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Safeway Foundation Supports Area Veterans Programs Including Project Opportunity

Beth Goldberg, Safeway Eastern Division Senior Manager for Community and Public Affairs, presenting Safeway Foundation Grant in support of Project Opportunity<sup><p id=SM to Gregory Padgham, Director Tri County Council for Lower Eastern Shore and Joe Giordano, Founder Project Opportunity” width=”450″ height=”539″ /> Beth Goldberg, Safeway Eastern Division Senior Manager for Community and Public Affairs, presenting Safeway Foundation Grant in support of Project OpportunitySM to Gregory Padgham, Director Tri County Council for Lower Eastern Shore and Joe Giordano, Founder Project Opportunity

Project OpportunitySM was awarded a grant, as one of the seventeen finalists from the Safeway Foundation. The grant award will assist Project OpportunitySM in offering two classes during 2019.

$321,000 in Safeway Foundation grants will support seventeen local organizations that provide area veterans with assistance in career training, stress counseling, social activities and rehab programs, and support to the families of fallen soldiers. Funds were raised during the month of October at stores in DC, VA, MD and DE, where customers were asked to “Support Our Veterans.”

“Safeway Foundation and Safeway believe our veterans’ sacrifice and service should be honored”, said Tom Lofland, Safeway Eastern Division President. “We are proud to help support their transition back into civilian life.”

Veterans organizations receiving grants included: American Humane, Blue Star Families, Inc., Central Union Mission, Easter Seals Serving DC/MD/VA, Goodwill Industries of The Chesapeake, Inc., Hero Dogs, Home Away Transitional Services, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Maryland Center for Veteran Employment & Training, Project OpportunitySM (Tri-County Council Foundation, Inc.), Rebuilding Together DC/Alexandria, Sekhem Health Healing, The Mission Continues, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, U.S. Veteran Initiative (USVETS), United Way of Central Maryland and USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore.

Project OpportunitySM is a free entrepreneurship training program which has been designed solely for veterans who want to start their own business. The prerequisite for veterans who wish to be considered to participate is they must have a solid idea of what business venture they want to start because the course is designed to develop and complete a comprehensive business plan instead of just exploring the possibility of entrepreneurship. The program is a 10 week (30 hour) intensive course designed to prepare participants to research and complete a business plan.

Safeway Foundation Mission

Our Foundation supports causes that impact our customers’ lives. Our stores provide the opportunity to mobilize funding and create awareness in our neighborhoods through our employees’ passion, partnerships with our vendors and the generous contributions by our customers.

Carefully directing contributions, we work in collaboration with local organizations and seek to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.  We take pride in ensuring that the vast majority of the funds we raise stays in local communities and reflects what is important to our customers and employees.

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Joe Giordano receives a certificate of appreciation from Andrea Garris Jackson, Co-Founder of the Maryland Military and Veteran Women Business Conference

Andrea Garris Jackson, Co-Founder of the Maryland Military and Veteran Women Business Conference presenting Certificate of Appreciation after discussing Project OpportunitySM with attendees.

Purpose

The conference is designed to provide information and resources to active duty military personnel, transitioning soldiers, military spouses and veterans in order to grow their businesses successfully.

Mission

Our mission is to ignite entrepreneurial synergy by bringing together military personnel, business owners, emerging entrepreneurs, organizations, government agencies and private sector representatives to share best practices and provide resources on how to do business together.

For more information please go to: www.marylandwomenvets.com

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Initial Global Good Fund Veterans Leadership Program – 2018

Enrique Young
Enrique Young
Fred Barnes
Fred Barnes
Phillip Scott
Phillip Scott

Project OpportunitySM is pleased to announce that we have had three graduates selected for the Initial Global Good Fund Veterans Leadership Program.  Congratulations Fred Barnes, Phillip Scott, and Enrique Young.

Fred Barnes

Fred Barnes is a graduate of the Columbia Fall 2013 Class.  His business is TAC Integrated Solutions (www.tacintegrated.com).  TAC Integrated Solutions specializes in protecting Critical Information and empowering Information Discovery in support of the Defense, Intelligence, National Security and Federal Civilian missions. We leverage developed technology coupled with subject matter expertise to apply towards solving complex challenges in the following areas:  Advanced Analysis, Enterprise/IT Security, and Cyber Solutions.

Phillip Scott

Phillip Scott is a graduate of the Baltimore Spring 2017 Class.  He is the owner of Jetseal, Inc. (www.jetsealonline.com).  They provide the following services:

  • Parking lot maintenance and repair
  • Driveway maintenance and repair
  • Sealcoating
  • Striping
  • Snow removal
  • Signage
  • Paving
  • Crack repair

Enrique Young

Enrique Young is a graduate of the Columbia Spring 2014 Class.  He is the Founder of FEBA, Inc (www.febasecurity.com).  FEBA has the experience to quickly mobilize personnel, management and assets to provide Protective Security and Event Staffing services to mitigate risk and enhance efficiency at various locations in the Country, to include MGM properties and specifically the Theater at National Harbor, Maryland. FEBA understands the possible nefarious threats that could befall the Theater at National Harbor and has taken every precaution to ensure that the security personnel assigned to the Back Stage areas in general and the theater in particular are professional and capable of preventing hostile acts and are proactive in apprehending and stopping those individuals bent on making a public statement or injuring Theater Patrons. Since February 1, 2017, FEBA has provided back stage event security support for more than 25 shows. FEBA is ready and has been responsive to Theater Management calls and in many cases were able to provide theater support with quality personnel with little notice.

The Global Good Fund

The Global Good Fund recognizes that Veterans have received leadership training throughout their military service.  While many military leadership traits translate well into business, Veteran entrepreneurs like all entrepreneurs face unique challenges in growing and scaling their businesses.  According to the Small Business Administration, there are 2.5 million Veteran owned businesses that employ over 5 million people.

In an effort to support the leadership needs of Veteran entrepreneurs, The Global Good Fund has partnered with the Smithfield Foundation to launch the Veterans Leadership Program to provide personalized leadership development, executive mentoring and $10,000 in targeted capital to invigorate the leadership growth of veteran entrepreneurs. In 2018, the Global Good Fund will select 5 Veteran entrepreneurs to participate in the program.

For more information about this program please visit their website: https://globalgoodfund.org/people/veterans/