ARM Vets Charity Turns 5, Shares Story of Sgt. Olivas

ARMing Heroes, the collection industry’s charity for military veterans, reached a major milestone this month, celebrating five years of helping vets struggling with financial problems. Since its inception in March of 2009, donors have generously donated more than $100,000 to the grant-making program.  Not less than 99.5% of funds raised in 2013 have been paid out to the creditors of veterans or pledged for specific purposes in 2014, making the charity an extremely low-overhead, efficient way for donors to help military veterans with challenges unique to the collection industry.

As part of its fifth anniversary celebration this year, the charity recently held its first-ever reception to recognize top donors for their support.

During its five years of service, ARMing Heroes has provided grants to more than 50 military veterans, helping them overcome the serious financial hardships they’ve had to endure since returning to civilian life. Most grant recipients face service-connected disabilities, unemployment, and delinquent debt, and have turned to ARMing Heroes, hoping for much-needed help to ease their financial burdens and get their lives back on track.

For one such vet, Aaron Olivas, this couldn’t be more the case. Sergeant Olivas served in the US Army from 2006 – 2012, earning more than his share of awards and decorations along the way, including an Army Commendation Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, and more.  After his honorable discharge in 2012, Olivas separated from the Army and returned home to his wife and two children with a 100% disability rating, unable to work. They had lost their home to foreclosure, his wife was forced to leave her job to care for him, and they quickly fell into a serious financial situation that seemed impossible to overcome.

The Olivas family wants nothing more than to pursue the American dream of owning a home, but Aaron knew that would be impossible even through a Veterans Administration loan without first repairing his credit. Seemingly out of options, he applied for a grant from ARMing Heroes, and in December of last year, he received news that his application was approved.

With one large delinquent debt paid off, Olivas can now focus on improving other parts of his credit report, and plans to apply for that VA loan soon to help make his family’s dream of owning a home come true. Upon hearing the good news that he would receive a grant, Sgt. Olivas had this to say:

“I just want to say thank you so much to ARMing Heroes. With losing our home, and me being injured, my family has been through so many ups and downs. By paying off our debt, we will finally be able to get back on track and work towards buying the house we dream of. I’m so thankful for what ARMing Heroes has done for our family. This will allow us to move forward and recover from our wounds.”

Although the charity’s flagship No Debts for Vets Charity Fundraising Drive runs from September 11^th through Veterans Day, November 11^th every year, tax-deductible donations are accepted at any time online at www.armingheroes.org and via mail to PO Box 353, Collingswood, NJ 08108, payable to ARMing Heroes. Pledges may be made to info@armingheroes.org.  Any amounts pledged or donated now will be applied to the 2014 drive.

About ARMing Heroes

ARMing Heroes was founded and began operating in March, 2009.  The organization’s mission is to serve the needs of U.S. military veterans, including their spouse and children. ARMing Heroes fills a charitable niche by linking people identified with employment, credit, and financial counseling needs with the accounts receivable management industry, an industry uniquely poised to help in these areas.  Persons interested in volunteering their time and others interested in applying for benefits or pledging other forms of support are encouraged to contact the organization at www.armingheroes.org.

What Can I Do Right Now to Help?

• Visit www.armingheroes.org and donate now.
• Friend us and post this article to your page on Facebook.
• Tweet about this article on Twitter.
• Join our group on LinkedIn, the ARMing Heroes Veterans Charity Supporter / Assistance Center.
• Comment on this article online and ask us to contact you.
• Forward this article via email to your key contacts.
• Print this article and fax it to your local congressional office and ask them to post our website on theirs as a resource for vets.