Bristol-Myers Squibb gives $397,422 to help launch military transition project.
+ Technology/Innovation
Jamie Barrand | Jan 2, 2016

Bristol-Myers Squibb gives $397,422 to help launch military transition project

Pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb has helped support Zero8hundred, a two-year pilot program dedicated to supporting military men and women as they transition from combat back into civilian life.

"Getting out of the military is a culture shift," Coast Guard veteran Sean Mahoney, the program's executive director, said. "In many cases, especially after the attacks of 9/11, service men and women joined when they were 17 or 18 years old. The military is a lifestyle they embrace and that has surrounded them. When they leave, it’s a major jump." 

Zero8hundred is based in San Diego, California. The organization puts transitioning veterans and their families in contact with appropriate counseling sources. Bristol-Myers Squibb kicked in a grant for $397,422 from its Mental Health and Well-Being program.

To date, Zero8hundred has assisted 300 servicemen and women -- a milestone reached 15 months ahead of schedule.

Damond Daley of New York is one of many soldiers that has already benefited from the program, which was launched this past January. Daley, 23, served in the Navy for five years; he was diagnosed in 2013 with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“It was difficult finding counseling that worked for me,” Daley said.

Zero8hundred paired Dailey with nine-year Navy veteran Michael Branch.

“Thanks to Michael and Zero8hundred, I was directed to counseling services that are right for me and that I’m comfortable with,” Daley said.

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