In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 6-12), American Corporate Partners (ACP), a national nonprofit organization that connects post-9/11 veterans to business professionals for career guidance, announced the launch of its new radio ad campaign featuring Jon Stewart and Sarah Palin actually agreeing on something.
Stewart and Palin have teamed up to draw attention to the fact that over the next five years, more than one million members of the U.S. military will return home from service, and each will need to successfully transition into the American private sector workforce – not just with a job, but with a true career path. The importance of supporting our vets and scaling for this challenge is immense, and the Stewart/Palin ad (accompanied by #AgreeOnThis) drives home the notion that despite our differences, the importance of mentoring our vets is indisputable.
Companies from Johnson & Johnson, to General Electric, to Goldman Sachs, to Hewlett-Packard are all members of ACP. Its advisory board is comprised of diverse public figures such as General (RET.) David Petraeus, Karl Rove, Chris Matthews and David Axelrod.
Its online mentoring program ACP AdvisorNet – the first free online “quick question community” connecting returning vets to the private sector workforce – makes it simple for Americans to get involved. By joining ACP AdvisorNet, Americans can volunteer their time – from their homes, laptops or mobile devices – and share advice with transitioning vets and their families, even for just a few minutes a week.
“ACP AdvisorNet uses technology to create a bridge between transitioning vets and corporate America,” said Sidney E. Goodfriend, founder and chairman of ACP. “It is designed for ease-of-use, and to reach vets quickly. Americans can give the gift of their time, even in small increments, and make a huge difference in helping a returning veteran transition to a fruitful private sector career. We have helped thousands of vets so far, but we know we can do more – that’s why we’re so deeply appreciative that Jon Stewart and Governor Palin have come together to help raise awareness. Their partnership truly reflects the fact that mentoring our veterans is something all Americans can support.”
Petty Officer Third Class Michael Calonita, a recently transitioned U.S. Navy veteran from New Hyde Park, New York, is an active ACP AdvisorNet user. “I started using ACP AdvisorNet during my last deployment to Greece with the Navy. I was getting married in a few months and I knew I needed to start preparing for my transition. ACP AdvisorNet was unlike any other transition website I’d ever been to. I was able to ask questions about interviews and my education and I received advice from dozens of professionals. ACP AdvisorNet gave me access to information about the corporate world that I never would have found out on my own. It’s a great resource for anyone who is thinking about leaving the military and preparing for a new career.”
“As you’ll hear in our ad, if Jon and I can agree on something, it’s clear that all Americans should get behind career mentorship for our vets,” said former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
“Unbelievable as it may sound, I am proud to join with Sarah Palin to address this urgent need,” added Jon Stewart. “We are united in support for ACP and the thousands of Americans who have already signed up to volunteer their time on ACP AdvisorNet. During National Volunteer Week, we hope to inspire countless others to follow suit.”
