VETERAN WHO SERVED VETERANS FOR DECADES IS RETIRING
 

Los Angeles, CA — New Directions, Inc. announced today that John Keaveney has retired from the agency he founded with fellow Vietnam combat veteran Larry Williams.  At its inception, New Directions was staffed entirely by volunteers and it operated from a single rented home in West Los Angeles.  Today, led by Executive Director Toni Reinis, the agency provides services to more than 600 homeless veterans annually in five transitional housing facilities and a veteran support center. 

“For the last two decades I’ve worked to build a program I believe in deeply, and we have saved thousands of lives – including many Vietnam veterans like myself,” said Keaveney.  “Sad to say, the need for New Directions is not going away anytime soon.  Who would have imagined that the United States would be engaged in a war even longer than Vietnam? I appreciate everyone who has helped along the way, and I am confident that others will step up to carry this work forward.  No veteran should ever lack a roof over his head, or a safe place to get his life back in order.” 

“New Directions is grateful to John Keaveney for his passionate commitment to his fellow veterans, for his hard work, and for his persistence,” said Chuck Kahn, chairman of New Directions’ Board of Directors.  “We’re committed to evolving this agency to meet the needs of our changing population of veterans – because the ongoing need is clear.”

New Directions will host a retirement party for Keaveney later this year and will invite the community to join us in honoring him and celebrating his accomplishments.