Frequently Asked Questions
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General
Is Paralyzed Veterans of America a legitimate company? Is PVA Hero legit? Are Paralyzed Veterans of America legitimate?
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a legitimate Charity registered in the United States (view PVA financial statements here). PVAhero, which is a website owned by PVA, is also legitimate. PVA was founded in 1946, and has since helped hundreds of thousands of Veterans through benefits counseling, adaptive sports, career support and more free of cost, along with advocating for the civil rights of Veterans and all people with disabilities and funding critical research into spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D). PVA was rated brand of the year in the Military & Veteran Brand Company category in the 2018 HarrisPoll, received the GuideStar Platinum seal of transparency, is a top-rated nonprofit on Great Nonprofits, and earns a score of 91% on CharityNavigator. PVA is also recognized as one of the “Big Six” Veteran service organizations.
Learn more about PVA’s programs that help Veterans here .
Learn more about PVA’s financials and how we use donations here.
Is Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) a nonprofit?
Yes, PVA is a prominent national 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization with a mission to serve paralyzed Veterans from the moment of injury and for the rest of their lives. PVA chapters are registered as separate 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profits.
Is Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) a good place to donate?
PVA is the best organization to donate to in support of our nation’s most severely wounded Veterans. Since 1946, PVA has filled a unique need by specifically serving Veterans with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D). PVA provides benefits counseling, adaptive sports, career support, research and education, advocacy and more. In 2020, PVA earned $280 million for Veterans and their families, secured $78 million in Adaptive Housing & Automobile Grants, and funded $948,000 in grants for research relating to SCI/D. PVA is also the only veterans service organization that routinely audits VA hospitals, and the only one with on-staff architects to help Veterans modify their homes.
PVA has also been given a four-star rating on Charity Navigator, the highest possible rating and is a top-rated nonprofit on Great Nonprofits and Guidestar.
What percentage of donations goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America?
When you donate to Paralyzed Veterans of America 70% of your donation goes directly to programs for Veterans. 30% goes to administrative costs, including paying our staff such as National Service Officers. PVA’s program spend ratio exceeds the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance recommendation.
How much money does the CEO of Paralyzed Veterans of America make?
Carl Blake, the CEO of Paralyzed Veterans of America, was paid $198,384 by PVA in 2020 . That means that for every dollar you donate to PVA, only 0.1 cents goes to the director’s salary. Carl Blake became a member of PVA in 2000 after sustaining a spinal cord injury during a parachute training exercise in the U.S. Army.
What is the salary of David Zurfluh, Charles Brown, and Robert Thomas?
Paralyzed Veterans of America Presidents, most recently David Zurfluh, Charles Brown, and Robert Thomas make around $100,000 per year from PVA. That means that for every dollar you donate to PVA, only 0.05 cents goes towards the president’s salary. Robert Thomas, David Zurfluh and Charles Brown are also both Veterans and members of PVA.
How can my mailing address be added to your list?
Send an email to donorservices@pva.org or call us at 800-555-9140.
Why does PVA have multiple donation addresses?
There are two official locations for Paralyzed Veterans of America and each is used for a different purpose. Our National Office — where we conduct most of our administrative and managerial activities — is located in Washington, DC. We also have a facility located in Topeka, Kansas. This facility is used to help us process donations and update our mailing list.
I donated and was eligible for a special PVA item (tote bag, blanket, etc.) How long will it take for my PVA item to arrive?
Processing can take up to 4-6 weeks, especially given the supply chain issues we are facing due to the pandemic. Thank you for your patience!
What is the difference between Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans?
Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans work closely together on issues of mutual concern. However, PVA is focused solely on the needs of veterans with catastrophic disabilities and paralyzed veterans. DAV’s members have a variety of abilities and they primarily focus on veterans’ benefits and health care. PVA’s programs reflect a more expansive view of the needs of our members to include not only veterans’ benefits and health care, but also their right to access their communities as people with disabilities. We are the leader in the veterans’ community for disability civil rights, including the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act for all people with disabilities.
Are you all (PVA, DAV, Wounded Warrior) part of the same organization?
No, we are all individual non-profit organizations. PVA specifically serves Veterans with SCI/D (spinal cord injury/disease) and now also serves Veterans with an MS (multiple sclerosis) diagnosis.
Where can I download the PVA logo?
You can download the PVA logo and other digital assets on our digital assets webpage here.
Where should I mail my donation?
PVA National Processing Center
P.O. Box 758589
Topeka, KS 66675-8589
Membership
Where are PVA sports and recreation held?
PVA provides a variety of adaptive sports and recreation opportunities during each calendar year. Our events take place all throughout the United States. For more information on our current event schedule, please visit our sports events calendar. You can also follow us on Facebook @PVASports.
Are individual athlete grants available for sports and recreation events?
PVA works closely with its chapters and other organizations to help identify potential funding sources for athlete grants. The sports and recreation program does not have an ongoing grant program for individual athletes. Please follow us on Facebook @PVASports to stay updated on future funding opportunities.
Will PVA sports and recreation sponsor individual athletes or teams?
The PVA sports and recreation program does not provide endorsements for individual athletes or teams.
I’d like to volunteer with PVA sports and recreation. How do I get involved?
Paralyzed Veterans of America has 33 chapters across the country and each one has its own volunteer program offering a wide variety of service opportunities. PVA National has additional volunteer opportunities through the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Code of Honor Wheelchair Rugby tournament and other PVA National events.
If there isn’t a chapter where you live, you can also volunteer with your local Veterans Administration’s (VA) Voluntary Service program. When you sign up with the VA, just let them know that you are volunteering your time in the name of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
What are the qualifications for a PVA adaptive sports program?
PVA adaptive sports programs are open to all individuals with disabilities, including people with amputation, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Only the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are exclusively for military veterans.
Research
What kind of research does PVA fund? Who determines it?
Each year, the Research Foundation issues a call for research proposals in the areas listed above. Typically, we receive 65-75 proposals for grants to conduct research projects. Our grants go through a three part review. The first two are conducted by experts in the field of spinal cord research to assure the quality and feasibility of the proposals. The third and final review is by the members of the PVA Research Foundation. All voting members are PVA members who live with spinal cord disabilities themselves. They select grants for funding that they believe will impact the lives of veterans living with spinal cord injuries and diseases.
How can I learn about the results of the PVA Research Foundation Grant projects?
Each Principal Investigator (PI) submits a final report at the completion of the grant, summarizing the work and the results. The PIs also make presentations at national conferences and meetings, including the PVA Healthcare Summit, about their project. They also publish articles in journals and magazines, including PN magazine about their results.
How can I become involved in this research?
There are frequently opportunities available for veterans to take part in the clinical applications research projects. Often, the PI will send out recruitment requests through VA SCI/D Centers and other VA hospitals. Some place ads in PN/Paraplegia News magazine and others ask PVA to help recruit. The PVA Research and Education Department often sends out information to PVA members about research opportunities through the organization’s membership email list.
The best way to learn about clinical trials in spinal cord injury, MS or ALS, go to clinicaltrials.gov and type in your disability (spinal cord injury) and specific studies you are interested in (bladder, pain, stem cells) and it will list all of the studies available.
How is PVA research funded?
Donations from individuals, families, health professionals, PVA chapters, the Combined Federal Campaign and corporations are used to fund PVA research.
What Is The Procedure For Applying For Approval Of Plan Online?
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What Is The Procedure For Applying For The Registration And Licence Online?
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Sports & Recreation
Where are PVA sports and recreation held?
PVA provides a variety of adaptive sports and recreation opportunities during each calendar year. Our events take place all throughout the United States. For more information on our current event schedule, please visit our sports events calendar. You can also follow us on Facebook @PVASports.
Are individual athlete grants available for sports and recreation events?
PVA works closely with its chapters and other organizations to help identify potential funding sources for athlete grants. The sports and recreation program does not have an ongoing grant program for individual athletes. Please follow us on Facebook @PVASports to stay updated on future funding opportunities.
Will PVA sports and recreation sponsor individual athletes or teams?
The PVA sports and recreation program does not provide endorsements for individual athletes or teams.
I’d like to volunteer with PVA sports and recreation. How do I get involved?
Paralyzed Veterans of America has 33 chapters across the country and each one has its own volunteer program offering a wide variety of service opportunities. PVA National has additional volunteer opportunities through the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Code of Honor Wheelchair Rugby tournament and other PVA National events.
If there isn’t a chapter where you live, you can also volunteer with your local Veterans Administration’s (VA) Voluntary Service program. When you sign up with the VA, just let them know that you are volunteering your time in the name of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
What are the qualifications for a PVA adaptive sports program?
PVA adaptive sports programs are open to all individuals with disabilities, including people with amputation, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Only the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are exclusively for military veterans.
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Email us
bayougulfstates@gmail.com
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Make a call
(228)-206-1515
About
The Bayou Gulf States PVA Chapter is dedicated to improving the quality of life for veterans in the region with spinal cord injuries or diseases, through advocacy, healthcare support, adaptive sports, and employment assistance.
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© Copyright 2024 by Paralyzed Veterans of America | Bayou Gulf States Chapter
PVA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization
Federal Tax ID number 13-1946868
Chartered by United States Congress