WNYHeroes Grant Programs

Our grant programs are for WNY residents only. WNY is defined as anyone legally residing in any of the surrounding 8 counties. We have many veterans/ families who are referred to us through the Dept of Veterans Affairs, Vet Center, Veterans Court, Veterans Homeless Center, Erie County Veterans Office as well as the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition. WNYHeroes strives to make sure that our heroes are taken care of. All checks now are written to the landlord, utility company, Mortgage Company not to exceed the value of each program. The grants are renewable once every two years. These programs are NOT an entitlement program.

The grant money goes to help veterans/ families with rent, mortgage, utilities, food, holiday meals, medical bills, etc. WNYHeroes will not provide a grant for anything that is means not a necessity i.e. parking tickets, internet, cell phone, unless the cell phone is the only of communication. We also have our annual Christmas toy drive and Backpack drive. Medaille College, National Fuel is our biggest sponsor of those programs.

The program also has a four page application that must be completed listing all income, disability ratings, and size of family. If a grant is being requested for medical reasons (for example, veteran must move to FL due to weather related disabilities,) any and all medical documentation must be shown and signed by the physician.

Bridging Hearts - This grant gives a higher monetary value to the veteran or family in need. With this grant, it is used for combat veterans.

Grant A Wish - This grant program is for veterans across the board (non combat veterans) you still have to be a veteran who has served more than 180days not to include training. The monetary value is set at $250.00

Our programs are funded through donations and fundraising only. We are not state or federally funded. An investigator will review the grants to verify accuracy and truth to your request. There will also be a home visit by the investigator. Please see our Grant Guidelines for further information regarding such programs.

Grant Request Guidelines

Applicants must reside in one of the eight counties of WNY.
Applicants must submit all paperwork, filled out correctly and completely in order to move you're grant along. Any and all unfilled spots will delay your process.
1. WNYHeroes has two different programs: Bridging Hearts and Grant a Wish.
  - Bridging Hearts - A program that allows veterans/family members a grant in the amount of up to $500.00, the veteran must be a combat veteran
  - Grant A Wish - A program that allows the veteran/family member a grant in the amount of up to $250.00
2. Your DD-214 must state that you served in combat in order to receive the Bridging Hearts grant.
In order to receive either grant, applicants must have served a minimum of 180 days active duty, not to include training.
Applicants must have been honorably discharged and submit the long form DD214 showing such.
All grants are subject to pre-approval through investigation. If your information is incorrect and WNYHeroes has no way of contacting you via phone or home visit, your application will be delayed or discarded. Please make sure all information is correct.
If an applicant is receiving VA compensation and/or SSD, copies of the award letters showing % and monthly amount must be submitted. If this is not done, but found out during our investigation, WNYHeroes will look at that as failure to be honest and automatically deny request.
Grant approvals are made on a case by case basis. If in our pre-approval investigation, it is found that one veteran is in considerably more financial distress than another, that veteran/family will take precedence.
All other factors being equal, grants are awarded first to those with families; WNYHeroes defines a family as Veteran, spouse and child/children.
WNYHeroes gives preference to grant requests where the greatest need is demonstrated AND grant payments can be made directly to a utility company, landlord, mortgage company, etc., on behalf of the veteran. Applicants who submit copies of past due bills (mortgage, gas, electric, water) with accurate account numbers will be given priority.
WNYHeroes will also give consideration to grants to pay for groceries, hygiene products, security deposits, etc., with proper documentation.
WNYHeroes will NOT pay for the following:
1. Car payments, Car Insurance
2. Television Cable or Internet service
3. Legal fees, Traffic Tickets, Child support payments
4. Cell phones, unless you can prove that the cell phone is your primary phone.
5. Books regarding college, as these are covered through Post 911 bill or GI bill
Additional general guidelines are as follows:
1. Grants are given when the funding is available. These programs are funded through fundraising and donations only. WNYHeroes is not state or federally funded.
2. WNYHeroes reserves the right to deny grants as it sees fit.
3. WNYHeroes is not an entitlement program.
4. All grants must be submitted with a letter further detailing the reason for applying and need for grant.
5. Veterans can reapply for grants once every two years.

Grant Application Process

Individuals that meet the above grant guidelines may submit a grant application form to WNYHeroes, Inc. by completing the grant application form and submitting it to the Organization via mail. The WNYHeroes grant committee of the Board of Directors reviews the grant applications and makes the final decisions regarding funding applications. Applicants will receive a written notification or phone call by the organization regarding funding. All applicants are subject to review and background investigation. All applicants are reviewed monthly at board meetings; all meetings are every second Thursday of the month. Any applicants, who send in applications AFTER, will be reviewed the following month. Please keep in mind that these grant programs are funded through donations and fundraising.

Grant Request Form

Please fill out the Grant Request Form the best of your knowledge and send it to WNY Heroes, 2809 Wehrle Drive, Suite #8, Williamsville, NY 14221. We will have someone from WNYHeroes.org contact you shortly to discuss how we might be able to assist you.

WNYHeroes Grant Programs

Grant Request Guidelines

Grant Application Process

Grant Request Form

WILLIAM E. KRAMP, JR. MEMORAL SCHOLARSHIP

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