With all of the money floating around going to illegal aliens, leftist voting groups, abortion activists and other “America Last” organizations, it’s refreshing to see that some money is actually going to a worthy cause – our veterans.
Craig Newmark, the founder of the classified ads website Craigslist, has pledged $100 million to a coalition of nonprofits that support veterans and military families.
Newmark, 70, told the Observer [1] in an email “I’m getting my act together.” He also said that he wants to be “professional about contributions over the next decade or so.”
Newmark has no personal connection to the armed forces but says he owes them. He says, “I’ve realized that some people are going to risk themselves, maybe taking a bullet overseas to protect me…There are a lot of issues in the military community that I barely understand. But on a gut level, I know we owe vets and their families a lot.”
Newmark stepped down as the CEO of Craigslist more than two decades ago and has spent the past decade focusing on charity work including the launch of Craig Newmark Philanthropies [2] which includes a scholarship [3] for veterans. Other things he focuses on are cyber security, trustworthy journalism and “pigeon rescue” according to his website.
According to the Observer, “Newmark’s donations will address mental health and suicide prevention, homelessness, food insecurity, policy solutions and employment opportunities. Grants of $10 million each will go toward groups like the Bob Woodruff Foundation [4], which has invested more than $120 million on veteran-related initiatives; and Blue Star Families [5], the largest chapter-based military and veteran family support organization.”