Merging Vets and Players (MVP), a nonprofit dedicated to providing peer-to-peer support for combat veterans and former pro athletes in Las Vegas, announces that the organization has received $46,000 as part of the additional Community Recovery Grant distribution.
Approved by Nevada lawmakers to direct relief dollars to organizations that can make immediate impact for constituents to alleviate challenges the pandemic introduced to the state, MVP will use the funds to increase engagement for programming and positive perception of mental health services.
The Community Recovery Grants are intended to augment operations for nonprofits with pre-existing infrastructure, systems, and staff that enable them to help constituents quickly and efficiently in the wake of pandemic disruptions.
MVP has been operating since 2017 in Las Vegas through its peer support program, which revolves around weekly sessions consisting of physical fitness followed by a post-workout chat named “The Huddle,” where members come together and recognize and understand their new purpose. The huddle, facilitated by specially trained staff, offers support and shared experience in the hope of helping others choose strategies that will help them heal and grow as they navigate life after the military.
Utilizing this successful approach, MVP will host additional “pop-up” sessions across the Vegas valley, bringing this support to new members, supporters, and the community. These events will complement the overall program by addressing the mental health impact from COVID-19 social distancing measures, and veteran reintegration into the community through the power of peer relationships and physical fitness. Participation in the workout is good for physical and mental health.
The organization dealt with unique challenges of operating during and after the pandemic. As a result of COVID fitness facility mandates, MVP’s usual in-person weekly programming adapted to a virtual platform. All organizational events and resources that members relied on were discontinued, thus further affecting members’ whole health. Like many nonprofits during the pandemic, MVP faced donor fatigue, thus affecting its ability to hire and burdened staff with a heavier workload.
“This support provides impactful resources to facilitate the healing of our combat veterans and expands our reach to assist them to live more enriched lives – in their careers, their social structure and most importantly, giving them an opportunity to prosper after the uniform comes off and show them, they are never alone!”
– Lisa Parmeter, Executive Director, Merging Vets and Players
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