Paralyzed Veterans Of America

THE MINNESOTA PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA (MNPVA) A MINNESOTA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS AN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER. MNPVA ASSISTS VETERANS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES OR SPINAL CORD DISEASES, SUCH AS MS AND ALS, BY STAYING ACTIVE WITH LEGISLATIVE AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS WHICH PROMOTE BARRIER-FREE DESIGN, SUPPORTING MEDICAL RESEARCH, PROVIDING SPORTS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND PEER MENTORING. MNPVA RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, GRANTS, DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS, AND FUNDRAISING. ALL MNPVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ARE VOLUNTEERS AND DO NOT RECEIVE SALARIES. WE MAINTAIN A PAID STAFF OF ONE FULL-TIME OFFICE RECEPTIONIST AND A PART-TIME CHAPTER ASSISTANT.

ADVOCACY: MNPVA REGULARLY SERVES ON MULTIPLE PLANNING BOARDS AS AN ADA EXPERT IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PARKS, RECREATION, AND BUILDING PROJECTS. THIS LINK ALLOWS US TO ADVOCATE FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT INCLUSION CRITERIA DURING PLANNING PHASES. SOME BOARDS AND TASK FORCES MNPVA SERVES WITH INCLUDE MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY (MSCOD), METROPOLITAN PARKS AND OPEN SPACES COMMISSION, BIG ISLAND RESTORATION, AND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL GREENWAY PROJECT. ADDITIONALLY, MNPVA SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES REQUESTING ADA AND ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION. LEGISLATIVELY, MNPVA PARTICIPATES IN US AND STATE MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS POLICIES RELATED TO OUR MISSION. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT JOINT EFFORT THAT MNPVA CONTINUES TO SERVE ON IS OURSTATE, "COMMANDER'S TASK FORCE", A GROUP OF CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, MNPVA MAINTAINS WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY OTHER VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (VSO) AND PARTICIPATES IN GROUPS SUCH AS THE MILITARY ACTION GROUP (MAG), UNITED VETERANS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (UVLC), AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (MDVA). THROUGH THIS CONNECTION, WE JOIN OTHERS TO LEARN, COLLABORATE, AND ADVOCATE FOR MANY ISSUES AFFECTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. LIAISON: MNPVA MAINTAINS A CHAPTER OFFICE IN THE MINNEAPOLIS VA HEALTH CARE CENTER, SPINAL CORD INJURY/DISEASE BUILDING. OUR PRESENCE ENABLES US TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS CONVENIENTLY WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEIR CARE AND ALLOWS US TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR OTHERS. MENTORING AND SUPPORT: WE CONTINUE SERVING MEMBERS AND OTHERS BY PURSUING RESOURCES, SHARING KNOWLEDGE, AND ASSISTING WITH ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. MNPVA ASSISTS WITH EMERGENCY HELP WHEN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING IS UNAVAILABLE FOR OUR MEMBERS. MNPVA ASSISTS THOSE NEWLY INJURED AND THOSE WITH COMPLICATIONS OR OTHER NEEDS BY PROVIDING MENTORING AND EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.

COMMUNICATION: A VITAL SERVICE PERFORMED BY MNPVA INCLUDES KEEPING OUR MEMBERS INFORMED OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY CHANGES, AND INFORMATION RELATING TO RESEARCH. THE CHAPTER DISTRIBUTED NINE NEWSLETTERS AND ADDITIONAL MAILINGS AS NEEDED. OUR OFFICE REMAINS FULLY STAFFED AND SERVES WALK-IN VISITORS AND THOSE CALLING FOR RESOURCES. MNPVA REGULARLY RECEIVES CALLS REQUESTING INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE.

SPORTS AND RECREATION: ANOTHER PRIMARY MISSION FOR MNPVA IS TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST MEMBERS IN BEING AS ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS, EVENTS, AND OUTINGS. WE HELPED SEVERAL ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES AND SUPPORTED THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED VIRTUALLY FROM HOME. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORTED MEMBERS TO COMPETE AND ATTEND SEVERAL OTHER DISABLED SPORTING COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS. OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THESE VETERANS ENABLES THEM TO OVERCOME THE EXPENSES OF TRAVELING TO THESE EVENTS. AS IN PRIOR YEARS, MNPVA MAINTAINED A TRAPSHOOTING TEAM AND HELD TWO FUN SHOOT EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE CHAPTER HOSTED REGULAR BOWLING GROUPS. MNPVA PARTICIPATED AND CO-SPONSORED THE YEARLY ELY FISHING EVENT WITH ANOTHER PVA CHAPTER. OUR CHAPTER IS AN ANNUAL SPONSOR OF THE EVENTS HELD BY MINNESOTA VETERANS OUTDOOR. MNPVA SENT SEVERAL MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISABLED TURKEY HUNT, TROLLING FOR TROOPS, AND THE DISABLED DEER HUNT THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION, OUR CHAPTER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS SUCH AS BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, AND HOCKEY THROUGH OUR ANNUAL SEASON TICKET PROGRAM. MNPVA ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE DRIVE-BY PARADES TO HONOR VETERANS AND PATIENTS/RESIDENTS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS VA AND MINNEAPOLIS VA HOME.

MEMBERSHIP: CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS STAYED BETWEEN 300-350 MEMBERS. MNPVA SERVES OUR MEMBERS AND OTHER VETERANS THROUGH OUR RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS. WE USE VARIOUS COMMUNICATION METHODS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO OUR BROAD DEMOGRAPHIC OF MEMBERS.