G.I. Go Fund Honored on Secret Millionaire

June 3, 2012

Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, James Fanous and Alex Manus of the G.I. Go Fund

HUD New Jersey State Director Diane Johnson and HUD Senior Management Analyst Carleton Lewis joined Newark Mayor Cory Booker and other City officials and community-based groups at the season premiere screening of the ABC reality series, "Secret Millionaire." The episode followed millionaire and world-renowned artist Scott Jacobs and his 18-year-old daughter, Alexa, as they left behind their family and lavish lifestyle in San Diego to spend six days in Newark visiting nonprofit groups that have made an impact in transforming lives and neighborhoods.

The screening highlighted three of Newark's most innovative and impactful organizations that the Jacobs' visited. The G.I. Go Fund, one of the honorees, is a major partner with HUD, the VA and several other federal agencies in helping returning military veterans transition back into civilian life. The screening documented several fundamental elements of the organization's participation in the shared federal mission to end veterans' homelessness, the "Veterans' Stand Down" and "Midnight Missions." The first part of the show followed the GI Go Fund, an organization founded in 2006 in honor of Lt. Seth Dvorin, who was killed in combat in Iraq. The organization works to assist returning veterans find employment and educational opportunities, connect to critical health and financial benefits, and aid in housing and support services if they are homeless. The GI Go Fund began working in Newark in 2008 through a partnership with Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker. Since then, the group has helped thousands of Newark veterans with their various needs as they work to make a successful transition home from combat. The other two leading nonprofit groups highlighted in the episode included "Grassroots" and the "International Youth Organization," both of which serve young people.

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