Doing the right thing for our veterans
will build a stronger America

We are in the midst of the longest period of sustained warfare in U.S. history. Yet, with an all-volunteer military, less than one percent of the population has served.

The civilian world routinely pays little attention to veterans’ sacrifices. Meanwhile, the government does a better job of preparing young men and women for war than preparing them to come back home.

More than 2.6 million post-9/11 veterans have already re-entered civilian life. Another million will follow in the next few years. We all share in the responsibility to ensure that their welcome home doesn’t end with a simple “thank you for your service.”

In 2011, Howard and Sheri Schultz began a learning tour that led them from West Point to Walter Reed Medical Center to military bases around the country. Through their interactions with service members, they developed a better understanding of the unique skills our post-9/11 veterans have to offer – and made a commitment to do right by those who do so much to protect our freedom.

In March 2014, the Schultz Family Foundation announced Onward Veterans, a national initiative that empowers post-9/11 veterans and their families in their transition to civilian life. Our returning service members have diverse skills demanded by today’s civilian labor force, including impressive work ethics, leadership, and strategic problem-solving abilities. The Onward Veterans initiative is designed to recognize and employ these unique traits to make our nation better and stronger.

Onward Veterans is focused on investing in research and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury; enhancing employment opportunities through innovative training and career placement; and facilitating access to services for veterans and their families.

To further these efforts, SFF also works to engage a civilian population that does not fully appreciate military experience or capitalize on the skills of those who have served. The recently released For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us about Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice by Howard Schultz and Rajiv Chandrasekaran shares powerful stories that will hopefully raise awareness of the contributions post-9-11 veterans make at home and abroad, and bridge the “civilian-military disconnect” by highlighting the strengths and talents of our veterans.

Our economy is growing, but young adults are increasingly left behind.

They enter a job market that demands highly-educated workers, yet the cost of education is staggering and out of reach. They have talent and drive, but lack access to the training and the tools needed to realize their dreams.

Too many young people are disconnected from opportunity.

Unemployment among young adults is twice the national average.  There are 5.6 million Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor working. Because we believe in their enormous and untapped potential, we call them “Opportunity Youth.” And they believe in it, too. According to the Civilian Enterprises & America’s Promise Alliance, 77 percent of Opportunity Youth think that education and securing a good job are their responsibility.

However, it is our collective responsibility – government, private sector, and philanthropy – to ensure they have the resources they need to excel.

Job training for those who are eager and ready to work promises huge rewards. Young people bring vitality and drive that adds value to our economy; employers provide the platform for young adults to step up to success.

The Schultz Family Foundation leverages unique partnerships that create new possibilities for Opportunity Youth. Through a partnership with the Starbucks Foundation and YouthBuild USA, SFF has established a Retail Excellence Training Program that provides training for meaningful jobs, customized educational opportunities, life skills, and holistic support services.

Pilot sites include YouthCare in Seattle, Washington; CLIMB in Gulfport, Mississippi; and Abyssinian Development Corporation in East Harlem, New York. Graduates from the one-year program possess the skills necessary to excel in any retail or customer-facing job.

SFF understands the importance of collective impact and aims to voice the challenges of Opportunity Youth. We work to stimulate a conversation among business leaders, philanthropists, and those who support young people every day to ensure that the potential these young adults represent can be realized for us all.