The Mission Continues
Founded | August 2007 |
---|---|
Founder | Eric Greitens |
Type | Service |
Location | |
Area served | Nationwide |
Method | Community Service |
Key people |
Eric Greitens, Founder |
Revenue | $6.5 million in 2012 (individual, corporate, and foundation donors) |
Employees | 30+ |
Volunteers | 4500+ |
Slogan | "Reporting for duty in your community." |
Mission | The Mission Continues empowers veterans to serve their country in new ways. |
Website | www.missioncontinues.org |
Formerly called | Center for Citizen Leadership[1] |
The Mission Continues, formerly Center for Citizen Leadership, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers veterans facing the challenge of adjusting to life at home to find new missions. Founded in 2007, The Mission Continues "redeploys veterans in their communities, so that their shared legacy will be one of service and success.[2]
History
The Mission Continues was founded in 2007, after CEO Eric Greitens returned home from service in Iraq as a Navy SEAL. Upon his return, Eric visited with wounded Marines at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Many Marines expressed a desire to continue serving their country, even if they could no longer do so in the military. Inspired, Greitens founded The Mission Continues.[3] As of May 2014, The Mission Continues had awarded more than 1,000 fellowships since it began operations.[4]
Greitens stepped down as CEO in July 2014; Spencer Kympton is his successor.[5][6]
Programs
Fellowship Program
The organization's Fellowship Program awards six-month community service fellowships to post-9/11 veterans to volunteer at nonprofit or community organizations of their choice.[6] Fellows have volunteered at organizations addressing issues ranging from disaster preparedness to education for low-income youth to training service dogs for wounded veterans. [7]
Fellows attend a three-day orientation at the start of their fellowship. Throughout the fellowship, each Fellow works toward goals of full-time employment, higher education and a permanent role of service.[8]
Service Platoon Program
The organization's Platoon Program mobilizes teams of veterans, active duty service members, guardsmen and reservists to solve a specific challenge in their community.[9] As of March 2015, groups were active in over 30 cities. Service Platoon Leaders also attend a training weekend prior to taking charge of their service platoon; there is also a "Service Summit" each fall.
Awards
The organization has been named one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2012, 2013[10] and 2014[11] by The NonProfit Times, a "Best Place to Work" from Outside in 2013 and 2014,[12] the 2011 Innovation Award Winner[13] from the Social Venture Network, the 2012 TORCH Award[14] from the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, a 2009 Draper Richards Fellowship[15] from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation and the 2011 Best of Bullseye Award for Collaboration[16] from Target.
See also
References
- ↑ "GuideStar Exchange Reports for CENTER FOR CITIZEN LEADERSHIP". Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ↑ "About". Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ "Founding Story". Missioncontinues.org. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
- ↑ "For veteran volunteers, story is part of the work". Military Times.
- ↑ Lee Enterprises. "STL's Eric Greitens steps down as veterans group chief". stltoday.com.
- 1 2 "The Mission Continues puts veterans to work on community projects nationwide - Harvard Magazine Nov-Dec 2014".
- ↑ "About the Fellowship". Missioncontinues.org. 2001-09-11. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
- ↑ "Fellowship Program". missioncontinues.org. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ "Service Platoon Program". missioncontinues.org. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ "the NonProfit Times : Best Nonprofits to Work For 2013" (PDF). Thenonprofittimes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
- ↑ "NPT's Best Nonprofits to Work For 2014" (PDF). The Nonprofit Times.
- ↑ "Outside's Best Places to Work 2014". outsidemag.com. Outside. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ↑ "Meet Our Members - SVN Innovation Awards - Current Winners - 2011 Innovation Award Winners - Social Venture Network". Svn.org. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
- ↑ "Mission Continues Business Review in Saint Louis, MO - Eastern Missouri & Southern Illinois BBB". Bbb.org. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
- ↑ "The Mission Continues Awarded Prestigious Social Change Grant". Missioncontinues.org. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
- ↑ "The Mission Continues Receives Target's "Best of Bullseye" Award". Missioncontinues.org. Retrieved 2013-09-22.