March 1, 2021
The Arizona Coalition for Military Families, a nationally recognized Arizona-based nonprofit providing resources, support, and advocacy for Arizona’s service members, veterans, and their families, is proud to announce a partnership with the Arizona Council of Chapters and its nine chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).
The partnership establishes an avenue for both organizations to expand their services and support of Arizona’s service members, veterans, and their families. One example of this support is the Grants + program. MOAA national and the Arizona chapters offer grants to help service members, veterans, and families facing hardship. Through this new partnership, MOAA grant recipients will also be referred to the Coalition’s Be Connected program to provide support, services, and solutions to address the underlying issues causing hardship.
Col. Peter Kloeber, USAF (Ret), president of the MOAA Arizona Council of Chapters, also serves on the national MOAA board of directors. He says he’s delighted to provide this new avenue of support to veterans and families in Arizona.
“I’ve talked up the benefits of the Be Connected program every chance I could across Arizona to rally our chapters to join this effort because Be Connected makes helping people so easy. You share the number or make the call, and they take it from there. It’s so simple and effective.”
– Col. Peter Kloeber, USAF (Ret), president of the MOAA Arizona Council of Chapters
Kloeber championed the partnership chapter by chapter for more than 12 months because he has seen firsthand the value of providing access to this no-cost program to the Arizona MOAA membership. “This new statewide partnership is another way to extend help to our veterans and families for just about anything including employment, financial support, mental health services, medical needs, benefits, and housing.”
“We are so proud to partner with MOAA’s Arizona Council of Chapters and its nine chapters to ensure Arizona’s bravest have the support they need from the day they take their oath on through their retirement. Now there is a seamless bridge of support that veterans and families can access between MOAA’s Arizona affiliates and our Be Connected program.”
– Thomas Winkel, founder and director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families
The Arizona Coalition for Military Families offers statewide resources and services — at no cost — to Arizona’s service members, veterans, and families through the ongoing support from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family, and the VA.
“If you want to help a veteran or family and you don’t know where to turn, call Be Connected.”
– Col. Peter Kloeber, USAF (Ret), president of the MOAA Arizona Council of Chapters
For more information on the programs and services offered through the Be Connected program, visit www.BeConnectedAZ.org or call (866) 4AZ-VETS (429-8387). To join the statewide network of support for veterans and military families, complete the application at https://bit.ly/BCPartner21.
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About the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization that serves as powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their careers. With more than 350,000 members from every branch of the service, and over 400 affiliates across the nation, MOAA serves as the nation’s leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community. The Arizona Council of Chapters is the Arizona-based affiliate of MOAA, consisting of nine chapters and three satellite chapters. For more information, visit www.azcouncilofchapters.org and www.MOAA.org.
About the Arizona Coalition for Military Families
The mission of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families is to connect the 500,000-plus service members, veterans, and their families in Arizona to the right resources at the right time through the Be Connected program. The coalition is recognized as a national leader for its ability to bring together Arizona’s public and private sector partners in a unified effort. Launched in 2009, the coalition works nationally and locally to advocate for veterans and military families, build the infrastructure needed to expand and sustain Arizona’s statewide capacity to care for, serve, and support service members, veterans, and their families. The coalition’s membership extends across all levels of local, county, and state government as well as a vast network of private companies, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations and non-profit partners. To learn more about the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, visit www.ArizonaCoalition.org.
About the Be Connected® Program
Be Connected links Arizona service members, veterans, families, and community helpers to information, support, and resources. Be Connected includes a support line, resource matching website, statewide team of community-based navigators, and training for everyone. Launched with the help, support, and guidance of the late Sen. John McCain, and now operated with support from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Be Connected is available to any member of the military, veteran and family community by calling (866) 4AZ-VETS (429-8387) for help and support. Organizations that want to support and join our efforts should begin by completing an application. For more information, to find support and learn more, visit www.BeConnectedAZ.org.
