Blagojevich administration unveils new Veterans Cash lottery ticket, Two for the Dough         

Over $380,000 in Veterans Cash grants awarded to help provide wide range of services for Illinois veterans

[April 02, 2007]  CHICAGO -- Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director L. Tammy Duckworth and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn joined the Illinois Lottery to unveil the new face of the Veterans Cash lottery ticket, Two for the Dough, on Friday. The first four Veterans Cash grant recipients -- Braveheart Therapeutic Riding Center, Catholic Charities' St. Leo Campus, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans and the American Legion -- were also announced at the event. Combined, these four organizations will be receiving over $380,000 to help provide a wide range of services to Illinois veterans, including health care, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, disability benefits and housing assistance.

"As this war continues, Illinois is going to see more and more of its state's military heroes returning home with an injury, with PTSD or with trouble transitioning back to civilian life," Duckworth said. "Our job as citizens is to help our veterans in every way possible. And buying this lottery ticket does exactly that. Last year, this ticket raised $3.2 million, and the best part about it is that all of the money goes directly to veterans organizations and services that deal with PTSD, homelessness, health insurance costs or disability benefits. I want to encourage all veterans organizations, both large and small, to apply for a Veterans Cash grant so that we can continue to better the services that are available to our veterans."

Launched by Gov. Blagojevich, the lieutenant governor and the Illinois Lottery in February 2006, Veterans Cash is the lottery's first ticket with 100 percent of the proceeds to support Illinois veterans. Proceeds from the sale of this ticket are deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, an interest-bearing account in the state treasury. The Illinois General Assembly appropriates this money solely to Department of Veterans' Affairs, which will award the money in grants, fund additional services, or conduct research relating to veterans' post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, health insurance costs and disability benefits.

"All of us on the home front have the duty to take care of our veterans -- our real heroes -- who have bravely risked their lives in defense of our democracy," Quinn said. "Purchasing a Veterans Cash lottery ticket to support the Illinois Veterans' Health Initiative is a voluntary way for the people of Illinois to help our veterans."

The Department of Veterans' Affairs has $2 million in Veterans Cash grants to give out by June of 2007. The first four Veterans Cash grant recipients, announced Friday at the James R. Thompson Center, received grants ranging from $55,073 to $125,000 for various services:

• American Legion, Illinois State Chapter will receive $100,000 to support its service officers to enhance outreach to veterans.

• Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton will receive $125,000 to continue to expand its transitional living facility for homeless veterans by providing them with educational programs, job counseling and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Braveheart Therapeutic Riding Center in Pawnee will receive $100,000 to create a new program for veterans with spinal cord injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Catholic Charities' St. Leo Campus for Veterans in Chicago will receive $55,073 to purchase a new handicapped-accessible van for its campus, which houses homeless veterans.

To date, Veterans Cash has raised more than $3.2 million for the Illinois Veterans Assistance Trust Fund. The new ticket, Two for the Dough, is expected to generate more than $3 million for veterans services throughout the state.

"We are humbled by the outpouring of support Veterans Cash received and are hopeful that the new ticket, Two for the Dough, will receive the same level of endorsement from Illinois residents and continue to drive strong returns for our veterans," said Sarah Cummins, director of marketing for the Illinois Lottery.

Two for the Dough is currently available at all Illinois Lottery retail locations. Each ticket costs $2 and has a top prize of $20,000

For more information on Two for the Dough, visit www.illinoislottery.com. For more information on Illinois programs and initiatives for veterans or to apply for a Veterans Cash grant, visit www.state.il.us/agency/dva. For more information on ways to help our veterans and troops, visit www.operationhomefront.org.

[Text from Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs news release received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]