WASHINGTON, April 1, 2021 — Paralyzed Veterans of America released a new video reminding America of the size, scope, and growth of its efforts as part of its PVA Awareness Month 2021 kick off – a 30-day celebration designed to raise awareness of not only America’s veterans living with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) and all veterans with disabilities, but also the people, programs, and services that exist to help make their lives easier. Throughout April, PVA will share stories highlighting the resiliency of its members and the importance of its 33 Chapters across the country. It will also invite the public to tune-in online for an up-close, virtual look inside its operations, via a series of Instagram Takeovers featuring PVA programs like Sports & Recreation, Veterans Career Program, Research & Education, Medical Services, Architecture, and more.
“PVA Awareness Month is so much bigger than PVA,” said David Zurfluh, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “It’s about remembering how far we’ve come as a nation in our fight to help paralyzed veterans and all veterans with disabilities and shining a much-needed spotlight on how much further we need to go. It’s about informing veterans of the many programs that exist to support them and their families, that they are not alone, and rallying America to get more involved in our mission.”
Every year, more than 12,000 people in the United States, including veterans, sustain a spinal cord injury often resulting in a loss of motor skills and/or sensory function. PVA is the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to helping veterans with SCI/D, and diseases, like MS and ALS. With help from its partners, generous supporters, and staff – to include its physicians, nurses, architects, lawyers, legislative experts, and 33 Chapters across the U.S. – PVA aids veterans by securing their benefits, ensuring quality health care, helping them find meaningful careers, empowering them through sports and recreation, fighting for their disability civil rights, and searching for a cure for SCI/D.
A precursor to Paralyzed Veterans Recognition Day, which was declared by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, PVA Awareness Month started as a day-long observance many years ago. After requests from its members and Chapters across the country, the celebration was extended to a full month. To learn more about this month, find a PVA Chapter near you, and/or explore ways you can help, visit pva.org/PAM.