Sorensen Announces More Than $630,000 to Prevent Veteran Suicide

ROCKFORD, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) announced a $634,022 grant to Veterans Path to Hope, an organization that supports veterans across Northern Illinois, including in Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, to support suicide prevention programs for veterans and their families.   

“Our nation’s veterans, who have sacrificed so much to keep our country safe, need our help,” saidSorensen. “Over 8,000 veterans each year die by suicide. That is simply unacceptable. This funding coming to Veterans Path to Hope, a local organization that already does so much to help our veteran community, will make sure that veterans across Northern Illinois have access to the resources and mental health support they need to survive. One of my most important responsibilities is to take care of those who have served our country in uniform. I will continue to fight for federal investments that make sure our veterans and their families can thrive.” 

“Veterans may hit unexpected speed bumps at any point after leaving military service, and having support from a team of veterans who have made it through their own challenges can be life-changing,” said Laura Franz, Executive Director of Veterans Path to Hope. “The SSG Fox SPGP team serves alongside VPH programs and community partners who make it their daily mission to help veterans re-establish a sense of hope and purpose. VPH offers a wide variety of services at no charge to veterans and their families, and this grant helps to expand its reach and impact on behalf of the veteran community.” 

The $634,033 in grant funding comes from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which provides resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans and their families through outreach, suicide prevention services, and connection to VA and community resources. 

In Congress, Sorensen has been a strong advocate for veterans across Northern, Central, and Western Illinois by: 

• Introducing the Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act, which will help disabled veterans make accessibility improvements to their homes. 

• Returning more than $3.2 million to his neighbors through federal casework services, which includes helping veterans access their benefits. 

• Working with veterans and their families to secure medals for service that they never received from the military. 

• Hosting mobile office hours and veterans' roundtables throughout the district to hear from and assist veterans in need of help with federal agencies. 

• Inviting a local veteran as his guest for the President’s State of the Union Address to Congress in March of 2024. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###