Enable America to Award Airline Tickets to Disabled Vets and Wounded Warriors

Tampa, FL, August 19, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Enable America’s work in promoting employment opportunities for disabled veterans and wounded warriors has been recognized by Southwest Airlines, which today announced the nonprofit as one of the organizations that will receive 40 round-trip airline tickets to be used in Enable America’s program development.

“This award is more than recognition of the value our programs have in serving veterans,” said Chris Jadick, Enable America’s COO. “Southwest Airlines’ commitment allows us to reach many more disabled veterans and wounded warriors, so we can engage them in programs that improve career opportunities. Given the challenges in the job market right now, along with our ongoing need to support those who have sacrificed in our nation’s defense, this award could not come at a better time.”

Enable America (EA) is one of 40 nonprofit winners of Southwest Airlines' 40th anniversary promotion, in which deserving organizations each receive 40 round-trip tickets. Enable America will use the tickets so disabled veterans and wounded warriors who otherwise could not attend its employment programs will have the ability to do so. Those programs include EA’s “Job Seekers Workshops,” which provide participants job-readiness training on resume writing, interview tips, and job search tools. Participants are each assigned an HR professional who serves as their career coach, and they attend a customized job fair represented by corporations with positions to fill across the country.

“Employment challenges for disabled veterans and wounded warriors reach into every corner of our country,” said Steve LaBour, Director of EA’s Tampa operations. “This ability to connect even more deserving men and women with the companies that want to hire them is a welcome opportunity that will benefit both job seekers and employers.”

Enable America will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, having been founded by attorney and CEO Richard Salem in 2002. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. EA’s Community Connections, Business Connections, and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities, including our nation’s wounded warriors. In addition, EA’s Career Mentoring Days match work-ready people with disabilities with employers committed to strengthening and diversifying their workforce.

A common theme to all these programs is bridge building, making connections between job seekers and employers, between people with disabilities and the able-bodied population.

“As we work to help people with disabilities seamlessly assimilate into the community and the workplace, the bridge building is not just important, but essential,” Salem said. “This award from Southwest Airlines will make the bridge much easier to cross for many more deserving disabled veterans and wounded warriors.”

People interested in learning more about Enable America, and signing up for its employment programs, can do so at the organization’s website: EnableAmerica.org

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