Paralyzed Veterans of America

The Paralyzed Veterans of America is a veterans' service organization in the United States of America, founded in 1946. The organization holds 33 chapters and 70 National Service Offices in the United States and Puerto Rico. It is based in Washington, D.C.[1] The organization was founded in 1946 by a band of service members who came home from World War II with spinal cord injuries.

Paralyzed Veterans of America
Formation1946
Type501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Key people
David Zurfluh, President
Websitewww.pva.org

These service members wanted to live with dignity and as contributors to society, so they created the organization to be governed by its members, veterans of the armed forces living with spinal cord injury or disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

Mission

PVA has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues the affect veterans, specifically those with spinal cord injury or disease. PVA uses that expertise:

·        To advocate for and monitor the delivery of high quality and appropriate health care;

·        To assist in identifying and securing earned benefits available as a result of military service;

·        To promote research and education addressing spinal cord injury or disease;

·        To advocate for civil rights and opportunities that maximize independence of veterans and all people with disabilities.

PVA is unique in that it proudly serves as the lead voice on issues that impact not only veterans with disabilities, but all Americans.

Programs and services

Paralyzed Veterans of America says it delivers holistic recovery and transition for severely disabled veterans through integrative programs and services that fulfill all needs. These programs and services include veterans benefits and PAVE program (Paving Access for Veterans Employment), medical services and health policy, research and education, architecture, government advocacy and legislation, and sports and recreation. In 2017, the organization celebrated the passing of legislation that enables the VA to provide fertility counseling and treatment. The services will be available January 19, 2017 through September 30, 2018 and Paralyzed Veterans worked hard to achieve that success for its members.[2] The organization's professional staff is augmented by local chapters and at-large membership activities, corporate relations, and public/media engagement.

While the organization's programs and services particularly target veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, it also offers services to able-bodied, ill, wounded, and injured veterans as well as to dependents, survivors, and caregivers to the global disability community. All support is offered free of charge to veterans and families and without government funding. Programs are funded by the support of individual donors and corporate sponsors.[3]

Ratings

The organization received a Gold Star rating from GuideStar[4] based on organizational mission, impact, financial data, and commitment to transparency in accordance with GAAP. In 2017 PVA received a rating of two out of four possible stars from Charity Navigator, based primarily on the fact that the organization spends less than two-thirds of its expenses on the programs and services it delivers, and more than one third on fundraising and administration.[5]

Presidents
  • Gilbert Moss: 1947
  • Richard Moss: 1948
  • Bernard Shufelt: 1948–1949
  • Patterson Grissom: 1950
  • Stanley Reese: 1951
  • William Green: 1952–1953
  • Robert Frost: 1954–1955
  • Raymond Conley: 1956–1957
  • Harry A. Schweikert: 1958
  • Dwight Guilfol: 1959
  • Robert Classon: 1960–1961
  • John Farkas: 1962–1963
  • Harold Stone: 1964
  • Harold W. Wagner: 1964–1965
  • Leslie P. Burghoff: 1966–1967
  • Wayne Capson: 1968–1969
  • Carlos Rodriguez: 1970–1971
  • Frank DeGeorge: 1972–1973
  • Donald Broderick: 1974–1975
  • Edward Jasper: 1976–1977
  • Joseph Romagnano: 1978–1979
  • Micheal Delaney: 1980–1981
  • Paul Cheremeta: 1982–1983
  • Richard Hoover: 1984–1986
  • Jack Michaels: 1987–1988
  • David Parker: 1989
  • Victor McCoy: 1990–1991
  • Richard Johnson: 1992–1993
  • Richard Grant: 1994–1995

See also

References
  1. "About Us & Our History". Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  2. America, Paralyzed Veterans of. "Paralyzed Veterans of America Presents Senator Patty Murray with 2017 Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  3. "PVA FAQs".
  4. GuideStar Rating for Paralyzed Veterans of America
  5. Charity Navigator
  • (source of past PVA presidents)
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