operation k.a.v.i.c.
OPERATION K.A.V.I.C. (Keller Assists Veterans in Crisis) was created in 2015 to prevent our local military and veterans personnel from enduring financial hardship. Keller Logistics Group together with Defiance County Veterans Services adminster the program. Keller focuses their efforts on awareness and fundraising and the veteran services office qualifies the individuals and works to pair Operation KAVIC funds with their veteran benefits to provide the most financial support possible. This partnership allows requests for assistance to be fulfilled, typically, within 24 hours and ensure confidentiality of the veteran and their family.
Operation K.A.V.I.C. provides Active Duty, Veterans, Reservists, & National Guard members with financial assistance where their veteran benefits may have gaps. Most often we help with rent/mortgage payments and medical bills but the flexibility of the Operation K.A.V.I.C. fund our veterans are able to receive assistance with a variety of expenses including dental, home repairs, and even therapy animals.
Maumee Valley Guidance Center receives funds from K.A.V.I.C. to assist payment in mental health treatments of local veterans. MVGC has therapists that have completed training through Star Behavioral Health Providers to be able to better serve their military connected clients. For more information on mental health treatments, call MVGC 1.800.569.3980.
SUPPORT LOCAL VETERANS
We now accept debit and credit card donations! Simple click on the donate now button below to go to our donation page.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS
2023 Operation K.A.V.I.C. Events
Veterans and Family Cook Out & Putt-Putt
July 13th 2023
Defiance, OH
More Details Soon!
5th Annual Golf Outing
Defiance, OH
Registration Opens in June
2nd Annual 5K & Fun Run
September 30th, 2023
Defiance, OH
Registration Opens in August
Veterans and Family Appreciation Dinner
Defiance, OH
Free for Veterans their Family
Operation K.A.V.I.C. Stories
Call 1-800-273-8255 | Press 1 or Text: 838255
From car repairs, to living expenses, to help purchasing and training a therapy dog, Operation K.A.V.I.C. is assisting our local veterans every day.
When a veteran goes to Veterans Services for assistance, their veterans benefits are used first. If they have a need that can not be supported by those benefits, they use the Operation K.A.V.I.C. funds to assist.
Hear one surviving spouse’s story about the help she received, “I’m very grateful, that was my lifeline. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I’m 80 years old, I can’t go out and get a job.”
If you are a veteran in need of assistance, please call the Defiance County Veterans Office, 419.782.6861.
operation k.a.v.i.c. History
After receiving quite a few sponsorship requests from local businesses to support their charities, Bryan Keller, our CEO got to thinking. Keller Logistics Group’s growth over the past few years has put us in a position to be able to choose a corporate philanthropy to support like many major corporations.
While thinking about possible charities, Bryan determined Veterans would be our focus, for a few reasons:
- An industry fact stated that 30% of professional truck drivers are veterans, turns out, that statistics is true for employees of Keller Trucking.
- Tom Keller, our founder, was a veteran
Most of us feel that the Veteran community is under-served. They, along with their families, have sacrificed so much. There are some that are one unexpected bill or a few missed hours at work away from experiencing financial crisis.
We believed we could make a difference in our community. Keller Logistics Group’s purpose is to enrich as many lives as possible. We believe that a responsible corporation gives back to its community.
So, we decided to create our own fund that would help fill the gaps in veterans’ benefits. We partnered with Ravens Care of Defiance to handle the finances of the fund, which is a 501 (c) 3, giving our donors a tax advantage. The Veteran’s Office qualifies the individual based on parameters already in place to receive assistance through the VA while also allowing the veteran to maintain confidentiality.
We had the idea, the purpose, and had employees chose a name, next up how to raise money to support Operation K.A.V.I.C. We decided to host a free veterans and their family appreciation luncheon and provided business partners and local businesses the opportunity to sponsor the event. With overwhelming support from the community, we raised over $36,000 that first year!
Since then, the support for Operation K.A.V.I.C. continues to grow, along with the awareness in the veteran communities.
The K.A.V.I.C. fund provides finanical assistance for a variety of expenses. The most common expense is mortgage or rent and then medical bills. The great thing about Operation K.A.V.I.C. is the flexibility it provides in covering not so typical expenses. The Veterans office is able to have gift cards for groceries and gas on hand to give out in an emergency. From 2015 – 2022, K.A.V.I.C. provided over $280,000 in requests to local veterans and their families.
In creating Operation K.A.V.I.C., we are so touched to hear the stories of how we helped several of our local veterans who were experiencing a financial crisis; my heart goes out to them. I am proud that we at Keller have put together a fund to help them when in need.
The Defiance County Veterans Office is so very thankful for this fund, it has provided such a relief and goodwill in the veteran community.
Call 1-800-273-8255 | Press 1 or Text: 838255
operation k.a.v.i.c. Awards
Operation K.A.V.I.C. Awards
Making a Difference Award
The video to the right was created for the awards ceremony to showcase how Operation K.A.V.I.C. is making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families in Defiance County.
Veterans Commissioners Award
In July 2018, Bryan Keller was nominated by Chris Netwon of the Defiance County Veterans Services Commissioners because of his work with Operation K.A.V.I.C. and because Keller Logistics Group is one of the largest supporters of hiring veterans in Defiance County.
Larry Moore, awards committee chairman for Ohio State Association of County Veterans Services Commissioners stated, “When we look at individuals who go out of their way like this, we really appreciate it. Our President and Officers feel it’s needed for someone who goes out of their way like this to be recognized and given a sincere thank you. Operation K.A.V.I.C. gives us support we can call upon. It’s an outstanding effort on his part. I can’t say thank you enough for doing this since 2015.”
