O.A.R. Rocks for Misson: ABLE

Did you know that 44,000 American veterans are paralyzed? Or, that 85 percent of veterans with severe disabilities are currently unemployed? While these alarming statistics from Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) may shock you, they are the sobering reality that many service members and their families must face on a daily basis.

To help address the growing problem, PVA has created a campaign called Mission: Able. “Launched earlier this year, Mission:ABLE will enlist all Americans — companies, citizens and communities — to help our paralyzed heroes fully live the lives they deserve and to receive what they need most: care, benefits and jobs.”

Mission:ABLE works hard to ensure that disabled veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned, including access to quality care, the opportunity to enjoy sports, and job training and opportunities to purse their career dreams. Unfortunately, the benefits that are so desperately needed by many veterans can be difficult to actually acquire.

PVA reports that this places Veterans in severely compromising financial situations, as spinal cord injuries can cost up to $3 million per year in healthcare expenses, and veterans’ benefits aren’t always guaranteed to cover all those costs. Even more, according to PVA, there is an estimated $25 billion in veterans’ benefits that goes unclaimed every year! Not because veterans don’t need them, but because they are either unaware of the available benefits, or unable to complete all the paperwork required to access the funds that they have earned.

Disabled veterans deserve the highest quality of care, attention and benefits, but far too often face challenges in receiving them. One group who recognizes the need to join the fight to secure benefits for disabled veterans is the talented rock band O.A.R, who has joined forces with Mission:ABLE to bring much needed assistance to our deserving servicemen and women who are living with disabilities.

After a USO trip to Kuwait and Iraq, followed by a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, O.A.R. was introduced to PVA by SAIC and the partnership has flourished ever since. The chart-topping band has vowed to donate the proceeds from their fan-written song, ‘Light Switch Sky’, to Mission:ABLE, and will also be shooting a special public service announcement to increase awareness of the campaign.

The O.A.R. TV and radio spot is set to be released later this year. The group’s active engagement in working to bring rampant awareness of the plight of American’s veterans is a motivation for the rest of us to lend a helping hand to those who dedicated themselves to defending our freedom.

For more information, or to receive sponsorship information, please contact Jane Eakins at janee@pva.org or 202-416-7687.

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