awards Archives - ALVA AMERICAN LATINO https://alvavets.org/tag/awards/ VETERANS ASSOCIATION Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:15:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 ALVA and AWP Announce Strategic Partnership https://alvavets.org/2025/04/02/alva-and-awp-announce-strategic-partnership/ Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:15:04 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=1080 […]]]> American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) and America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Support for Latino Veterans

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) and America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) proudly announce a strategic partnership aimed at expanding and enhancing services for Latino veterans, their families, and caregivers. By working together, the two organizations will ensure that Latino veterans receive access to the necessary resources, services, and community support they need at every stage of their lives.

ALVA is dedicated to advocating for and empowering Latino veterans, ensuring they receive equitable access to benefits, healthcare, and career opportunities. AWP is a nationally recognized organization that connects local veteran-serving organizations with critical resources, partners, and services to bolster community-based support networks. Through this partnership, both organizations will collaborate to bridge gaps in service delivery and enhance outreach efforts to Latino veterans across the country.

The customized link to request these support services can be found via:
https://www.tfaforms.com/5174061

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in addressing the unique needs of Latino veterans,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman/CEO of ALVA. “By working with AWP, we can better connect our veterans and their families to the tailored resources and support they deserve.”

AWP’s President/CEO Jim Lorraine added, “America’s Warrior Partnership is committed to ensuring no veteran falls through the cracks. Our collaboration with ALVA will strengthen our ability to reach and support Latino veterans through community-driven solutions.”

The partnership will focus on several key initiatives, including:

  • Strengthening access to localized veteran support services tailored to Latino veterans’ needs.
  • Increasing awareness and utilization of existing veteran programs through outreach and education.
  • Facilitating collaboration between ALVA, AWP, and community-based veteran organizations nationwide.

Together, ALVA and AWP are committed to ensuring Latino veterans receive the recognition, services, and support they have earned through their service to the nation.

Please visit our website www.alvavets.org and follow us on social media @alvavets to learn more about our other programs and future events.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets.

About America’s Warrior Partnership:
America’s Warrior Partnership is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with communities to prevent veteran suicide. They connect local veteran-serving organizations with the appropriate resources, services, and partners to support veterans, their families, and caregivers at every stage of life. Their goal is to improve veterans’ quality of life and end veteran suicide by empowering local communities to serve them proactively and holistically before a crisis occurs. Learn more at www.americaswarriorpartnership.org or @AWPartnership.

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American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) Announces Launch of Regional Coordinators to Expand Outreach and Support for Latino Veterans https://alvavets.org/2025/03/10/american-latino-veterans-association-alva-announces-launch-of-regional-coordinators-to-expand-outreach-and-support-for-latino-veterans/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:24:50 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=1058 […]]]>

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) proudly announces the launch of its Regional Coordinators initiative, a strategic effort to expand its reach, strengthen its support network, and drive membership growth among Latino veterans and their families nationwide.

The newly appointed Regional Coordinators are highly engaged individuals with extensive networks in the veteran community, strong ties to Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), and connections to potential corporate partners. Their commitment to the well-being of veterans makes them invaluable ambassadors for ALVA’s mission.

Responsibilities of ALVA Regional Coordinators
Regional Coordinators will play a crucial role in increasing ALVA’s visibility, fostering collaborations, and supporting veteran-centric initiatives across the country. Their primary responsibilities include:

  • Acting as ALVA Ambassadors
    • Driving ALVA membership growth in their respective regions (membership is free for all veterans, guard, reserves, and their families)
    • Increasing awareness and engagement with ALVA programs and initiatives
    • Identifying and fostering relationships with potential partners and sponsors
  • Coordinating ALVA Events
    • Organizing and assisting with ALVA-sponsored events in their regions
    • Enhancing participation and outreach at community and veteran-focused gatherings
  • Supporting and Coordinating Volunteer Activities
    • Identifying meaningful volunteer opportunities for ALVA members
    • Engaging with local organizations to promote veteran support initiatives

Meet the Initial Cadre of ALVA Regional Coordinators
ALVA is proud to introduce its first group of Regional Coordinators, who bring unparalleled dedication and expertise to their roles. If you have suggestions of other leaders you would like to recommend for another region, please contact us at info@alvavets.org.

  • Joe Aldaz – Colorado (CO)
  • July Franco – Chicago, Illinois (IL)
  • Lucy Del Gaudio – Northern New Jersey (NJ)
  • John Escalante – New York City (NY)
  • Joseph Figueroa – San Antonio, Texas (TX)
  • Danitza “Dee” Garcia-James – Norfolk, Virginia (VA)
  • Evan Guzman – New York City (NY)
  • Ernesto Hernandez – National Capital Region (VA)
  • Jose Ismael Irizarry – Puerto Rico (PR)

A Commitment to Latino Veterans
ALVA remains steadfast in its mission to “help Latino Veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions”. We empower Latino veterans and their families by providing access to resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy. Through the efforts of its Regional Coordinators, ALVA aims to strengthen its footprint nationwide and ensure that every Latino veteran has access to the support they deserve.

“We are thrilled to have such a dedicated and passionate group of individuals leading ALVA’s efforts in their respective regions,” said ALVA Founder/Chairman/CEO, Danny Vargas. “Their leadership and commitment will be instrumental in amplifying our mission and serving Latino veterans across the country.”

Please visit our website www.alvavets.org and follow us on social media @alvavets to learn more about our other programs and future events.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA Publishes Its 2024 Impact Report https://alvavets.org/2025/03/05/alva-publishes-its-2024-impact-report/ Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:01:05 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=1037 […]]]>

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA), the only national non-profit focused exclusively on helping all Latino veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions, announces its 2024 Impact Report.

The Impact Report describes highlights of 2024 program activities, the populations served, a glimpse of future plans, as well as a message from its CEO and a statement of appreciation to its members and supporters. Among the highlights are the various partnerships to provide direct support for veterans, address veteran suicide prevention, and career progression; successful events including jobs match making with several employers, and ALVA Awards events in Washington, D.C and New York City; advocacy efforts on Captiol Hill; and much more.

“We are so very grateful for our members, supporters, allies, and friends who made 2024 a great year for ALVA and the Latino veterans we exist to support,” stated ALVA Founder/Chairman & CEO, Danny Vargas. He added, “Looking to the future, we expect to see many changes in the way our nation’s veterans are supported (some good; some bad). From physical/mental health care, to education, to financial support, to workforce development, and more. With this in mind, the work of Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), like ALVA, is increasingly important”.

The full 2024 Impact Report can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR 2024 ALVA IMPACT REPORT

Please visit our website www.alvavets.org and follow us on social media @alvavets to learn more about our other programs and future events.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA Honors Stellar Latino Veterans in New York City https://alvavets.org/2024/12/19/alva-honors-stellar-latino-veterans-in-new-york-city/ Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:19:31 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=1029 […]]]>

New York City, NY – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) had the distinct pleasure of honoring five incredible Latino Veterans at a reception on Monday, December 9th at the beautiful Central Park Boathouse in New York City. This was ALVA’s first event in NYC and it was a tremendous success.

The event was sponsored by JPMorgan Chase (represented by William Jaramillo) and included remarks from Iris Rodriguez-Rosa (First Deputy Commissioner for the NYC Parks Department), James Hendon (Commissioner for the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services), Cassandra Alvarez (Chief of Staff, NYC DVS), Ricardo Garcia (Hostos Community College), and Francisco Cortes (Setroc Group).

The honorees were:
– Veteran Entrepreneur Award: Rudy Cazares
– Community Service Award: Lucy Del Gaudio
– Military Service Award: Julio Feliu and Jose Rivera (Borinqueneers)
– Role Model Award: John Escalante

Photos from the events can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
Video from the events can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR VIDEOS
Profiles for the honorees can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR PROFILES

“What a great honor it was to celebrate the service, sacrifice, leadership and resilience of our awardees and their families. And it was truly humbling to present an award to a living legend, Julio Feliu, a 94-year-old Bronze Star recipient who fought in the Korean War and is a surviving member of the Borinqueneers,” stated ALVA Founder/Chairman & CEO, Danny Vargas. He continued, “We greatly appreciate our sponsors, partners, supporters, and friends who made these events possible and who believe in our mission to help Latino veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions.”

Please visit our website www.alvavets.org and follow us on social media @alvavets to learn more about our other programs and future events.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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Register for the 2024 ALVA D.C. Expo and Awards Reception – Nov. 6th https://alvavets.org/2024/09/23/register-for-the-2024-alva-d-c-expo-and-awards-reception/ Mon, 23 Sep 2024 18:49:59 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=956 […]]]>

Please register today for the ALVA Expo and ALVA Awards Reception on November 6th in Washington, D.C.!

We are honored to partner with ALPFA – DC for this event!

There will be an Expo from 12:45pm – 6:00pm, including informative panels on transitioning from military to civilian life, accessing veterans benefits, financial literacy and more. (registration begins at 12:15pm)

There will be a job matchmaking session from 4:15pm – 6:00pm.

The Awards Reception will follow from 6:30pm – 9:00pm (registration opens at 6:00pm)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EXPO/RECEPTION

CLICK HERE FOR JOB MATCHMAKING

The venue will be:

AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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Latino Veteran Entrepreneur Survey https://alvavets.org/2024/05/02/latino-veteran-entrepreneur-survey/ Thu, 02 May 2024 02:57:52 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=900 […]]]> Share Your Voice: Shaping the Future for Latino Entrepreneurs

Dear Latino Veteran Entrepreneur,

We’re embarking on an important journey to better understand and support Latino/a/e entrepreneurs like you, particularly with business transfers (buying and selling businesses). Your perspective is invaluable, and by sharing it through our brief survey, you will contribute to shaping strategies that directly address the needs and challenges you might face.

This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and to contribute to meaningful change. Please take just a few moments to complete our survey.

[CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY].

Your insights will help guide us in creating more inclusive and effective support for entrepreneurs.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to impact the future of Latino/a/e business ownership.

Warm regards,
Danny Vargas
ALVA Chairman/CEO

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA Announces 2023 Impact Report https://alvavets.org/2024/02/08/alva-announces-2023-impact-report/ Thu, 08 Feb 2024 21:50:37 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=890 […]]]>

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA), the only national non-profit focused on helping all Latino veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions, announces its 2023 Impact Report.

The Impact Report describes highlights of 2023 program activities, the populations served, a glimpse of future plans, as well as a message from its CEO and a statement of appreciation to its members and supporters. Among the highlights are the various partnerships established for workforces development and entrepreneurship, the business and awards events, along with the efforts around sharing resources and stories and advocacy on public policy.

“We are so very grateful for our members, supporters, allies, and friends who made 2023 a great year for ALVA and the Latino veterans we exist to support,” stated ALVA Founder/Chairman & CEO, Danny Vargas.

The full 2023 Impact Report can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR 2023 ALVA IMPACT REPORT

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA WELCOMES NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NEW PATRIOT LEVEL SPONSOR https://alvavets.org/2024/01/28/alva-welcomes-new-advisory-council-members-and-new-patriot-level-sponsor/ Sun, 28 Jan 2024 21:05:11 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=873 […]]]>

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is pleased to announce the addition of three new outstanding members to its Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is made up of talented, experienced, and well-connected individuals who care about our veterans and commit to helping ALVA raise its visibility, identify funding opportunities, and support its activities. They join ALVA’s already powerful and influential Advisory Council which includes notable leaders like actor/comedian John Leguizamo, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin, Olga Custodio (the first Latina U.S. military pilot), former Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, retired Marine Corps Major General Angela Salinas, and several others. For a full list of our Board and Advisory Council, visit: https://alvavets.org/leadership/

ALVA welcomes the following new members of the Advisory Council:

  • Roberto Clemente, Jr. – Eldest son of baseball legend Roberto Clemente, philanthropist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, producer, former broadcaster, and professional baseball player
  • Silvana Montenegro – Global Head of Advancing Hispanics & Latinos at JPMorgan Chase
  • Diego Zambrano – Manager of Federal Government Affairs to the United States at Philip Morris International

Roberto Clemente, Jr. is a universally respected philanthropist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, producer, former broadcaster, and professional baseball player. Roberto’s father, Roberto Clemente Sr. was the first Latin American player to compile 3,000 hits in MLB history and the first Latino to enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame and was Marine Corps veteran. After his father’s untimely and tragic death in a 1972 plane crash while taking relief supplies to Nicaragua earthquake victims, Roberto Jr. became his father’s voice and the spokesperson for the family. He played professional baseball and later established the RBI Baseball Program, aimed at enhancing interest and participation in sports, with a particular emphasis on disadvantaged children. Robert Jr. also established the Roberto Clemente Foundation, bringing the good will works to the country and world by aiding at-risk youth, disaster relief, and promoting global service leadership. Throughout the last 30 years of the foundation’s existence, Roberto Jr. and the team have helped thousands of children and their families.

Silvana Montenegro is the Global Head of Advancing Hispanics & Latinos (DEI) at JPMorgan Chase, where she leads a unified vision and strategy to address the unique needs of the Hispanic and Latino communities, both within the firm and externally. Silvana brings a wealth of experience from her leadership roles in the U.S. and Latin America, including a proven reputation for empowering leadership teams and individuals to reach their full potential. Of her 26 years with the firm, she spent 17 supporting the Latin America business in various capacities, including as the Head of Latin America Talent, Diversity & Inclusion, leading the function from the ground up and laying a strong and sustainable foundation for the region. Silvana has been recognized by Latino Leaders magazine as one of the top 100 Most Influential Latinas in the U.S. and one of the Top 101 Most Influential Latinos, as well as Crain’s NY Notable Hispanic Leaders, among others.

Diego Zambrano serves as Manager of Federal Government Affairs to the United States at Philip Morris International and advocates for PMI’s top priorities, utilizing his expertise and experience to engage with government bodies. He was previously with the Committee on House Administration under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Director and VP of Programs at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI).

ALVA also welcomes Philip Morris International (PMI) as a “Patriot” level supporter and partner (the highest of the pre-defined ALVA sponsorship levels). The $40,000 contribution is aimed to enhance ALVA’s efforts and programs. Their generous support will allow ALVA to further strengthen its organization and its efforts to support Latino Veterans throughout America. To learn more about PMI, visit: https://www.pmi.com/.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA NEWSLETTER 4Q2023 https://alvavets.org/2023/11/21/alva-newsletter-4q2023/ Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:56:44 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=868 […]]]> Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA), the only national non-profit focused on helping all Latino veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions, published its newsletter for the fourth quarter of 2023 (see below).

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA Holds Successful Career Expo and Awards Event https://alvavets.org/2023/11/06/alva-holds-successful-career-expo-and-awards-event/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:40:40 +0000 https://alvavets.org/?p=862 […]]]>

Herndon, VA – The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) celebrated a successful Career Expo and ALVA Awards event on November 1, 2023, in Washington, D.C. These included a series of panels and a job matchmaking focused on a variety of industry sectors as part of its Career Expo as well as an evening reception for the 2023 “ALVA Awards” to recognize notable honorees. The events were hosted by AT&T at its Forum for Technology, Entertainment & Policy.
Photos from the events can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR EVENT PHOTOS
Videos from the events can be found here: CLICK HERE FOR EVENT VIDEOS

The Career Expo included the following panels with expert speakers:
• Transitioning from military to civilian careers: Christine Hill (McKesson) and Graciela Tiscareño-Sato
• Careers in banking and finance: Moderator: Justin Velez-Hagan (NPRCC); Panelists: Kristen Sullivan (JPMorgan Chase) and Aaron Miranda (Wells Fargo)
• Careers in telecommunications: Moderator: Danny Vargas, Panelists: Englebert “Freddie” Jimenez (AT&T) and Thomas Eybl (T-Mobile)
• Other careers: Moderator: Rebecca Mejia (MassMutual), Panelists: Jose “Abe” Rivas (Accenture), Luis Belen (NHIT), and Jose Melecio (Department of Veterans Affairs)
The following were the ALVA Awards categories and honorees. Profiles for the honorees can be found here: https://alvavets.org/alva-awards-honorees/
• Familia Award: Robert Bard, Lupita Colmenero, and Family
• Veteran Entrepreneur Award: Jeffrey Vigil (My Business Matches)
• Community Service Award: Graciela Tiscareño-Sato
• Military Service Award: SEAC Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez
• Role Model Award: Hon. Carlos Del Toro (Secretary of the Navy)

“The Career Expo provided extremely useful information on transitioning to successful civilian careers and details on high growth industry sectors and the ALVA Awards were very inspirational and allowed us to celebrate not only the honorees but also their wonderful families,” stated ALVA Founder/Chairman & CEO, Danny Vargas. He continued, “We greatly appreciate our sponsors, partners, supporters, and friends who made these events possible and who believe in our mission to help Latino veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions.”
ALVA events are made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors:
• Patriot LeveL; JPMorgan Chase, PMI, and Wells Fargo
• Honor LeveL: AT&T, Accenture, T-Mobile
• Duty Level: McKesson, Verizon, Bristol Myers Squibb, Republic Services

ALVA focuses on five key areas: Workforce Development/Job Placement, Entrepreneurship and Business Growth, Telling the Stories of Latinos’ Military Contributions since the inception of our nation, Advocacy on Policies that impact veterans and Latinos, and a Repository of Information on Benefits/Resources these veterans have earned.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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