The founder of the National Veterans Foundation, Floyd "Shad" Meshad, has been working with Veterans since 1970. Meshad was a Medical Service Officer during the Vietnam War, where he counseled soldiers in the field who were suffering from a multitude of psychological and emotional problems resulting from their experiences in combat, including what would later become known as "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," or PTSD.

After the war, Shad continued to counsel Vietnam Veterans through his work with the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles. He co-founded the VA’s Vet Center program — 300 storefront facilities throughout the country, located away from VA Hospitals, where Veterans walk in off the street to receive mental health counseling. He also authored the critically acclaimed book A Captain for Dark Mornings, which chronicles his experiences both during the war and after coming home.

Staffed by a team of veterans (from Vietnam, the Cold War, Iraq and Afghanistan) who are specially trained in the delivery of crisis information and referral services, as well as a team of licensed volunteer counselors to whom all crisis calls are routed, more than 400,000 Veterans in need of medical treatment, substance abuse or PTSD Counseling, VA benefits advocacy, food, shelter, employment training, legal aid or suicide intervention, have now been served by this unique, one-of-a-kind resource.

Also, as a recognized leader within the community of organizations that specialize in providing human service programs to Veterans and their families, NVF frequently plays a key role as advisor, partner, and collaborator.

Visit NVF.org for all of the benefits