CFC Charity Spotlight: Paralyzed Veterans of America

Jim Lucas has always served. As a parish pastor in the late 1980s, he believed the United States was going to see a major conflict, so he joined the military to minister to soldiers. For 22 years, he served as a U.S. Army chaplain, eventually going to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

But shortly after his service, a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed. The bathroom in his 100-year-old home was not accessible, and he and his wife did not have a vehicle they could use to get Jim around town.

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) was able to provide Jim with grants for a bathroom renovation and the down payment on a van to get to doctor appointments and other events.

Today, Jim can more easily navigate his home, and PVA has given him the mobility he needs to live a more independent and fulfilling life.

Since 1946, Paralyzed Veterans of America has been a leading advocate for life-changing care, spinal cord research, employment services, adaptive supports, and civil rights for veterans and all people with disabilities.

PVA (CFC #33835) depends on the Combined Federal Campaign to carry out its mission and help veterans like Jim on their road to greater independence. The CFC is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace giving campaign. Last year, Federal employees contributed more than $93 million to thousands of local, national, and international causes in both funds and volunteer time.

Through their generosity in the CFC, federal and military personnel have helped find cures for children with cancer, supported injured military veterans and their families, provided meals and housing for those in need, and improved millions of lives, building stronger, healthier communities for all of us.

Find out more information about the CFC.

Community Health Charities was an inaugural member in the CFC and represents top nonprofits like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (CFC# 10560), American Cancer Society (#10570), Alzheimer’s Association (# 11234), Samaritan’s Purse (#10532), Susan G. Komen (#10615), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (# 33835). We recently launched a #Thanks8billion campaign to recognize military and federal personnel who have given so generously through the CFC, raising more than $8 billion over more than 50 years. To join us in saying thank you, visit our website for social media graphics and a full list of CFC charity partners.