CAMARILLO, CA - The Ventura County Veterans Fund at the Ventura County Community Foundation will award $100,200 in grants to local nonprofits that help veterans adjust to civilian life.

The awards will be presented at a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. July 31 to seven nonprofits that meet a variety of veterans' needs, including college and career preparation and emotional therapy.

"Because these organizations are local they better understand the challenges our veterans face, and their services will yield even improved outcomes and opportunities for the returning warriors they serve," said Hugh Ralston, VCCF president & CEO.

These programs received the 2014 grants:
• $5,000 to Healing in America for the Healing the Returning Warriors program, providing individual energy healing sessions for veterans and their families.

• $20,000 to Turning Point Foundation for the H2H Housing First Veterans Project, to move chronically homeless mentally ill veterans from the streets into permanent housing, and support them where they live.

• $25,000 to Reins of H.O.P.E. for the H.O.P.E for Warriors Ventura County Veterans Services Program, providing confidential equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning sessions for veterans and their families.

• $10,000 to Oxnard College for counseling students through the "Boots to Books" program, offering support to veterans who are transitioning from the military to civilian careers, as well as their dependents.

• $25,200 to the CSUCI Foundation for the Veterans Affairs Internship Program, to offer paid internships to student veterans in their chosen field to provide critical job skills.

Representatives of each organization will give a brief presentation ontheir programs and introduce a veteran who has benefitted from their services.

The reception will take place at the VCCF Nonprofit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo.

Admission is free but guests must RSVP by contacting Steve Guetzoian at sguetzoian@vccf.org or 805.330.6970.

ABOUT VCCF
VCCF invests the charitable capital that drives the philanthropic engines of Ventura County. Its portfolio performance ranks in the top 11 of all community foundations in the United States for long-term growth. With total assets of more than $135 million, as of March 30, its mission is to promote and enable philanthropy to improve our community for good for ever, which it does through grantmaking, scholarships and training at its Center for Nonprofit Leadership. It owns the VCCF Nonprofit Center in Camarillo ---- a place where nonprofits and the community can come together to work together. Visit vccf.org or call 805.988.0196.