Press Release: National Invest In Veterans Week Wins Multiple Awards in 2021
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A team of military veterans has recently racked up a string of impressive wins for their revolutionary social impact organization. Coined National Invest In Veterans Week, the organization's mission is to empower the public to invest in the veteran population through veteran-owned business sustainment, educational development, and mental health empowerment. Celebrated during the first week of March, National Invest In Veterans Week's vision has made its way to South Carolina's legislatures. Concurrent Resolution 3825 was passed in February to honor veteran business owners during the week-long celebration statewide.
Their recent wins include:
The Ritz Herald. Best Social Impact Initiative of 2021.
The Ritz Herald editorial board named National Invest In Veterans Week "Best Social Impact Initiative of 2021" for their growing impact in the veteran entrepreneurial sphere. Led by Iraq War Veteran and nationally syndicated columnist Jeff Shuford, the organization launched multiple innovative digital marketing strategies that aided aspiring and established veteran business owners nationwide. As a Rolling Stone Culture Council member, Shuford devised unique social impact tactics that consisted of hashtag marketing, technological platform development, and engaging media campaign outreach, among other notable strategies. The publication stated, "As the brand continues its expansion nationally, the award-winning organization remains hyper-focused on utilizing innovative marketing techniques to advocate for veteran business owners throughout the country."
Belmont Star. Innovative Media Excellence Award.
The National Invest In Veterans Week team refined their mobile application on Google Play and their innovative Progressive Web Application in early 2021. Regarding the scope of the Innovative Media Excellence Award, the Belmont Star wrote, "The Innovative Media Excellence Award does not singularly focus on the development and launch of mobile applications. It also commemorates the hard work, persistence, determination, creativity, social impact, and brilliance in the leadership within the companies that have created the innovation that we find value in today." Although the design and execution of National Invest In Veterans Week's mobile innovations are distinguished, there was one significant aspect of the technology that the Belmont Star noted. "Recognizing that many tech companies are unsuccessful at marketing, National Invest In Veterans Week employs a proven innovative digital marketing approach rooted in social awareness."
The Hudson Weekly. Veterans in Business Award Winner.
Social impact was the main focus of this particular award from The Hudson Weekly. The publication wrote, "Veteran-focused organization National Invest In Veterans Week is our choice for the 2021 Veterans in Business Award. Founded in 2019, the organization has positively impacted veteran business owners nationwide with great success. What makes National Invest In Veterans Week unique is its innovative marketing and social impact strategy." The National invest In Veterans Week team won the 2017 BizTech Award under their Tech From Vets brand and brought the same innovative development and marketing to National Invest In Veterans Week. Co-founder and National Football League veteran Drayton Florence was the primary driving force behind both companies' success.
National Invest In Veterans Week Leadership
National Invest In Veterans Week is led by nationally syndicated columnist and Philadelphia native Jeff Shuford. Shuford became a nationally syndicated columnist at age 30, making him one of the youngest nationally syndicated columnists in the country and one of the youngest African-American nationally syndicated columnists of all time. In his current role with the American City Business Journals, Shuford's monthly column appears in more than 43 regional business newspapers. In his previous position with GateHouse Media, Shuford's weekly column appeared in 144 daily newspapers, 684 community publications, and over 569 local-market websites in 38 states, making him one of the country's most syndicated black columnists of all time.
Drayton Florence, serves as co-founder and director of strategic partnerships for National Invest In Veterans Week. Florence attended Tuskegee University and was inducted into Tuskegee University Hall Of Fame in 2014. He registered school-record three returns for touchdowns on interceptions at Tuskegee. As a senior, he was named first-team Division II All-America by the Associated Press and American Coaches Association. Florence is the highest drafted player to enter the National Football League from Tuskegee University. In his illustrious National Football League career, Florence was a member of the Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Buffalo Bills. After playing eleven (11) seasons in the National Football League, Florence completed his degree at the University of North Florida with a Master's in Sport Management. Florence has made veteran business development his daily mission and continuously advocates veteran-focused initiatives throughout the country. As a co-founder of National Invest In Veterans Week, Florence runs the day to day operations that have allowed NIVW to expand further.
