Senate, House Budget Gives Plymouth’s Nathan Hale Foundation Increase in Funding

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Legislature today passed a $30.59 billion balanced budget for the 2012 fiscal year, closing a $1.9 billion budget gap with funding reductions, ongoing revenue initiatives and one-time revenues, Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said.

The Nathan Hale Foundation in Plymouth receives a ten percent increase in funding in the spending plan in an effort to protect veteran services.

“It is our moral responsibility to recognize the noble actions of these men and women and support those who have courageously put their lives on the line for our country,” Murray said. “Transportation and counseling are essential services for veterans when they return home to Massachusetts, and it’s important to continue supporting organizations like the Nathan Hale Foundation, whose mission is to help our Commonwealth’s veterans.”

“Our thanks and gratitude is immeasurable to Senate President Therese Murray and her staff for securing the funding for our growing program,” said Christopher C. Hart, president and founder of the Nathan Hale Foundation and executive director of the Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers. “In only one year, the Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers has opened an additional center in Middleboro and increased the annual units of service to over five thousand. With the support of the Senate, we have increased productivity by over 400 percent since we were first funded four years ago. Thank you for continually making veterans services a priority in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

The Nathan Hale Foundation and Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers offer readjustment counseling for returning soldiers, serve more than 150 veterans and spouses a month with their food pantry, transport more than 350 veterans a month with their Troops in Transit Program and offer a Therapeutic Arts Program for the veterans of Plymouth County.

The bill will now travel to the Governor’s desk for his consideration.

For more information on the FY 2012 budget conference committee report, visit http://www.mass.gov/legis/journal/desktop/Current%20Agenda%202011/H3535.pdf.