Please join us and our community of philanthropic partners in Pierce County for our fall luncheon and a truly unique learning opportunity.  We will focus on a time sensitive and important community issue: Pierce County and the Impact of the Military Drawdown.   

Census data from 2012 reveals a Pierce County veterans population of approximately 90,000.  Another 6,500 transitioned out of JBLM during 2013 and estimates for 2014 rise to 9,500.  Add to the equation 14,000-15,000 who will be returning to Washington State annually through 2016, with a disproportionate percentage landing in Pierce County.  And of course, many of these service members have spouses and families.  And we know…many are in need. 

How is Pierce County poised to address the drastic increase and unique needs of veterans and their families?  What systems and services currently exist and where are the gaps?  How do we understand the balance of responsibility shared by the military and our local communities? How does meeting the unique needs of veterans and their families differ from meeting the same apparent needs (e.g. issues of housing and homelessness, drug abuse and addiction treatment, employment and training, child and youth welfare, etc.) of the general population? And of course, the overarching question that relates to why we come together to study as a learning community:  what is philanthropy's unique role in advancing solutions in this space?

We are fortunate to have four individuals joining us to help answer these questions, each of whom brings a unique perspective and experience. Our panel includes:

• RJ Naugle, Schultz Family Foundation Program Officer - Onward Veterans
• Madeline Lanza, Senior Spouse Leader for I CORPS, JBLM
• Rick Nelson, CEO Direct Technology, a Veteran Owned Company
• Anne M. Sprute, Founder and CEO, RallyPoint/6 (moderator)

Our thanks to The Boeing Company for hosting our lunch at this important conversation.