U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
        Here’s how you know
    Goverment symbol**Official websites use .gov**
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Lock symbol**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            A lock (
              A locked padlock
                 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive
              information only on official, secure websites.
 Skip to main content JoinDonate
    About
    About
          About
        
About menu block one
  

        
        What We Do
                Our Impact
                Agency FAQs
About menu block two
  

        
        Our Team
                Careers
About menu block three
  

        
        Agency Overview
                            Budget and Performance Plans
                Disability and Accessibility
                Federal Register Notices
                Open Government
                Plain Writing
                Privacy Policy
                Strategic Plan

  

  
Serve
    Serve
          Serve
        
Serve menu block one
  

        
        AmeriCorps
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                            AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program
Serve menu block two
  

        
        Volunteer
                            9/11 Day
                MLK Day
Serve menu block three
  

        
        Find Your Fit
                Serve FAQs

  

  
Partner
    Partner
          Partner
        
Partner menu block one
  

        
        How it Works
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                Research and Evaluation
                Volunteer Generation Fund
Partner menu block two
  

        
        Partnerships
                Communities and Initiatives
                Funding Opportunities
Partner menu block three
  

        
        Partner FAQs

  

  
Members & Volunteers
    Members & Volunteers
          Members & Volunteers
        
Members & Volunteers menu block one
  

        
        Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Education Award FAQs
Members & Volunteers menu block two
  

        
        Alumni
                Members in VISTA
Members & Volunteers menu block three
  

        
        Member and Volunteer FAQs
                Safety and Security

  

  
Grantees & Sponsors
    Grantees & Sponsors
          Grantees & Sponsors
        
Grantee & Sponsors menu block one
  

        
        State Service Commissions
                State and National Direct Grantees
                State Subgrantees
                VISTA Sponsors
                Research and Evaluation Grantees
                Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service Grantees
Grantee & Sponsors menu block two
  

        
        RSVP Grantees
                Foster Grandparent Program Grantees
                Senior Companion Program Grantees
                Senior Demonstration Program Grantees
                NCCC Project Sponsors
Grantee & Sponsors menu block three
  

        
        Manage Your Grant
                Grantee and Sponsor FAQs

  

  
Newsroom
    Newsroom
          Newsroom
        
Newsroom menu block one
  

        
        News
                Blog
Newsroom menu block two
  

        
        Stories
                Events
Newsroom menu block three
  

        
        In the News
                Communication Resources



  
Contact
    Contact
    JoinDonate
search Breadcrumb
    Newsroom

              The Corporation for National & Community Service, Points of Light, ITT Exelis and 55 Organizations Join Forces to Launch a National Initiative to Help Returning Veterans Succeed
      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Oct 09, 2012
  

                    ITT Exelis jumpstarts Community Blueprint with multi-year investment and introduction of Exelis Action Corps employee volunteer programWASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Corporation for National and Community Service, along with Points of Light and a coalition of more than 55 veteran and military service organizations, nonprofits and government agencies from across the country today launched the Community Blueprint – a national initiative to support the reintegration of returning military service members, veterans and their families.To advance the Community Blueprint, ITT Exelis CEO and President David Melcher announced the company's five-year,$5 million investment in the initiative, as well as a new Exelis employee volunteer program that will add the company's human resources to the effort."Civilian transition is one of the greatest challenges facing many service members, veterans and their families when they return to their communities," said Neil Bush, Chairman of Points of Light's Board of Directors. "No one government agency or nonprofit organization has the resources or intellectual capital to provide a lifetime of care and support for all of these heroes, so our coalition of partners knew it was mission critical for us to band together on their behalf."With more than one million members of the military returning home in the next five years, the Community Blueprint encourages a comprehensive, local support system that addresses the diverse issues and needs impacting returning service members, veterans and their families. The Community Blueprint also aims to inspire, equip and mobilize veterans to engage with their local communities through meaningful service.The initiative's goal is to establish 200 cities and towns as Community Blueprint communities by 2014. Current Community Blueprint sites include Huntsville, AL; the State of Delaware; Los Angeles, CA; Orange County, CA; San Diego, CA; Denver, CO; Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; Macon, GA; Valdosta, GA; State of Indiana; Fayetteville, NC; Dallas, TX; Huntsville, TX; Tyler, TX; Fairfax, VA; Hampton Roads, VA; Seattle, WA; and Tacoma, WA.Hundreds of thousands of troops return home each year, and these men and women often encounter a complex and confusing set of support services. For too many, it is difficult to access essential services such as health care, job training or family counseling. Others encounter duplicative services or a lack of any support at all. The Community Blueprint's mission is to establish clarity and coordination for returning service members so that they can access the services and support they need, while also empowering them to be our communities' future leaders and problem-solvers."As a company that manufactures products, systems and technologies that protect soldiers on the battlefield, and with approximately 10 percent of our workforce being military veterans themselves, partnering with Points of Light to support the Community Blueprint was natural for ITT Exelis," said David Melcher, CEO and President of ITT Exelis. "We're extremely proud and honored to continue to show our commitment to those who have bravely served our nation by supporting service members, our veterans and their families as they reintegrate into civilian society."As a result of the company's $5 million investment, the Community Blueprint will introduce new tools and resources and deploy AmeriCorps members. Both will help local communities and leaders foster greater coordination and collaboration of veterans' services."We are honored to work with our partners in the military and nonprofit communities to create economic opportunities for veterans and their families," said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "Today we welcome even more veterans into the AmeriCorps program as part of Points of Light's Veteran Leader Corps. In addition to involving veterans in national service, we also gave more than $6 millionin grants last year to veteran-supporting organizations, underscoring our commitment to those who served and sacrificed for our country."At the same time, ITT Exelis will engage its more than 20,000 employees through the Exelis Action Corps – a robust employee volunteer program designed to create large-scale, team and individual volunteer projects to support and engage returning military service members, veterans and their families across the U.S. Through this program, which kicks-off in early November 2012, ITT Exelis employees will be trained to organize and lead local volunteer projects, creating dozens of opportunities for both employees and community members to participate in each year."We salute ITT Exelis for making it possible for Points of Light, the Corporation for National and Community Service and our 55 partner organizations to launch the Community Blueprint on a national scale," said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light. "Points of Light is honored to be leading this new initiative, which will create better collaboration between government agencies and veteran and military service organizations, and effectively engage local communities and leaders in addressing the diverse and complex issues affecting returning service members, veterans and their families."The Community Blueprint officially launched today with a luncheon hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.and attended by more than 200 coalition partners, public officials and military leaders, including a keynote address by General George W. Casey, Jr. (ret.), U.S. Army Chief of Staff 2007-2011 and senior coalition commander in Iraq from June 2004 to February 2007. Also at the event, William C. Basl of the Corporation for National and Community Service (home to AmeriCorps) inducted 30 AmeriCorps members – many of them veterans themselves – who will be deployed in Community Blueprint cities across the country.For more information on the Community Blueprint and the Exelis Action Corps, visit http://www.the-communityblueprint.org/ and http://www.exelisactioncorps.com/.
              AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov. Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
  Sign up for our newsletter
    Footer about
  

        
        About
                            What We Do
                Our Impact
                Our Team
                Careers
                Agency OverviewFooter serve
  

        
        Serve
                            AmeriCorps
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                Volunteer
                Find Your FitFooter partner
  

        
        Partner
                            How it Works
                Funding OpportunitiesFooter Members & Volunteers
  

        
        Members & Volunteers
                            Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Alumni
                Safety and SecurityFooter grantees & sponsors
  

        
        Grantees & Sponsors
                            eGrants
                History Checks
                LitmosFooter newsroom
  

        
        Newsroom
                            News
                Blog
                Stories
                Events
                In the News
                Communication Resources
      Bringing Americans together to serve communities

Follow us
  
  1-800-942-2677
            
    help@americorps.gov
    USA.gov / Office of Inspector General / FOIA and Privacy Act / Federal Register notices / No FEAR Act/ Employee Whistleblower Rights / Contractor and Grantee Whistleblower Rights / Office of Special Counsel / STOCK Act / Fraud Alert

Accessibility / Privacy policy / Site map / Donate / Join

**AmeriCorps.gov**
An official website of AmeriCorps. Produced and published at taxpayer expense. 
 You are leaving AmeriCorps.gov
 The website you’re going to is not part of the AmeriCorps domain and may not be under AmeriCorps’ control. Its privacy and security practices and policies may differ from AmeriCorps’. AmeriCorps is not responsible for the link, nor does it endorse the content of the third-party website. Click on the continue button to proceed to the external website; otherwise click cancel to stay on AmeriCorps.gov.
 Cancel Continue