Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth joins Disabled American Veterans to dedicate vans to VA Medical Center

MARION - Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Tammy Duckworth today joined Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 71 for the dedication of three vans to the Marion VA Health Care System, which were purchased with $80,000 Veterans Cash grants previously awarded by IDVA.  The Veterans Cash lottery ticket is the state's first scratch-off lottery ticket where 100 percent of the proceeds go to non-profit organizations that help provide a wide range of services to Illinois Veterans including health care, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment, disability benefits, and housing assistance.

 

"Veterans throughout Illinois struggle with access to healthcare because they lack the transportation they need to get to their closest VA medical center.  These new vans that will help get Veterans back and forth from their homes to necessary doctor appointments," said IDVA Director Tammy Duckworth.  "The Veterans Cash lottery ticket is a great and simple way Illinoisans can help our state's Veterans.  The best part is that all of the money raised from the ticket goes directly to organizations that help Veterans deal with a variety of issues they are facing including mental health, homelessness and disability benefits."  

 

The new vans dedicated today were purchased with two Veterans Cash grants totaling $80,000 that was awarded to DAV Chapter 71, who then donated the vans to the Marion VA Health Care System.  The vans will be used to transport Veterans and their families to and from the VA facility in Marion.  Marion VA's Volunteer Transportation Network has 20 vans on the road every day transporting Veterans from Southern Illinois, Southwest Indiana and Western Kentucky from their homes to the hospital. 

 

"DAV Chapter 71 is thrilled to receive this grant from the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs through the Veterans Cash lottery ticket proceeds.  It has allowed us to donate three vans, one of which is equipped with a wheelchair lift, to the Marion VA Health Care System.  These vans will be used to transport Veterans to and from their VA health care appointments.  This allows the VA to assist more of us Veterans with their health care," said Dayton Franklin, Commander DAV Chapter 71.

 

Launched by Governor Blagojevich in February 2006, Veterans Cash is the Lottery's first lottery ticket where 100 percent of proceeds go to support Illinois Veterans.  Proceeds from the sale of this ticket are deposited into an interest bearing account in the State Treasury called the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund.  IDVA awards the money in grants to fund additional services or conduct research relating to Veterans' Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, homelessness, health insurance costs, and disability benefits.  

 

The Veterans Cash ticket has raised more than $5.9 million for the Illinois Veterans' Assistance Trust Fund.  Each ticket costs $2 and has a top prize of $20,000.

 

For more information on Veterans Cash please visit the Illinois Lottery website at www.illinoislottery.com or for more information on Illinois Veteran programs and initiatives or to apply for a Veterans Cash grant, visit the IDVA website at http://www.veterans.illinois.gov.