RENO, Nev. – The DAV (Disabled American Veterans) National Commander’s Award for Outstanding Disabled Veteran’s Outreach Program Specialist has been awarded to Samuel L. Denson, of Pensacola, Florida.

The award will be formally presented July 14 at the DAV and DAV Auxiliary 97th National Convention in Reno, Nevada.

Denson is an outreach specialist with CareerSource Escaros, which provides employment referral assistance to veterans residing in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida. He developed several unique programs designed to assist veterans in finding fulfilling employment and to combat veteran homelessness. He also established employment and training assistance for veteran inmates housed in a nearby federal penitentiary to eradicate veteran recidivism.

Madeline Lindsey is a veteran who Denson assisted in her employment search. She said she had been unemployed for six months. Denson helped redirect her job search and provided resume coaching and advice. Within two weeks, Lindsey said she had three job interviews and two job offers.

“He reports to work every day with a ‘ready for the world’ attitude,” said Lindsey. “This attitude does not waver despite the fact that he knows his days will be met with clients who have different sets of challenges and defeated mindsets. Mr. Denson reports to work ready to give his employer, his colleagues and his clients the very best he has to offer.”

In addition to his efforts helping veterans obtain meaningful employment, Denson is also taking aim at veteran homelessness in his community. This year he helped ten veterans access housing and serves as the ambassador and employment services officer for the local Honor Empower Rebuild (HER) Foundation, which operates a homeless shelter for female veterans.

“Samuel is one of the most committed outreach specialists out there,” said DAV National Commander Delphine Metcalf-Foster. “His passion for serving fellow veterans is genuine and embodies the values of DAV and the veteran community. He is very deserving of this recognition.”

Denson served for 25 years in the Navy before his retirement in 1999.

Photos and media from the event may be made available upon request.

 

About DAV:
DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; providing employment resources to veterans and their spouses; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U. S. Congress in 1932.