honors veterans

The foundation of Nevada Military Support Alliance dates back to 2003. In 2010 the mission of the NMSA was expanded to not only support military families of fallen service members, but to assist those returning home from the battlefield with catastrophic injuries. While we all hope the day will come when our efforts are no longer needed, we understand that until that day we have an obligation to help those who selflessly and courageously defend our American way of life in uniform around the world. We exist for Nevada’s warriors and their families.

The mission of the Nevada Military Support Alliance is to organize and promote the recognition and support of Nevada’s men and women of our armed forces, veterans and their families.

As a 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity, the NMSA has disbursed financial support and assistance to the families of fallen Nevada heroes, veterans, and numerous Nevada soldiers and their families. The NMSA has provided emergency relief, adaptive homes for those catastrophically injured in battle, transitional education services at our state’s universities and community colleges, and the very first Fisher House for military families in Nevada.

To date the NMSA has raised more than $4 million, of which more than 90 cents of every dollar has gone directly to the benefit of Nevadan’s in uniform, or those who have served and their families. We don’t believe that any nonprofit established to serve our warriors should stray from their solemn commitment to serve those who have served our country.

“The Nevada Military Support Alliance has been blessed with tremendous community support and we will continue to marshal our efforts and our Nevada community so that the Silver State is a beacon to those returning home in search of a civilian profession and neighbors who treat them with the respect they have so valiantly earned,” said Scott Bensing, president of the NMSA.

Because of this community support, the Nevada Military Support Alliance with partner Homes for Our Troops built an adaptive home for Marine Sgt. Dylan Gray, and Army Specialist Tim Hall. The NMSA was also able to financially assist in the construction of an adaptive home for Marine Sgt. Trey Humphrey. “Their fighting spirits is a constant reminder, not only of sacrifice, but of triumph in adversity. The NMSA strives to leave no Nevada warrior or their family behind,” Bensing said.

The NMSA has also been a significant supporter of Nevada’s Green Zone Initiative. The purpose of the Green Zone Initiative is to marshal all available resources in the areas of health, education, and employment to assist transitioning service members, veterans, and their families in Nevada and to help ensure their successful reintegration into communities by improving the systems of access, services and service delivery through regional planning, coordination and evaluation strategies.

“The Green Zone Initiative provides the blueprint for a systems based architecture at the state, county, and local levels that will help to integrate existing policies, programs and practices, as well as network the many strong programs and veterans-serving organizations across the state,” Bensing said.

The Nevada Military Support Alliance successfully raised more than $3,000,000 towards the construction of Nevada’s first Fisher House. More than 60 Fisher Houses across the nation serve as a home away from home for military members and veterans requiring longer-term medical care and rehabilitation services. Stays at the house are free for those being treated and their families. In February of this year, we celebrated the grand opening of Nevada’s first Fisher House on the campus of the Southern Nevada VA Medical Center

Today, with so many military members leaving the service and returning to their communities to pursue higher education opportunities that will lead to civilian careers, the Nevada Military Support Alliance is leading the charge.

In March of this year, the Nevada Military Support Alliance, celebrated the opening of the Nevada Military Support Alliance Military and Veterans Center within the Pennington Student Achievement Center on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. This center is staffed by student veterans and provides a one-stop-shop for enrollment services, VA-benefit validation, mentorships, counseling, tutoring, and post-graduation career assistance in Nevada with veteran-friendly companies throughout the state.

And as we strive to further our mission and support our warriors, the Nevada Military Support Alliance is proud to announce former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and former undersecretary of the Navy, R. James Wooley, Jr. as our guest speaker for our 5th Annual Reno Gala, May 14, at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. For more information about the Gala and the Nevada Military Support Alliance, please visit www.nevadamilitarysupport.org.

For those who have served, we wish only to say “thank you.” For those who have supported them through the Nevada Military Support Alliance and countless other well-intentioned organizations, we hope that tonight will serve as an added incentive to never forget those who stand guard in harm’s way and their families when they return home.