The Northern Virginia Vietnam Veterans Foundation (NVVVF) was founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to expanding and accelerating support for veterans and their families—of all generations—facing urgent financial hardships in Northern Virginia.
NVVVF proudly serves as the fundraising arm for Chapter 227 of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), carrying forward the Chapter’s 40-year legacy of commitment to the region’s veteran community. Inspired by our mission to “Leave No Veteran Behind,” we strive to be the trusted resource for delivering direct, immediate assistance to veterans in need.
What We Do:
The NVVVF was specifically established as a 501 (c)(3) entity and organized to seek financial grants and donations received from corporations, foundations, veteran service organizations and individuals who share our mission to serve veterans in our northern Virginia region who need assistance. NVVVF Officers and Board Directors are all veterans, who volunteer their time and energy to identify and support veterans and their families that are struggling to meet financial obligations and essential living expenses.
Many veterans in the Northern Virginia area and equally in Maryland and the District of Columbia, have been or may soon be impacted by announced reductions in force at major federal agencies such Defense, Veterans Affairs and Health and Humam Services departments that traditionally have more veterans, particularly disabled veterans, on their employee rolls. Moreover, corporations and non-profit firms who augment these employee resources are having contracts rescoped or terminated which also impacts their veteran employee base.
The bottom line is that the scope of these employment actions was totally unexpected and many veterans and families may not be prepared for the near-term disruption in their lives as a result of income loss and unemployment. Further, many of these veterans may not be eligible to apply for assistance from existing community resources.
Chapter 227 in Fairfax, Virginia, a 501(c)(19) corporation, was established in 1985 in Virginia under the auspices of its parent, the Vietnam Veterans of America, a Congressionally chartered national veterans service organization. As a separate organizational component of Chapter 227, NVVVF can leverage the benefits of its 501 (c)(3) status and more effectively raise funds for veterans in our community. Importantly, NVVVF leverages the regional and governmental relationships, procedures and organizational resources established over many years by Chapter 227 to identify, process and distribute 100% of all funds received via grants and donations. Chapter 227 is responsible for all NVVVF operational costs necessary to ensure that our Foundation will be successful and that all donated funds will be applied towards veterans’ needs.
When necessary, NVVVF will join other Veterans Services Organizations, local government and other charities to pool funds to meet immediate requirements such as:
• American Legion,
• Veterans of Foreign Wars,
• Disabled American Veterans,
• Foundation for Woman Warriors,
• Loudoun County Veterans Services,
• Fairfax County Veterans Services, and
• The Servingtogether Network.
At NVVVF, we seek to become the "go to" veterans relief organization in our area when time is critical due to housing, auto repair, transportation, past due bills or other financial needs.
A History of Veterans Support
As a new organization, our goal is to dramatically increase the scope, timeliness and effectiveness of financial support to veterans in need. Going forward our planned financial
distribution strategy will closely match the recipient financial support profile achieved by VVA Chapter 227 in recent years and significantly increase those levels.
Financial Support is typically awarded in the following categories:
• Housing, Auto repair, utilities, medical, transportation expenses,
• Back to School and Holiday Gift cards for needy families,
• Wounded Warrior family holiday wish lists,
• Lamb Center Charity assisting homeless veterans,
• Financial support to the Fairfax County Veterans Treatment Docket,
• Providing financial support to other VVA Chapters in disaster areas.
VVA Chapter 227 donations have exceeded $150,000 in the past five years as shown below:
• 2020 - $25,000
• 2021 - $28,000
• 2022 - $31,000
• 2023 - $33,000
• 2024 - $39,000.
Veterans support grants have steadily increased each year and probably reflect the impact of inflation on veteran finances without a corresponding increase in income. However, in 2025, NVVVF expects that veteran's needs will explode in our region because of the sudden and huge impact of veteran job losses due to federal reductions-in-force, cancelled contracts and a "Double Whammy" of lost wages and increased living costs.
In Northern Virginia alone, it is estimated that over 11,000 veterans were employed by the federal government and supporting businesses at the start of 2025 with the majority at the Department of Veterans Affairs and DoD - two agencies planning significant staff reductions.
NVVVF is ready now to step up and provide financial support very quickly without a time-consuming application process required by other organizations and foundations. In many instances, state and local government agencies who are supporting veterans are restricted from making emergency financial support to help a veteran who may have just lost their job, or have an emergency medical bill, meet a monthly rental, utility bill, mortgage or car payment to get them over an unforeseen event. This is where we step in.
Our Foundation Structure:
The foundation structure includes four officers (President, Vice President, and Treasurer) and four board directors, currently totaling 7 members, and all are elected for two-year terms. Board members add unique skills to our organization to include legal services, communications, and marketing / client relations. The NVVVF Team is:
President, Don Drunsic, USMC
Vice President, Norm Williamson, USA
Vice President, Donald Sutherland, USN
Treasurer, Charles Harris, USA
Director, Bruce Waxman, USA
Director, Jay Kalner, USA
Director, Leonard Ignatowski, USA
Why Us:
We, as Vietnam Veterans, are very empathetic to the needs of veterans, especially those who are down on their luck and need a boosting hand, having come home to a country that mainly neglected us. All of us also serve on the Board of VVA Chapter 227 and have been actively involved in its financial support program for many years. Our procedures for managing financial or other support to needy veterans and families are already proven and the operational relationship between the Chapter and NVVVF is firm. However, because of our 501 (C)(3) status, we are primed to dramatically increase our donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Summary:
The number of veterans who are in need in Northern Virginia has increased each year. However, the announced government policies in 2025 will have a staggering negative impact on our regional veteran population this year and in subsequent years. NVVVF was established by dedicated veterans who are ready to aggressively lead the effort to provide necessary financial resources in a controlled but rapid pace that epitomizes or NVVVF mission, "Dedicated to Helping Veterans of All Generations"
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