Charitable Scholar Student, Iraq Veteran Helps A WWII Veteran Stay In Her Home

Charitable Words Scholar and Marine Veteran of Iraq Tyler Bell’ produced a video about 98-year-old World War II combat nurse Anna Fields during his internship with People Working Cooperatively. The video raised awareness for its “Ramp It Up For Veterans” which went on to raise $290,000 by Veterans Day. The nonprofit’s work helped Anna remain in her home.

Update on this blog post – December, 2013:

Tyler’s video continued to be broadcast on Fountain Square and was used by People Working Cooperatively in communications to media and widely shared in social media. Media Library, Inc. a media monitoring and measurement service, tracked audience reach and “ad equivalency values” in tens of thousands of viewers and dollars. Tyler’s internship illustrates the return on investment of engaged giving and collective impact of Charitable Scholars/Learning and Lending a Hand.

By Tom Callinan

There were special moments on Fountain Square last week when People Working Cooperatively kicked off its “Ramp It Up For Veterans” campaign providing home repairs to veterans of all eras.

Overhead on large video board above Macy’s, a video showed the work of Charitable Words Scholar Tyler Bell, on assignment with PWC as a media intern. At the table next to ours, his parents looked on with pride. I told them Charitable Words was proud, too. And thanked them and the Bell family for their service to our country.

Tyler, a University of Cincinnati journalism student, is also a U.S. Marine and veteran of the war in Iraq. As we watched him hustle around the stage with two cameras around his neck, I told his parents that he is a good photojournalist. They have raised a good man. A son to them, and a brother to me and more than 20 million military veterans in the U.S. Too many are in low-income and in critical need of services such as PWC’s home repair and modifications for the disabled.

Among the dignitaries on stage: Anna Field, a 98-year-old World War II combat nurse who is one of the veterans who’ve benefited from PWC’s program. Anna, in a bright blue dress and hat, red and white scarf and gold cross on her neck, thanked PWC for helping her stay in her Bond Hill home that was “falling apart” until her daughter, Paula, learned of the home repair program and called for help.

“They have been so helpful to me to allow me to remain, for the rest of the time I have left, in my own home,” she said.

Speaking for all those present at the event, may I say in return, Anna: “Thank you” for your service then and your dignified, elegant inspiration today.

In its second year, Ramp it Up for Veterans has a goal of $500,000, which would allow it to serve more than 100 local veterans.

“This campaign has the ability to make a significant impact in our community,” said PWC President Jock Pitts, “We have a tangible impact on the communities we serve. These donations don’t just impact the veteran, but the veteran’s family, their neighbors and their entire community.”

The campaign will run through Veterans Day on November 11.

About People Working Cooperatively and “Ramp It Up For Veterans”

For more information on PWC and its “Ramp It Up for Veterans” campaign, visit www.pwchomerepairs.org or follow PWC on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/peopleworkingcooperatively and www.twitter.com/PWCCincy. Visit www.pwchomerepairs.org or call (513) 351-7921.

About ‘Service To Those Who Served”

Charitable Words founder and editor Tom Callinan, a Vietnam veteran, feels strongly that we need to support veterans of all ages and eras. Veterans returning today need support and services, including education, job training and career opportunities and social and medical services. Aging vets are in need of support and services. Veterans of all eras should not fall between the cracks.

If you know of a nonprofit serving veterans that may benefit from an internship assignment, please contact us. Student veterans – of all ages – are encouraged to apply. If you are a student veteran – or know of one – interested in purposeful experiences or a career in the nonprofit sector, let’s talk. There are 12,000 veterans at the University of Cincinnati alone, we are told. Charitable Scholars and its partners have jobs to be done and other veterans in need.

Scholarships for student veterans:

Charitable Scholars collaborates with colleges in connecting student veterans with internships and career development opportunities. We also have started modest scholarship endowments at these colleges to support student veterans and those they serve. Contributions to the scholarship funds are needed and greatly appreciated:

San Diego State University: Charitable Scholars awards are available in the school of School of Social Work with preference to student veterans and internships at nonprofit programs serving aging veterans.

Cincinnati State Technical College: Scholarships to support students at The Eileen Berke Occupational Therapy Center, which provides education and field training for working with aging and disabled persons.

And, we will be looking for a student veteran to work with “Ramp It Up for Veterans” again this fall. We hope to find another Charitable Scholar like Tyler. We do know, however, there’s only one Anna.

Bless you, Anna.

And thank you for your service.