A day never passes without someone asking about the purpose and mission of the Cincinnati Education and Research for Veterans (CERV) Foundation. CERV is dedicated to improving the lives of the men and women who have served, or continue to serve, in the Armed Forces. We recognize that many of these individuals live with physical, emotional and personal needs, and we are here to ensure they get the care they deserve.

Research is a key component of the work we do. CERV actively supports and funds research at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, as well as the university of Cincinnati Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital. The money we raise through private and corporate donations is used to sponsor events like Research week; a weeklong showcase of health and medical research. This collaboration brings some of the country’s best and brightest minds to our facilities where they share ideas and information exclusively targeting issues relative to our veterans. Areas that include, but are not limited to, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and post traumatic distress disorder (PTSD) and cardiovascular disease.

The goal is to encourage these individuals to conduct their research investigations at the medical facilities in Cincinnati, where our local veterans can be active participants. Once this is achieved, CERV provides initial funding that enables the principle investigators to secure major donations from places like the National Institute of Health or large pharmaceutical companies; which in turn funds the entirety of their research.

But CERV also allocates their donations to programs that don’t involve research. We invest our resources and your donations in the lives and livelihood of our veterans and their families by sponsoring programs that target the immediate needs of these men and women once they return from combat.

One example is the Warrior to Soul Mate program.

Warrior to Soul Mate is a weekend workshop designed to help couples strengthen their communication skills. The goal of the program is to restore and renew positive relationships by teaching couples to talk, share and reconnect on a truly emotional level. CERV’s goal is to help these men and women strengthen their bonds after being apart due to military service.

We also sponsor special local civic events like the Women Veterans Appreciation Banquet and Women Veterans Lifetime Achievement Awards. These annual award ceremonies allow CERV to publicly honor women veterans for their selfless and dedicated service to both the military and their community.

When you make a donation to CERV, it is important to know that these donations support programs for veteran in Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southern Indiana. These are our neighbors and friends. They are people whose paths we are likely to cross on a daily basis. They are men and women in our own communities who served our country with honor and courage.

At CERV, we are excited about new opportunities that are on the horizon. We have much work to do, and we invite you to help. Please consider donating to our cause as we support our veterans in very specific ways. Giving is easy. You can either donate online by visiting the CERV “Donate” page, or you can call CERV directly at 513-475-6403.

CERV is proud of the work we are doing for the men and women who served our country…throughout all the generations. Together, we will continue improving the lives of our veterans!

* While CERV is a local organization, it was actually founded by Congress and is part of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. CERV is also a 501(C)3, not-for profit, organization that means your donations tax-deductible!