GreatNonprofits names MilVet “2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit”
TEMECULA, Calif. — MilVet was excited to announce today that GreatNonprofits – the leading website for community recommendations of charities and nonprofits, with stories and reports they say influence 30 million donation decisions a year – has named the Temecula, CA based charitable organization a “2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit”.
Founded in 2016 by long-time Temecula Valley resident Raven Hilden, MilVet is dedicated to connecting the community to local, low-cost and free comprehensive resources and support services through community organizational outreach and providing philanthropic programs to enrich the lives of veterans, seniors, and families in the community. The nonprofit also sends military care packages to deployed troops worldwide, which Hilden told RCNS today has resulted in an “incredibly positive” impact for local veterans and their families.
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GreatNonprofits – the largest donation website for nonprofit organizations – is a place where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits.
Their Top-Rated Nonprofits Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities, such as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid, and is based on the rating and number of reviews they receive for each non-profit featured on their website.
One such five-star MilVet review from J. Cortez said in-part, “MilVet is the Best! Led by Raven and a Team of kind-hearted and spirited volunteers this Military and Veteran support services organization does it all!”
“They are an outstanding organization who have touched the lives of tens of thousands,” Cortez continued; adding, “Thank You MilVet, we are proud that you are part of our community and a source of hope for many!”
MilVet in the News: With big-name keynote speakers, inaugural Veterans First Fair a “huge success”
In addition to the many services MilVet provides active duty members of the US armed forces, they also hold fundraisers and events throughout the year, which this year included their inaugural Veterans First Fair, held in Menifee earlier this month.
As reported by RCNS at the time, the hugely successful event featured several big-name keynote speakers including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, as well as Grant Gausche, Director of Riverside County Department of Veterans Services, and Colonel John Black, Regional Affairs Officer at Camp Pendleton, and was aimed at providing local veterans an array of veteran-specific resources.
While enjoying a delicious lunch of Tri-Tip sandwiches and pasta, area veterans, along with local dignitaries, organization representatives and others, were provided with introductions, presentations and information from several local VFW Chapters, the Department of Veteran Affairs, CalVet, Semper Fi, Operation Silverstar, MilVet, the Marine Corp League and Navy League, and many more.
“The event was held as a way to bring the veteran community together by featuring resources, camaraderie and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hilden told RCNS at the time. “The veteran community really came together to provide resources to those in need and show our solidarity and support for those we lost and those currently serving.”
“We were truly honored to be named a 2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” Hilden said today after receiving GreatNonprofits’ award; adding, “We’re really proud of our accomplishments this year.”
In addition to their recent Veterans First Fair, a few of those accomplishments include increased emergency support for veterans and active-duty troops, and additional resources and support services such as fitness enhancement and job skills enrichment and placement programs being offered to local vets.
Add to all that MilVet’s Holiday toy drives, active-duty spousal support and other programs, and the organization’s support and reach throughout the southwest Riverside County region just continues to grow.
To learn more about how you can help send monthly care packages that include snacks, hygiene items, letters of support and much more to deployed military men & women through MilVet’s Freedom Supplies program click here.
“MilVet is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits said of the recent honor bestowed Hilden’s organization. “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with MilVet.”
For more information about MilVet visit www.milvet.org. The complete list of 2021 Top Rated Nonprofits can be found here.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.