MOPH has a number of national programs to help our member as well as all veterans and their families without discrimination of branch of service or era of service to our country. Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS)
1. The Hallmark of MOPH is our National VAVS program. We service our veterans throughout the VA Health care system and in State Veteran Homes. We have volunteers in over 100 VAMCs
and clinics across the country. We have Patriot members on the local VAVS committee in over 77 VA facilities. The MOPH Service Foundation provides funds in the form of grants to assist in obtaining clothing, personal hygiene items and allowing our members to take these veterans on outings like ball games, movies, and picnics.
2. MOPH has volunteers donating their hours in most local communities, one way or another to bring joy into these veterans’ lives. In the fiscal year 2014, MOPH donated more than 160,031 hours which was equal to more than $3,608,699 in savings for the VA Health Care System. The MOPH plays a very active role as a voting member of the DVAs' National Advisory Committee. This committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health to improve the VAVS program.
3. Over the past 7 years, the MOPH, through its National VAVS program, has given nearly $50,000 in scholarships, rewarding those wonderful young American student volunteers. Americanism
1. MOPH provides materials and Member volunteers to visit classrooms and civic organizations nationwide wherein our Members tell of their experiences in the US Armed Forces, providing historical perspective to world events.
2. Employment opportunities for veterans are made through our association with State and Federal Job Fairs and Programs. In conjunction with the VA, the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration, MOPH support has led to the hiring of numerous OIF/OEF Veterans.
3. In 2014 we received 355 scholarship applications. Three hundred-twenty (320) met all requirements and were forwarded to the Scholarship Committee. The Committee awarded eighty-three (83), $3,000 scholarships totaling $249,000. Twenty (20) scholarships were awarded to MOPH members, five (5) to spouses of MOPH members, and fifty-eight (58) to lineal descendants of MOPH members. In addition, MOPH Scholarship winner Austin Howard was awarded the 2014 Lieutenant Michael P Murphy US Navy Seal Scholarship ($2,000) funded by Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy USN, Memorial Scholarship Foundation of Riverhead, New York. Legislative
1. MOPH maintains a constant presence on Capitol Hill voicing its position on numerous legislative issues concerning veterans and the military. MOPH maintains membership in many veterans’ coalitions to help bring forth a united stance on important legislative issues.
2. MOPH has been the lead Veterans’ Organization on several legislative issues; one most notable has been the DoD regulation awarding the Purple Heart to POWs who have died in captivity. We are now mobilizing to get the Purple Heart Protection Act supported and passed.
