Mission United carries forward the Veterans Council of Indian River County’s rides, case management and direct assistance while connecting veterans to a broader network of support
VERO BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2026) — United Way of Indian River County today launched Mission United, bringing together its countywide network with the Veterans Council of Indian River County’s 40-plus years of serving local veterans to continue and expand services.
Indian River County is home to roughly 16,000 veterans, about 11% of the county’s adults and a higher share than the state and national averages, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. About 26% of them live in poverty or earn too little to afford basics such as housing, food, transportation and health care, according to United For ALICE.
Started in 1975, the Veterans Council has been one of the organizations helping meet that need, providing transportation to medical appointments and direct financial assistance and helping veterans find housing, employment, education and more. Annually, the Veterans Council provided more than 1,200 rides, $121,000 in direct financial assistance, fields 450 documented calls and has managed more than 117 veteran cases.
Mission United is designed to build on that work by pairing veterans’ experience and trusted relationships with United Way’s countywide partner network and infrastructure to reach more veterans who need help.
“It’s difficult to express in words the amount of gratitude I feel for the assistance, relief and personability the Veterans Council provided for my family and me,” said Clayton P. Kettle SFC, U.S. Army, Retired. “They helped provide a sense of security and introduced me to a trove of resources that I was unaware of.”
Veterans currently receiving rides or case management do not need to take any action. Their services have transitioned from the Veterans Council to Mission United, and they can continue to call the same phone number, 772-410-5820, to be connected to Mission United.
Transportation provided through a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs contract is expected to continue with the same drivers, vehicles and routes.
“For more than 40 years, the Veterans Council has been there for the veterans of Indian River County, and our board brought this idea to United Way because we wanted to be sure that work would not only continue, but grow,” said Dr. Michael Fortunato, chairman of the Veterans Council and U.S. Navy Veteran. “Mission United will give our veterans the strength of a countywide network, and the people and relationships they’ve come to count on will still be there for them.”
The transition caps a yearlong process that began in October 2025, when Veterans Council leadership approached United Way to explore a sustainable path for continuing its work. Over the following months, the two organizations worked through the legal, financial and staffing details, and both boards approved a plan to complete the transition Oct. 1.
Fortunato joins United Way’s board of directors, while current Veterans Council board members will serve on the Mission United Advisory Council alongside representatives from local veteran service organizations. This structure reflects the original vision of the Veterans Council: bringing organizations serving Indian River County veterans to one table to coordinate efforts, strengthen collaboration and better serve the local veteran community. Under a gift agreement between the two organizations, assets transferred from the Veterans Council to United Way will be restricted to supporting Mission United and its services for local veterans, honoring donor intent.
“This mission is personal for me. My husband is a veteran, and our family knows what it means to have a community that shows up for the people who served,” said Meredith Egan, CEO of United Way of Indian River County. “Mission United gives veterans one place to start and a whole network behind them, so no one falls through the cracks because they didn’t know where to turn.”
Egan said Mission United is designed to work alongside the VA and local veteran service organizations, not replace them, and to strengthen referrals with partners such as Habitat for Humanity, Visiting Nurse Association, the Mental Health Collaborative, the Senior Resource Association and the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council, so a veteran who seeks help at one organization is connected to every other service available to them.
First launched in Broward County in 2013, Mission United was later adopted by United Way Worldwide as a national model that serves as a single point of entry for veterans and their families. Locally, it joins United Way of Indian River County’s other direct service programs, including Access to Justice; the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which offers free tax preparation; and ANCHOR, the county’s long-term disaster recovery group.
“It means a lot to know that there are people and organizations here in Indian River County who continue looking out for Veterans after our military service is over,” said Kettle. “Knowing that the Veterans Council’s services will continue through Mission United and United Way gives me confidence that Veterans and their families will continue to have somewhere to turn when they need that hand.”
For more information, visit Unitedwayirc.org/mission-united, call 772-410-5820.
About United Way of Indian River County
United Way of Indian River County (UWIRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that mobilizes the caring power of our community by bringing people, partners, and resources together to address local challenges and create lasting solutions. Through investments in local programs, direct service initiatives, and strategic partnerships, we help households become more secure and prepared by working year-round to improve health, education, financial stability, and resilience, creating opportunities for people to thrive, and ensuring Indian River County can respond at the speed of need.
For more information about your local United Way, please call (772) 567-8900 or visit our website, UnitedWayIRC.org.
About Mission United
Mission United is a direct service program of United Way of Indian River County that serves as a single point of entry for local veterans, active-duty service members and their families. Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, Mission United carries forward the work of the Veterans Council of Indian River County, providing transportation to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments, case management and direct financial assistance. It also coordinates with the VA, veteran service organizations and community partners to connect veterans with employment, education, legal, health care, housing and financial stability resources. For more information, call 772-410-5820 or visit Unitedwayirc.org/mission-united
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