AMES awarded $50K grant from Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 12, 2022

The Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services (AMES) Research has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to conduct educational and behavioral health outreach and service for Kennesaw State University student veterans and community veterans.

AMES will use the funding to begin a training program for future clinicians in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at KSU in cultural sensitivity in working with military and emergency services members and their families.ames

The grant will also allow AMES to provide KSU student veterans with more training opportunities, resources and support as they navigate the transition from military life to civilian student, in addition to expanding a "Profiles of Resilience" project in collaboration with the Rosalynn Carter Institute that highlights service members and their families in caregiver roles and explores how they face challenges together.

The information gathered in the interviews will be used to better understand how service members and their family define, exemplify and develop resilience through research publications and presentations.

Kennesaw State established AMES earlier this year with the mission to bring mental and organizational health resources to those populations, while using research to advance and improve health strategies.

After more than 25 years and more than $950 million in giving, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is committed to significantly accelerating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years. The foundation is currently on a journey of deeper learning and strategy setting for its new priority areas: Youth Development, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health & Well-Being and Atlanta’s Westside. Across these portfolios, the foundation will look for opportunities to address the growing crisis of disconnection in our nation. Geographically, much of the work will continue to prioritize Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence.

In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation will continue to oversee a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring Founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. The foundation will also continue to guide the seven associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses.



  • It is exciting that the Military and Veterans Services (MVS) is partnered with the Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services (AMES) Research in providing the needed services for our veterans, service members and their families. The mission of the Military and Veteran Services program is to assist military connected students in their transition from military service to higher education and beyond. We foster a sense of community for them through programming, advocacy and networking with organizations that allows us to create a holistic approach in servicing their unique needs. ”

  • It is an honor for the Rosalynn Carter Institute to collaborate with the Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services (AMES) Research on this vital mission to bring forward the stories of caregivers who care for our nation's finest: our veterans. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) promotes the health, strength, and resilience at every stage of their journey. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter got it right 35 years ago when she said, ‘There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.’”

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