News & Events

CINCINNATI - November 8th, 2007 - The Thank You Foundation announced today its plans to build a mobile health unit to be utilized by the Cincinnati Veterans Administration.

The "Vet Express" as it will be called is designed to help make the VA more efficient, more effective, and provide care faster than ever before by bringing care and services closer to the Veteran.

The unit which is estimated to cost $250,000 - $300,000 will be staffed and managed by the Cincinnati VA. The Vet Express will provide the capability to conduct initial health screenings for Veterans and will include such services as, check ups, dental screenings and mental health services. Additionally the unit will have storage capacity to store and deliver items such as walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters to those Veterans in need of such items.

Todd Sledge, Public and Community Affairs Officer for the Cincinnati VA stated, "This mobile outreach vehicle would be scheduled five days a week eight hours a day at designated locations away from existing facilities or clinics operated by the Cincinnati VA. The purpose of this mobile clinic is to expand availability to Veterans in areas that are closer to their home that require little travel."

"Bringing care out to where the Veterans are will help eliminate 2 to 3 initial appointments so that the first experience a Veteran has at the facility will be one of actual treatment." added Sledge.

The Thank You Foundation plans to raise funds to build the unit by soliciting donations from individuals and the business community initially targeting members of Congress.

John Guinn, President and Founder of The Thank You Foundation said, "Collectively we think The Vet Express is an innovative approach to outreach that would be unique to the VA and likely a future bench mark expectation as a result of the success. We want the members of Congress to lead this effort by making a personal contribution that would show a commitment to providing quality care for our nation's Veterans."

The Paul Vail VFW Post 4369 in Sharonville recently donated $1000 to help kick off the project.

The unit is the brainchild of Dr. Sam Arnold who after several discussions with Mr. Sledge and others associated with Veterans health care issues approached John Guinn to ask if The Thank You Foundation would help get the unit built. Arnold is a dentist and a Viet Nam Veteran and has been very involved with The Thank You Foundation since its inception.

Arnold has conducted several meetings with Armor Mobile Systems in Mason to help plan the design and construction of the unit.

"It is the mission of The Thank You Foundation to express gratitude and show appreciation to those who have given so much for our freedom. I can't think of a better way in which to say 'Thank You' with Veterans Day only a few days away," said Guinn. We hope that our leaders will step forward and answer the call as these men and women have.

Contributions

Contributions may be made to for the Vet Express Mobile Health Unit by clicking here or by sending a check to the following address:

The Thank You Foundation
ATTN: Vet Express
PO Box 899
Lebanon OH 45036

Concept photo of the
"Vet Express" Mobile Health Unit