Nonprofit helps special operations veterans transition from the military to leadership roles in the private sector
CHICAGO — Grant Thornton LLP, one of America’s largest providers of audit and assurance, tax and advisory services, has named 51 Vets to its Purple Paladin program, which helps emerging nonprofit organizations move from “start-up to unstoppable.” As part of the program, Grant Thornton provides funding, business advice and volunteer support, while also helping nonprofits raise awareness of their work and mission.
51 Vets was founded in 2022 by Jordan Selleck, an investment banker-turned-entrepreneur who was inspired by the journey of two former Navy SEALs who utilized their military experience to excel in business. Using his professional network, Selleck began connecting elite veterans to leaders in the finance industry, ultimately yielding job offers for the veterans.
“When you retire from an elite military community, you don’t have that tribe or community anymore,” said Selleck. “Many elite veterans leave their unit wondering, ‘Where do I go from here?’”
Through networking opportunities, business school preparation, career placement, mentorship and other resources, 51 Vets helps elite veterans transition to a private sector career that aligns with their unique set of competencies.
The organization, which currently supports more than 400 members, prioritizes connections within the finance industry. As Selleck explains, the personality traits of those who succeed in financial leadership roles closely mirror those in special operations.
“Our members are really the perfect fit for these roles,” Selleck said. “They just need the training and connections to translate the skills they already possess into a new career.”
Grant Thornton CEO Seth Siegel said: “It’s an honor to work with an organization that connects veterans to rewarding leadership opportunities. At Grant Thornton, we champion a culture that values diverse skill sets and fosters innovative thinking, which is why we’re passionate about the work 51 Vets does — and we are uniquely positioned to facilitate connections that empower these veterans to excel in their post-military careers.”
To learn more about 51 Vets, visit https://51vets.org/.
51 Vets joins 18 other 501(c)(3) nonprofits that Grant Thornton previously selected as Purple Paladins. They include:
- Alley-Oop Kids — advocates for sports equity by using “Lending Lockers” to provide under-resourced schools and youth organizations with sports equipment and gear. To learn more, visit alleyoopkids.org.
- MBC Travelers — empowers survivors of metastatic breast cancer by creating memorable travel experiences and connections. To learn more, visit mbctravelers.com.
- I Got THIS Foundation — helps inspire young golfers and educates the public on what’s possible for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. To learn more, visit igotthis.foundation.
- Women in Training — dedicated to ending “period poverty”. To learn more, visit womenintraining.org.
- Digs with Dignity — helps elevate the lives of those transitioning from homelessness by furnishing their houses to create a dignified home. To learn more, visit digswithdignity.org.
- Fair Opportunity Project — offers high-quality college counseling resources at no cost to aspiring students. To learn more, visit fairopportunityproject.org.
- Free Mom Hugs — creates allies who support the LGBTQIA+ community through visibility, education and conversation. To learn more, visit freemomhugs.org.
- WeaveTales — helps refugees of all kinds share their stories via books, exhibits, films and other channels. To learn more, visit weavetales.org.
- Warrior Reunion Foundation — reconnects combat veterans via life-changing reunion experiences. All events are provided at no cost to those who attend. To learn more, visit warriorreunionfoundation.org.
- Go Team Therapy Dogs — produces well-trained therapy dogs and places them at disaster sites, hospitals, and other places where they can offer comfort and care. To learn more, visit goteamdogs.org.
- Find Your Anchor — focused on suicide prevention. To help people who are struggling to find hope, the organization creates and distributes boxes of curated items known as “anchors.” To learn more, visit findyouranchor.us.
- Foster Nation — helps former foster youth overcome the challenges associated with ‘aging out’ of the foster-care system. To learn more, visit fosternation.org.
- Hope in a Box — provides educators with literature, detailed curriculums and coaching to improve classroom environments for LGBTQIA+ students. To learn more, visit hopeinabox.org.
- Weird Enough Productions — develops free, interactive online content designed to combat media misrepresentations of minority communities. The organization is best known for its hallmark comic book series, “The UnCommons.” To learn more, visit weirdenough.com.
- Invisible Hands Deliver — taps more than 12,000 volunteers to deliver groceries, prescriptions, and other necessities to people vulnerable to COVID-19 and facing hunger insecurity — including the elderly, disabled and immunocompromised. To learn more, visit invisiblehandsdeliver.org.
- Pal Experiences — helps people with non-visible disabilities — such as autism — have more inclusive experiences at museums, entertainment venues, sporting events and more. To learn more, visit palexperiences.org.
- Sneakers for Soldiers — provides properly-fitted athletic shoes to deployed combat troops in all branches of the military. To learn more, visit sneakersforsoldiers.org.
- Coming Up Rosies — provides “smile kits” to hospitals so children — particularly those suffering from hair loss — can engage in therapeutic art activities to create custom head scarves, neck scarves and superhero capes based on their own unique designs. To learn more, visit cominguprosies.com.
Grant Thornton’s Purple Paladins program derives its name from the word paladin, a champion of a cause. Grant Thornton and its professionals have donated more than $1 million to Purple Paladin nonprofits, and more than 650 Grant Thornton professionals have volunteered their time and skills to support the firm’s Purple Paladins.
To learn more about Purple Paladins, or to nominate a nonprofit for potential support, visit Grant Thornton’s website: www.grantthornton.com/PurplePaladins.
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