Nominations for the CoBank No Barriers Program for Veterans with Disabilities Open December 1
DENVER (November 09, 2018) — CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, today announced nominations for its 2019 No Barriers Warriors program will open on December 1, 2018.
CoBank’s partnership with No Barriers USA was established in 2017 to support veterans with disabilities from America’s rural communities. The program allows CoBank customers to nominate veterans from their communities to participate in a series of wilderness expeditions designed to challenge them physically and mentally and to help them overcome the obstacles they face in their daily lives. CoBank covers the full cost of participation for each veteran, including travel expenses.
“CoBank is committed to serving rural America,” said Thomas Halverson, president and chief executive officer of CoBank. “We know that our rural communities are home to millions of men and women who have served in our armed forces. Many have returned home from their service with a disability that creates significant challenges in their lives. The No Barriers Warriors program offers them the opportunity to address personal challenges while creating a network of support that can last a lifetime. CoBank is proud to partner with No Barriers USA and our customers to make this opportunity available to rural veterans with disabilities.”
In 2019, CoBank will sponsor four No Barriers expeditions that will take place in July and August. The bank will also sponsor veterans to participate in the No Barriers Summit, which will take place in Lake Tahoe, California, June 13-15. Up to 50 veterans will be selected to participate.
Nominations will be accepted from December 1, 2018, through April 15, 2019. CoBank customers are encouraged to reach out to veterans or veterans organizations in their community to identify nominees. Customers may nominate an unlimited number of veterans to participate in the program, and expeditions will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
No Barriers was co-founded by Erik Weihenmayer, an internationally renowned mountain climber and the first blind person in history to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Weihenmayer has been a regular speaker at CoBank meetings over the past several years and has shared his inspirational message with the bank’s customers and employees about overcoming barriers and challenges to live a life rich in meaning and purpose.
“I’m so proud of our continuing partnership with CoBank,” said Weihenmayer. “Through its business and charitable programs, CoBank has been helping people in rural communities break through the many barriers they face. So it’s a perfect extension to help our nation’s injured veterans push forward through their adversities, to live with purpose and contribute back to their communities in a profound way. CoBank’s work is tied together by their service to those who want to live a No Barriers Life.”
About CoBank
CoBank is a $128 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.
For more information about CoBank, visit the bank's website at cobank.com.