Hiring Our Heroes Meets Goal of Hosting 400 Hiring Fairs Nationwide in Program’s Second Year
Achievement Honors Commitment as Part of White House’s Joining Forces Initiative; 502 Fairs Held Overall Since Launch in March 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With four hiring fairs held today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program honored its commitment as part of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative to host 400 fairs in the program’s second year.
First Lady Michelle Obama noted the achievement during her remarks at today’s Joining Forces 2nd Anniversary Celebration at the White House. Hiring Our Heroes has now hosted 502 hiring fairs in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico since the program began in March 2011.
“We knew it was an ambitious goal to host what equates to more than one hiring fair a day in our second year,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel (ret.), executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “Thanks to incredible public, private, and nonprofit partners and a dedicated staff made up largely of veterans and military spouses, we have turned our vision into reality. Working in concert with Joining Forces and under the tremendous leadership of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, we are creating a movement across the country, and employers are recognizing the great talent veterans and military spouses have to offer.”
Today’s four hiring fairs spanned across four time zones as veterans and military spouses connected with employers in Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Killeen, Texas; Laramie, Wyoming; and Walnut Creek, California. Hiring Our Heroes has more than 200 fairs already scheduled in its third year, with an emphasis on the 100 fastest growing job markets in America as identified through its Fast Track program. Through partnerships with the Department of Defense, the program will also host more than 50 fairs on or adjacent to military installations.
Since its launch in March 2011, Hiring Our Heroes has been able to help more than 100,000 veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. As of December 31, 2012, more than 18,400 hires have been confirmed as a direct result of the fairs. An additional 90,000 veterans and military spouses have been hired as a part of Hiring 500,000 Heroes, a national campaign announced by the U.S. Chamber, National Chamber Foundation and Capital One, to engage the business community in committing to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014. Thus far, more than 900 businesses of all sizes have pledged to hire 222,000 heroes toward this goal.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.
