Grand Opening| The Patel Foundation | Education & Career Development Center

Over the last year, The Patel Foundation has worked with hundreds of families and countless Marines in order to provide resources, advocacy and support. We initially started with our flagship program, The Corporal Kolda Scholarship, which is awarded to nominated 1/23 Reserve Marines that exemplify the spirit of Cpl Kolda and Sgt Patel. Honoring not only their legacies but the legacy of every Marine that has died or that has been lost along the way over the last twent years has transformed The Patel Foundation into a mecca for giving and community equity building across Texas.

Being a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, The Patel Foundation provides resources and support to local Marines and those that supported them by providing a safe space through building relationships and fostering an inclusive community free of judgement and hate in order to reduce the suicide rate amongst our military brothers and sisters.

The ECDC has a fully functioning office in order to encourage entrepreneurship, personal and professional growth development amongst the entire military community in Houston.

Access to the ECDC will be limited to Veterans and their families past and present and Allies that served alongside US Forces.

The following amenities will be accessible to those utilizing the ECDC:

-Fully furnished conference room

- Social services to eliminate the risk factors that contribute to suicide in the military community

- Leadership & Learning Library and Lounge

o Refreshments & wifi available

- CAC enabled computer lab with scan, print, copy, fax capabilities (CAC capabilities for Reservist and Active-Duty Military members only)

- Access to space to host leadership & development seminars

o Business/Organization tenants will be paired with a Veteran Mentor in their specific industry to promote growth and empowerment.

- Veterans and Allies would have access to donated items (household goods, business clothes, food)

- Gym

o Fitness Classes will be available for anyone in the local military community

o Active-Duty and their spouses, Veterans and Reservist will be able to become CPT certified through education grants provided by TPF in order to promote skill-building and entrepreneurship. TPF has already secured several relationships that will help mentor and foster successful training careers. Aside from providing Veterans in the local community a place to gather in a safe space and grow mentally & physically, it will also serve as the mecca for local community involvement bridging the gap between our older Veterans (Vietnam, Gulf War, GWOT) and our current reservist, OCS Candidates, USMC Poolees, and military supporters

A safe space that empowers Veterans past and present with the knowledge, support and tools to heal through personal and professional development is needed in our community for the following reasons:

• Business startup costs are often a major barrier to entering the market, TPF eliminates that barrier.

• 20% of small businesses fail within the first year, TPF pairs startup small businesses with leaders in their specific industry in order to decrease the percentage to 0 amongst those TPF serves.

• TPF partners with several other non-profit and community-based efforts in order to give everyone an opportunity to serve their community and network simultaneously through community equity building

Host or Publisher The Patel Foundation