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TH E M R EP O RT | 29 FEATURE board for this council—span- ning across many diverse and oftentimes competing compa- nies—Delgado says he looked for individuals who were sincere in their endeavors to make a differ- ence in the lives of veterans and their families through their actions and caliber of leadership. "My knowledge in real estate has been instrumental in enabling me to support the leadership of VFSAC," Jason Allnutt, General Manager at Auction.com, said. "However, working alongside many of my friends and clients in the industry enables us to all bring innovative ideas and thinking to the table to find the best solutions for the veteran community. Being surrounded by so many wonder- ful and insightful thinkers working toward a great cause is a humbling experience, and I'm just happy to be a part of it." With all the opportunities to in- volve themselves with the individu- als and organizations pushing this movement forward, it's no wonder that prestigious industry leaders such as Nickalene Badalamenti- Kalas, President of Five Brothers Asset Management, are honored to have the opportunity to be part of such an impactful and passion- driven organization. "We see a commitment to our veterans as a duty and an honor," Badalamenti-Kalas said. "These are the men and women who have sacrificed life and limb to protect our way of life and the liberties we hold dear. This is a group of accomplished individu- als with a private understanding of the sacrifice that is made by our veterans. I was struck by the humility and sincerity of this group and the absolute resolve at making a difference." The Power of Community W hile this organization has many great accomplish- ments and impacted the lives of many veterans in our nation, its members know there is still much to be done for these families. Jon- athan Miko, President of Alacrity Services and incoming VFSAC Vice-Chairman, knows that this is a cause worth continuing, and a fight worth soldiering on for. "As Americans, we are very fortunate to enjoy the many freedoms and opportunities that are unique to us, both universally and historically," Miko said. "We're able to enjoy these privileges because there are brave men and women among us who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifices to serve and protect our country. When their service has ended, and they are ready to move on to the next chapter in their lives, they are owed the opportunity to enjoy the privileges they worked so hard to defend and protect. Owning a home and providing children with a good education are two predominant pillars of the American Dream. VSFSAC offers the opportunity and support to help our veterans achieve both." For industry professionals looking to get involved with the VFSAC, Delgado stresses the importance not only of action- able participation, but the desire to truly make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families through the many programs the council supports. "You don't have to have a seat on the VFSAC board to support the mission of the organiza- tion—we're always looking for people that want to get involved and assist in planning, corporate fundraising, or just sharing ideas or experiences," Delgado said. "You can visit our website to learn more about our key initia- tives such as critical needs and assistance, backpacks for kids, and the home-donation program, or just email me at ed.delgado@ vfsac.org. VFSAC was created to demonstrate care through action. It exists solely to change the lives of veterans and veteran families, for the better." KRISTINA BREWER is the Editorial Assistant of Publications for the Five Star Institute, including DS News and MReport magazines. She a graduate of the University of North Texas, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in rhetoric and writing and a minor in global marketing. During this time, she served as Director of Philanthropy in the national women's fraternity Zeta Tau Alpha. After University, she served as an intern at Keep Denton Beautiful, a local partner of Keep America Beautiful. Brewer then went on to work for Optimus Business Plans where she helped start-ups create funding proposals, risk assessments, and management plans. You can reach her at Kristina.Brewer@theMReport.com. PERRY HILZENDEGER SVP of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage ALAN JAFFA CEO of Safeguard Properties JONATHAN MIKO VFSAC Vice-Chairman and President of Alacrity Services, a LOWE's Company GEN. JOHN I. PRAY, JR. VFSAC Managing Director and President and CEO of Operation Homefront CAROLINE REAVES CEO of Mortgage Contracting Services TERRY SMITH Chairman of VFSAC and CEO of Rushmore Loan Management Services, LLP JAMES TAYLOR SVP of Wells Fargo "This is a group of accomplished individuals with a private understanding of the sacrifice that is made by our veterans." —Nickalene Badalamenti-Kalas, President, Five Brothers Management