JFCS to Highlight Operation Military Assistance Program Benefiting Veterans at Patriot Plaza Dedication

Online, June 18, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS) will showcase its Operation Military Assistance Program (OMAP) June 28 immediately prior to and following the dedication ceremony of Patriot Plaza, the new 2,800-seat ceremonial amphitheater at Sarasota National Cemetery donated by The Patterson Foundation. Dedication attendees are encouraged to learn about nearly 30 Legacy Zone organizations with programs and services for those who have served, are serving or may serve in our nation's armed forces.

The JFCS Operation Military Assistance Program (OMAP) offers case management and financial assistance to very low-income veterans and their families in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties who are homeless or who are about to become homeless to enable them to obtain or maintain stable, permanent housing. Made possible through a grant from the Veterans Administration and support from local donors, the OMAP program aims to fulfill JFCS' mission to empower individuals and families toward self-sufficiency.

"JFCS is proud to be participating in the Patriot Plaza Community Dedication," said Rose Chapman, president and CEO of Jewish Family & Children's Service. "We are grateful to The Patterson Foundation for its continued dedication to our local veterans and providing connections to programs such as ours."

Patriot Plaza, designed, constructed and fully funded by The Patterson Foundation, features significant art installations and will honor veterans and their families for generations to come. The amphitheater was created through a first-ever public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - National Cemetery Administration and is the first enhancement of its kind out of 131 national cemeteries across the country.

For event information, please visit patriotplaza.thepattersonfoundation.org.

About Patriot Plaza
Patriot Plaza is a 2,800-seat ceremonial amphitheater at Sarasota National Cemetery that honors veterans and their families, inspires patriotism and embraces freedom. Designed, constructed and fully funded by The Patterson Foundation, the enhancement is the first of its kind out of 131 national cemeteries and was created through a public-private partnership with the National Cemetery Administration. For event information, please visit patriotplaza.thepattersonfoundation.org.

About JFCS
Jewish Family & Children's Service of the Suncoast, Inc. (JFCS) is a fully accredited, community-based social service organization delivering a broad range of services, including counseling, prevention, intervention, outreach and education to children, adults, families, seniors, and veterans on a secular, non-denominational basis. JFCS promotes self-sufficiency, providing people with the resources to cope and overcome life's challenges. To learn more, visit www.JFCS-Cares.org.