OUR MISSION
California Veterans Helping Veterans
The AGIF/CA, with its mission to alleviate, through education, unfortunate conditions and situations within our communities, and those conditions also affecting Veterans and families, continues to function today as when it was founded in 1958 in California.
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Wille Galvan, (805) 714-0615
State Chairwoman
(805) 478-6230
P.O. Box 1681, Santa Maria, CA 93456
THE AGIF/CA’S WORK IS MAINLY GEARED TO A FIVE-PRONG EFFORT:
➤One: VETERANS’ ISSUES:
They are being addressed mainly through the AGIF/CA Veterans Outreach Program (VOP). Funds derived from private sources and corporations are distributed to those chapters working closely with Veterans and families, especially now for wounded and disabled, unemployed, recently discharged Veterans from on-going wars.
➤Two: CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES:
The AGIF continues to work with our own civil rights representative, MALDEF, and other community groups on immigration, redistricting, discrimination, schools, university issues, Veterans’ legal issues, and farmworker issues.➤Three: EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS:
All of the 23 California Forum and Women’s chapters continue to award educational grants for those community youth pursuing higher educational goals. Approximately 200 scholarship grants are awarded by the AGIF/CA chapter organizations each year.➤Four: HEALTH INITIATIVE:
The AGIF/CA serves and coordinates efforts with health providers and clinics to better accommodate Veterans, families, and the low-income communities to receive appropriate care and medications. This is currently being done at a drug and alcohol treatment abuse center and a primary health clinic operated by two chapters. Veterans’ health issues include PTSD, TBI, and other invisible wounds causing depression, domestic violence, and suicide.➤Five: LEGISLATION, PUBLIC AND POLICY AFFAIRS:
The AGIF/CA is involved in issues that support Veterans, families and the community at large.Many of our chapters are now non-profit 501(c)3 federally exempt organizations, becoming self-sustaining, procuring their own funds to benefit the five-prong mission of our Forum’s community involvement. We continue to recommend that each chapter and their membership not only follow the AGIF/CA mission, but to venture out and pursue other avenues to assist in issues and programs pertinent to their communities.
JOIN US FOR OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
USNS Cesar Chavez Christening
The Christening is on schedule for Sat. May 5th, 7:30 PM. Contact- Howard Hernandez
Black & White Ball, 14th Anniversary, Hosted by the PFC Oscar Sanchez Chapter: Saturday, April 14th, 2012
Presenters: Jose Hernandez, NASA Astronaut, Anna Caballero of Gov. Brown's Administration and Mayor Garrad Marsh
Download the Poster Here!
Be a Sponsor Click Here!
Santa Maria Fairpark
Supervisor Steve Lavagnino is sponsoring the FIRST ANNUAL STAND DOWN for homeless vets in Santa Maria. This is a unique opportunity to get vets off the streets and step back into society. Download the Flyer Here.