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Collaborating to Make the Lives of Veterans & Their Families Better

Collaborating to Make the Lives of Veterans & Their Families Better

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is constantly collaborating with the Global Business Development team at Fedcap, Inc., a sister company of The Fedcap Group.

Most recently, our discussions are evolving around expanding opportunities for collaboration leveraging our technical assistance/training, resource sharing, and influence to integrate veterans and their families into their five existing programs.

Our team is making a significant push to leverage our ideas, actions and influence by the other companies of The Fedcap Group.

To showcase this collaboration we are working with Apex Technical School and Single Stop, two sister Fedcap organizations, assisting women veterans in New York State through our Operation Veterans Empowerment.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Dixon Center Command Council

Dixon Center Command Council

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is very appreciative of our volunteer Command Council.  

Serving as an advisory board working with our leadership and providing advice on matters that directly concern programs and fundraising efforts, Dixon Center’s Command Council members are making a difference.

  1. This year, four of our command council members facilitated our bringing on contractors to help us support our mission, vision, and strategic planning.
  2. Several members participated in sharing ideas, strategies, contacts and expertise during in person and virtual discussions.
  3. Multiple members have been engaging in various aspects of philanthropic fund development including individual giving and attending donor engagement events and meetings.

Thank you for being a volunteer and for sharing our noble purpose: to make the lives of our veterans and their families better.  

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 – A Soldier for Life
Brian Hull – UBS Americas
Carol Khoury – The Fedcap Group
Leon Mangum – A 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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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Welcome Rick Passarelli

Welcome Rick Passarelli

Welcome Rick Passarelli,
Senior Advisor for Veteran Workforce Development and Integration

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services welcomes a new member to our team, Rick Passarelli as our Senior Advisor for Veteran Workforce Development and Integration. A Navy veteran, Rick brings over 32 years of experience as a business manager and National Executive Board member of the Utility Workers Union of America, including the past six years as the UWUA National Director of Veterans Affairs and Workforce Development.

His extensive knowledge and commitment to supporting veterans and their families will be a tremendous asset to our three pillars, Work with Purpose, Heal with Honor, and Live with Hope.

Rick’s background, leadership, and focus on creating life-changing opportunities for veterans and their families ensures that Dixon Center can continue to assist individuals, organizations, and communities integrate veterans and their families into their existing programs.

Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, Vice President of Programs & Services, shared, “Rick’s commitment and passion for supporting veterans and their families is well-known throughout the military and veteran community. We are excited that he is bringing that passion and leadership to the Dixon Center team, and he will be instrumental in enhancing the capacity and impact of the many different organizations we work with to make the lives of veterans and their families better.”

If you have any questions about how to create positive outcomes for veterans and their families, you can contact Rick at rpassarelli@dixoncenter.org.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Heal with Honor-Nine to Two Programs

Heal with Honor-Nine to Two Programs

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is changing from 13 programs to six – two per pillar. Specifically, our Pillar Heal with Honor is shifting from nine programs to two – Clearinghouse and Wellness.

In the eight-dimension model all the dimensions are connected. Therefore, this change will streamline our effect on individuals and organizations supporting veterans and their families.

Our other two pillars – Work with Purpose and Live with Hope – remain unchanged.

With this change we are recommitting ourselves and our work building capacity with organizations, individuals, systems, and movements to make the lives of veterans and their families better.

 

This wellness wheel, outlined by SAMHSA, illustrates all Eight dimensions of wellness.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Work with Purpose Activities

Work with Purpose Activities

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is actively building capacity with organizations and individuals empowering veterans and their families to Work with Purpose. Working with organizations and individuals we are creating pathways into careers where veterans earn a family wage and have affordable healthcare and benefits. Careers that allow veterans and their families to set and meet their future goals.

For example, at the United Association’s 2025 Pipe Trades Training Conference in Dallas, Dixon Center participated in workshops and shared insights and innovative solutions empowering union veterans.

Also, Dixon Center continues to provide a leadership role within Task Force Movement (TFM). Recently, during the American Legion’s 65th Annual Washington Conference, during panels and sidebars we were highlighting challenges facing transitioning service members and veterans, discussing solutions to ensure that veterans and their families thrive, and emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in facilitating employment opportunities for the military-connected community.

We are especially thankful to all of these organizations for their leadership as well as all the members for their commitment to those touched by military service.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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A Gift in Return

A Gift in Return

While our donors don’t often expect more than a simple “thank you” in return for their generosity, a small token of our appreciation is going a long way. 

Over the past 14 months, based on their donation, 133 donors to Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services received a branded gift they are using every day, including either a grocery tote bag, a travel mug, a cooler bag, or a pullover.  These myriads of donor gifts don’t cause us to blow our budget – over the past two years they have been paid for from the generosity of a family who recognizes the importance of donor appreciation and relationships. 

Recently, in collaboration with our benefactor we are adding branded hoodies, socks, and drawstring bags to the gifts we will present to individual and major donors, depending on the level of their contribution. 

As we were contemplating the role donor gifts play in our fundraising, our development team laid out a few benefits including, cultivating donor relationships, incentivizing future support, inspiring other prospects, and providing us with branding opportunities. 

We hear from donors, or experience ourselves, these everyday items spark conversations over coffee, on a walk, during travel, or out shopping. There is nothing we and our donors enjoy more than being asked to “tell me about Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.”

Examples of previous and current gifts. In 2025, donors who give $99 or less will receive a drawstring bag, $100-$499 will receive socks, $500+ will receive a hoodie.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Season 5 of Service Before Self Podcast Launches

Season 5 of Service Before Self Podcast Launches

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services has kicked off Season 5 of the Service Before Self Podcast!  Recently we sat down with Adam Marr, co-host of the American Legion’s Tango Alpha Lima Podcast and Director of Operations for the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition, to explore groundbreaking approaches to veteran mental health and wellness.

In this candid conversation, Adam shared his personal journey of transition and reintegration, revealing both the challenges he faced and the resilience that carried him forward. His story not only inspires but also sets the stage for a deeper discussion on innovative strategies to enhance mental health services for veterans. The episode highlights how cutting-edge research and community-driven solutions can open new pathways for support—ensuring veterans receive the care and respect they deserve.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking episode—available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. Join us as Dixon Center continues our commitment to exploring innovative solutions to the evolving needs of veterans and their families.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Activities with Fedcap Group Companies

Activities with Fedcap Group Companies

Our Fedcap Group partner organization, Apex Technical School, and Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services are collaborating to empower APEX students and instructors who are women veterans. Apex is using Dixon Center for our expertise, advice and resources because they understand that women veterans bring a unique skill set to education.
 
Women veterans at APEX will be integrated into Operation Veteran Empowerment (OVE). OVE is a project within our program, Women Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance. OVE is focusing resources and actions throughout New York.

About Apex Technical School offers 900-hour certificate courses in: refrigeration, automotive service, welding technology, electrical and advanced electrical, plumbing and construction. 

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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2024 Donor Recap

2024 Donor Recap

As noted in our 2024 Annual Report, our donors and partners enabled Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services to make an extraordinary impact on veterans and their families.

This chart shows the revenue distribution of donations by source. Most of our resources come from Corporate and Family Foundations, followed by Major donors. Individual donors make the smallest percentage but remain important for the Center’s connection to communities and individuals across the nation. We have several individual donors who have been monthly donors for several years.

In 2024, a total of 91 unique donors made a total of 195 donations. 76% of these donors also supported us in 2023. 2024 was a record year for growth and revenue. We established five new corporate and family foundation relationships. This tells us our current donors are committed, loyal, passionate and generous. Also, new partners are eager to join us in our purpose to make the lives of veterans and their families better.

Thank you to all of our donors who make our work possible.

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is a member of The Fedcap Group, a global network of top-tier nonprofit agencies. The Fedcap Group serves as the fiscal agent for Dixon Center and as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and provides our back-office support. Our financial and operating results are included in The Fedcap Group’s audited financial statement ending September 30, 2024. For questions, please contact Eileen Greenlay at egreenlay@dixoncenter.org.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen

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Supporting the Love Lives On Act of 2025

Supporting the Love Lives On Act of 2025

This month, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services proudly joined forces with organizations across the nation to support the reintroduction of the Love Lives On Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation ensures surviving spouses of service members who die on active duty can retain survivor benefits if they remarry.

By removing the penalty for remarriage, this act promotes financial stability and emotional resilience for surviving families, honoring the sacrifices made by both service members and their loved ones. The legislation also includes provisions to safeguard benefits for children, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to those who have given so much.

Our decision to endorse this legislation reflects our deep respect for the families of our fallen and our understanding of their sacrifices and our belief that love and resilience should never be penalized. By advocating for this act, we aim to honor their loved ones’ legacies and uphold the promise of care and support made to those who serve.

Stay updated on this effort and other initiatives by subscribing to The Bugler and following us on social media. You can also reach out to your representatives in Congress and express your support for the bill.  Let’s make a difference together.

 

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen