AMVETS To Receive $250,000 Grant From The Call of Duty Endowment

Maryland Based Veterans Organization Receives Grant to Support Expanding Operations to 20 Locations Across the Country

BALTIMORE, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Call of Duty™ Endowment (CODE) announced today that Lanham, MD-based AMVETS has been awarded a $250,000 grant to help the organization expand its operations in 20 markets around the country.  The funds are part of a $1.1 million effort to support an innovative 'chapterization' model, whereby grants are given to organizations that have the ability to scale their operations by opening new, regional offices—or chapters—that offer services to veterans.

Also taking place today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its 2012 annual report on the national veteran employment situation. While the report demonstrates a positive trend for the veteran unemployment rate nationally, the Call of Duty Endowment believes there is much work to be done.

"The Call of Duty Endowment is focused on providing grants to organizations that have proven to be the most effective and efficient in finding jobs for veterans and AMVETS is a stand-out organization by any measure," said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard and founder and co-chairman of the Call of Duty Endowment. "This new 'chapterization' strategy allows us to take the next step in applying sound business principles to the veteran employment effort – and can be a model for the non-profit industry as a whole. We want to support organizations, like AMVETS, that have proven business models and that are able to apply those best practices in targeted markets where the most veterans have the most need. By providing the funds to open new chapters in these targeted areas, we believe that goal will be accomplished."

"The Call of Duty Endowment's continued support of AMVETS speaks volumes to the model we have put in place in order to assist our nation's veterans," said Beryl Love, National Program Director for AMVETS. "We are excited about the opportunity to put this grant to work in support of this new 'chapterization' strategy by opening up new career centers in 20 locations across the United States, including locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, California, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee. We thank the Call of Duty Endowment and look forward to continuing to serve our veterans by providing employment assistance services."

The Call of Duty Endowment will be making five initial grants totaling $1,110,000 in support of the 'chapterization' strategy. Other initial grant recipients are: Denver, Colorado-based Veterans Green Jobs; Atlanta, Georgia-based Hire Heroes USA; Huntsville, Alabama-based Still Serving Veterans; and Washington, D.C.-based National Chamber Foundation.

The Call of Duty Endowment was conceived by Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard and co-chairman of the Call of Duty Endowment, in November of 2009 in an effort to raise awareness for veterans' unemployment. Since its inception, the Endowment has provided nearly $2 million in grants and scholarships to veterans' organizations and colleges throughout the United States to help servicemen and women transition to civilian careers after active duty. These gifts have contributed to more than 1,000 veteran jobs, provided job-training services to more than 2,500 veterans, and funded more than 30 veterans' college scholarships. On Veterans Day 2011, Activision committed an additional $3 million donation to the Call of Duty Endowment for its veterans' employment campaign.

About the Call of Duty Endowment:
The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit, public benefit corporation conceived by Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. The organization seeks to help organizations that provide job placement and training services for veterans. For more information about the Call of Duty Endowment, please visit www.callofdutyendowment.org.

About AMVETS:
A leader since 1944 in preserving the free­doms secured by America's armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation's citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans' service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more, visit www.amvets.org.

SOURCE Call of Duty Endowment

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