PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) rang in the New Year by honoring United States Armed Services veterans through its sponsorship of the 2016 Rose Parade®, using this national platform to raise awareness around veterans’ issues locally as well as across the country. Now in the tenth year of sponsoring Rose Parade activities, Wells Fargo’s stagecoach equestrian unit and closing ceremony highlighted nonprofit organizations that support veterans as they transition back into civilian life.
“Our veterans nobly give themselves to our country, help secure our homeland and advance the cause of freedom, yet more than 4,000 veterans are homeless in Los Angeles County alone,” said David DiCristofaro Wells Fargo’s lead region president for Greater Los Angeles. “When we think about the parade theme of ‘Finding Your Adventure,’ there is no greater adventure for Wells Fargo to support than helping our homeless and wounded heroes transition successfully back into civilian life.”
Wells Fargo’s sponsorship of the 2016 Rose Parade closing ceremony honored the United States of America by featuring the New Directions Veterans Choir, an award-winning a cappella group comprised primarily of veterans who served proudly in the United States Military. Several of its members encountered severe struggles following their service which left them homeless. Wells Fargo has proudly supported New Directions for Veterans (ND Vets) for the past five years, giving these brave men and women hope and a new lease on life. The talented choir singers are an inspiration to others, helping to raise awareness across the country for homelessness among veterans.
Wells Fargo’s iconic stagecoach equestrian units made an earlier appearance in the parade and hosted participants of Warriors to Summits, a program of No Barriers USA whose mission is to provide transformative expeditions for veterans with disabilities and help them reach new personal heights. The program uses mountains as a metaphor to help wounded veterans overcome physical, mental, and emotional barriers.
ND Vets and No Barriers are two of the more than 900 nonprofits and programs for veterans and active duty military Wells Fargo has supported across the nation since 2012 when the company created its Military & Veteran Segment. During this timeframe, Wells Fargo has donated more than $66 million to help military members, veterans, and their families achieve and maintain homeownership, attain positive career transitions, and succeed financially. The Wells Fargo Foundation has donated more than $17 million to military- and veteran- related nonprofits and the company has given 300 mortgage-free homes valued at more than $49 million to veterans. Wells Fargo is one of the top military-friendly employers in the nation and has hired more than 4,800 veterans and participated in more than 650 military job fairs since 2012.
About Wells Fargo
For the last decade Wells Fargo has been ranked the top corporate philanthropic donor in Los Angeles, donating more than $23 million in 2014 to local nonprofits, schools and community organizations. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 12,800 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.
About New Directions For Veterans (ND Vets)
Since 1992, New Directions for Veterans (www.ndvets.org) has been providing transitional and permanent supportive housing, as well as mental health services, substance abuse treatment, job training and placement, legal assistance, and financial literacy education, to at-risk and homeless veterans. Each year, the agency serves more than 1,100 veterans and their families throughout Los Angeles County.
About No Barriers USA Warriors to Summits
No Barriers Warriors is a program of No Barriers USA (www.nobarriersusa.org/warriors) whose mission is to unleash the potential of the human spirit. The program empowers veterans and transitioning service members with disabilities, and survivors of the fallen, to overcome barriers and unleash their potential. Their experiences serve as both an opportunity for growth and catalyst for change as these brave men and women stretch boundaries, build teams, innovate through adversity and step up to lead and serve others. Complementing the reintegration process, this program provides quality transformative experiences that inspire warriors to grow and continue to contribute their absolute best to the world.
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade®, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of associated events. Nine hundred thirty-five volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization and contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed “Find Your Adventure,” will take place Friday, January 1, 2016, followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. Learn more at www.tournamentofroses.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
