Jericho Project Rings NASDAQ Opening Bell on Veterans Day

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jericho Project, a national nonprofit leader in ending homelessness at its roots, rang the opening bell for the NASDAQ stock market on Thursday, November 11 at 9:30 am.  The event took place at the NASDAQ MarketSite at 4 Times Square Broadcast Studio.

Live webcast:

http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx

Tori Lyon, Jericho Project Executive Director, addressed the other organizations participating in the Opening Ceremony: American Women Veterans, Hope for the Warriors, Phoenix House and Brennan Stands Alone.              

"Together we stand here today in support of veterans who are facing great challenges in civilian life after their courageous service to us," Lyon said.

Jericho Project is forging near and long term solutions to veterans' homelessness, partnering with public and private entities to deliver its proven model of affordable housing and comprehensive counseling that has helped thousands of men and women find employment, reunite with their families and reach their fullest potential.

At each of the two Veterans Residences being built in the Bronx, veterans will receive professional counseling towards employment, family reunification and mental health, including state-of-the-art programs addressing the invisible wounds of modern war, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Jericho's Veterans Supportive Apartment Program will fast track veterans and their families to affordable, furnished apartments.  Jericho will also help them land jobs and build skills through its successful Workforce Opportunities program, as well as relapse prevention, family counseling, and crisis management.  

The need is great: unemployment among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is exceeding 11 percent.  Some 107,000 veterans are homeless on any one night across America.

Advising the organization on its innovative and forward-looking services are some of the leading veterans in the country.  Jericho Project's Veterans Advisory Council is made up of leaders and veterans from the military, government, business, education, medicine, philanthropy and the media.

For over 27 years, Jericho Project has enabled thousands of men and women, many of whom have experienced chronic homelessness and substance abuse, to redirect their lives and achieve their greatest potential.  With five residences in Harlem and the Bronx, Jericho's model of supportive housing and counseling services has resulted in 95 percent of its graduates living independently. For more information, see www.jerichoproject.org

SOURCE The Jericho Project