Finance and Organization SME
  • Tommy Haire – Soldier for Life
  • Brian Hull – UBS Americas
  • Carol Khoury – The Fedcap Group
  • Leon Mangum – Soldier for Life
  • Bob McCann – NewEdge Capital Group
  • Christine McMahon – The Fedcap Group
  • Holly Metzger – Artist
  • Jerry Pascucci – UBS Americas
  • David Sutherland – Chair
  • Ed Wenzel – Edward Wenzel Associates
  • James E. Williams, Jr. – Non-Profit Executive SME

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Turning Insight Into Action for New York’s Veteran Community

Turning Insight Into Action for New York’s Veteran Community

“We are proactively identifying challenges impacting veterans and their families in New York State. By combining the strengths of the Center, AlphaROC, and the Dwyer Coalition, we are demonstrating our shared purpose: using insight, collaboration, and action to make the lives of veterans and their families better.”

– Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs and Services, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Last week, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, AlphaROC, and the Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families held their first project kickoff meeting to advance a shared commitment: helping communities better understand and respond to the evolving needs of veterans and their families across New York State.

The meeting brought together the partners’ complementary strengths. The Center contributed its experience building the capacity of organizations serving military and veteran communities. The Dwyer Coalition brought the knowledge and perspective of its statewide network of veteran peer-support programs. AlphaROC introduced a data-informed approach for identifying emerging trends, regional differences, and challenges that might otherwise remain unseen until they became more difficult to address.

Together, the partners established the foundation for gathering regular insights from participating Dwyer programs and translating those insights into practical information for community leaders and service providers. The work is designed to help organizations move beyond reacting to problems and instead anticipate changing needs, adjust existing programs, and develop locally relevant solutions.

This collaboration represented another step in The Center’s continued work to connect organizations, ideas, and resources that improves outcomes for those who served. Stay tuned for updates as we advance this exciting and innovative initiative.

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Save the Date – Annual Holiday Reception 2026

Save the Date – Annual Holiday Reception 2026

Save the Date

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services
Awards Ceremony and Annual Holiday Reception

Thursday Evening, December 10, 2026 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm EST
New York, NY

About this Event

Each year, we take this opportunity to thank our friends, families, supporters, and donors. We also recognize outstanding individuals and organizations through the presentation of four awards:

  • The Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award
  • The Herbert and Carolyn Metzger Service Award
  • The Michael “Mick” Yauger Point Man Award
  • The Lou Lowenkron Commitment to Veterans Excellence Award

Stay tuned for a full announcement of the awardees and your invitation in the months ahead.

Sincerely, 

The Center for Military and Veterans Services Team

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Yes, We Do Use AI

Yes, We Do Use AI

“AI will never replace our priority of connection and relationship building. It does strengthen our ability to vet opportunities, develop more compelling proposals, and improve efficiency in our daily development activities.”

– Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development

Over the last several months, our Development team has participated in various webinars focused on how artificial intelligence can strengthen our operations and quality of grant applications and donor communications.

Curious. Growing. Efficient. These were the top three responses to a live poll at a recent webinar hosted by one of our funders asking attendees for one word to describe their current usage of AI. Additionally, a question was posed “will funders have issue with our use of AI?” Our host funder told us, “They expect you to use it.” Suggestions proposed that resonated with us:

  • Properly select model type and prompt chats for better results by outlining specific goals, providing full context, citing sources of background information and noting key expectations.
  • Don’t allow AI to guess or assume numbers, instruct options such as (human to insert number here) for metrics or statistics.
  • Customize chats and organize projects based on specific topics.

AI tools can support our work, improve efficiency, enhance storytelling, and expand our ability to serve veterans and military families. We balance that with transparency and appropriate usage.

So yes, the team at the Center does use AI for certain tasks.

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Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Happy 14th Anniversary

From David Sutherland, Chair:

On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact.

This is an exciting moment for our team and a chance to recommit to our core purpose: improving the lives of veterans and their families. It is also an opportunity to build on the progress we have made across our 3 pillars, 6 programs, and more than 630 projects, operations, and initiatives over the past 14 years.

As I sat at the dedication ceremony in a Chicago hotel ballroom on 13 July 2012, I believed we could achieve this progress – and we have. Still, much work remains. The needs of our nation’s veterans and their families continue to evolve, not disappear. Fortunately, we have an outstanding team of professionals focused on our mission, vision, and purpose.

Congratulations, team. Giddy up!

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We Celebrated and Shared Our Patriotism

We Celebrated and Shared Our Patriotism

“Our actions show how grateful we are for our liberties and freedoms.”

– Colonel Duncan Milne – President,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

July Fourth commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and reminds us that freedom is best honored through service, citizenship, and community. Over the Independence Day weekend, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services and those connected to our mission expressed that gratitude not only in words, but in action.

Throughout the weekend, members of our community marked the holiday in ways that reflected both pride in our nation and commitment to one another. Some spent Independence Day at Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, whose leadership helped secure American independence. Others represented the spirit of the day by walking in parades, speaking in their communities, and joining local activities across the country.

For many in our Dixon Center community, patriotism is part of daily life. Some family members continue to serve in uniform today, while many others on our team are veterans whose service – and the support of their loved ones – has strengthened our country, our neighborhoods, and the people beside them. Their example reminds us that appreciation for our liberties and freedoms is not limited to one day; it is demonstrated over time through sacrifice, participation, and continued service.

We hope your Independence Day was meaningful and that the weekend offered a moment to reflect on the freedom we cherish and the actions that help sustain them.

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Episode #34, Service Before Self Podcast

Episode #34, Service Before Self Podcast

We recently released the latest episode of the Service Before Self podcast, “Creating Community: The Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2026,” featuring Ed Dennis, Executive Director of the Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation (AQBFF), and Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs & Services at Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.

This episode reflects on their experience during the Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2026 this past February, where veterans from diverse backgrounds came together for far more than a traditional outdoor event. Their discussion explores how shared experiences, authentic relationships, and meaningful dialogue fosters a lasting sense of community that extended well beyond the hunt itself.

The Center is proud to share this story of partnership, service, and community while continuing to elevate innovative approaches that strengthen the lives of those who have served.

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First-Half FY2026 Progress

First-Half FY2026 Progress

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

– Phil Jackson, Hall of Fame and
NBA Championship Coach 

In the first half of FY2026, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services advanced its mission through steady operational progress and strategic outreach.

  • Launched 7 planned operations
  • Advanced 42 projects
  • Moved forward 7 policy proposals or new ideas
  • Participated in 12 conferences, workshops, and public events

Featured Highlights

One key milestone was Fedcap’s release of its first-half FY2026 operating and financial results, which highlighted the strength of a diversified model serving more than 252,000 individuals across education, workforce development, health, and economic development.

Three other highlights include:

  • VETS26 Conference: Hosted by the National Veteran Small Business Coalition, this event provided an opportunity to share ideas around the theme “Growing Your Business” and strengthen connections that support veteran entrepreneurship and federal contracting opportunities.

Together, these first half results reflect strong momentum across the Center’s core pillars. They also position the Center to build on positive outcomes for partners, expand capacity, and advance its three priorities: support, growth, and profitability.

 

 

Photo 1: Michele Spires and Wendy Lang celebrate a new partnership between the Center and the American Council on Education

Photo 2: The Center engaging with leadership from the Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Program

Photo 3: National Veterans Small Business Coalition VETS26

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Innovation is our Lifeblood

Innovation is our Lifeblood

“Innovations are imperative in building capacity by organizations seeking to make lives of veterans and their families better.”

– Duncan S. Milne, Retired US Marine Corps Colonel, President,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) is attending the annual Social Innovation Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. The summit is a leading forum for sharing ideas, building connections, and finding partners committed to improving lives.

To support our business development goals, our team is connected with leaders across many sectors that are advancing social change around the world. Veterans may not be the initial focus of these discussions, but when we share our leadership and expertise, it becomes clear that veterans and military families are part of the communities these efforts aim to serve.

In turn, leaders recognize that including veterans and military families in their strategies and plans is not only the right thing to do, but also essential to meaningful innovation.

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