August 1, 2017

For ten years, veterans clad in Mission Continues blue have reconnected to their communities through continued service. Together, we’ve built relationships with local communities and nonprofits in cities across the country, connecting veterans with sustainable service opportunities. All of this is driven by our strong conviction that veterans are assets who, at the core of their identity, want to make a positive impact on their country. This month, in honor of our ten-year anniversary, we wanted to take a look back at the last ten years.

We’ve come a long way since our founding. In the first year, three veterans participated in our programs, while today, thousands of veterans across generations have joined with us to serve in their communities as part of a successful transition home. Our mission, logo, staff, and programs have all evolved in our effort to best support our family of veterans and the communities in which they serve.

The Mission Continues has awarded more than 2,000 fellowships and launched more than 70 service platoons in over 20 major metro areas nationwide. Together, these veteran volunteers have contributed more than 1,000,000 hours of service to their communities to address entrenched challenges including improving community health and wellbeing, increasing access to gardens and greenspaces, and enhancing educational facilities for learning and recreation.

July 20, 2017
Maggie Seymour, Grassroots Supporter

One Marine. Coast to Coast. 100 Days.

I, Maggie Seymour, a U.S. Marine Corps Captain transitioning to the Reserves, am an avid ultra-runner on a mission. On July 22, I’ll embark on a 3,300 mile journey across the United States to give back and raise awareness for the communities that have supported me during my time in the U.S. Marine Corps.

I’m a small-town Midwestern girl at heart who believes in the power of hard work, education, community, and carbs (if I stop by your town be sure to grab me a slice of pizza). Over the past 10 years I have worked closely with the veteran, gold star families, and special needs athletes communities. This run is for them.

June 16, 2017

The Mission Continues recently welcomed Kristie Cunningham, senior vice president of Communications for BAE Systems, Inc., to our Board of Directors. Kristie is responsible for leading all external and internal communications activities for BAE Systems, Inc., which means she’s the perfect fit to help us empower more veterans and strengthen our operations nationwide.

Service is at the core of our mission and our programs. How has service and volunteerism been a part of your life?

From an early age, I was raised in a family where giving back was an important aspect of who we were and who we were expected to become. I saw my parents, grandparents and even extended family volunteering in church and other service organizations, always looking to lend a hand to those in need. This front-row seat led me to also volunteer in my church, particularly once I had children of my own, to not only give back but to also set a good example for my kids.

As I progressed in my career, I have served on several boards, from the local Chamber of Commerce to Operation Homefront, and I’ve been able to work for companies that have had a strong belief in the power of employee engagement – not only on the job, but also within the communities in which we lived and worked. BAE Systems is no exception, where I’ve had a number of opportunities over the years to partner with and even volunteer alongside my colleagues in the local community, encourage our employees to actively volunteer in their communities, and also lead our Community Investment team as we focus on supporting our men and women in uniform, our veterans, and their families.