2024 Nominations Now Closed
*Nominations for 2024 Veteran of the Year, Patriot of the Year and Enterprise of the Year are now closed. Thank you to all the nominators. Winners will be announced in the near future.
View Past Award Winners
Veterans of the Year Recipients Archive
Veterans Fund
The San Mateo County Veterans Fund was created in 2017 and is administered by the San Mateo County Human Services Agency’s County Veterans Office to support veterans’ initiatives and the needs of the County veteran population. The 2011‐2015 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates report that there are 28,739 veterans residing in San Mateo County. Contributions to the Veterans Fund will be considered as a general donation deposited to the Veterans Trust Fund to be used for extraordinary one‐time requests to support veteran individuals who are currently being served by County programs. Extraordinary requests are to fill a special need that is not able to be met through any other funding source or program. Examples of one‐time extraordinary needs can include:
- Education related expenses (books, course)
- Required equipment not covered by other funding sources
- Scholarships
- Employment related support
- Reintegration activities
- Other related needs
This fund will not pay for administrative or operational expenses; 100% of donated funds are deposited directly to the Veterans Trust Fund account. Funding requests for the Veterans Fund program will be accepted and reviewed by the County Veterans Services Office. Contributions can be made by check payable to the Veteran Trust Fund and mailed to the Human Services Agency, Attention Veterans Trust Fund at 1 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94070. For more information about the Veterans Fund, please contact us at (650) 802‐6598
Applying for the Extraordinary Needs Fund
Application for the Extraordinary Needs Fund are made by direct referral by a County of San Mateo Veterans Services Representative.
In addition to meeting residency and income-limit requirements, requests for the one-time fund request must demonstrate a critical need that if not met will create a barrier to accessing benefits, services, or successfully completing an educational or vocational program. Individuals interested in applying for the Extraordinary Needs Fund should reach out to their San Mateo County VSR or contact (650) 802-6598 to schedule an appointment with one of our VSR's.
Funding for Veterans Initiatives
Veterans initiatives include one-time outreach, or resource events to veteran-serving organizations that increase veterans’ and their dependent’s awareness of the benefits they may be eligible for, and encouraging them to apply for potentially eligible disability compensation and pensions, dependency and indemnity compensation, education and training benefits, and other resources specific to veterans and their dependents.
For more information on the Funding available for Veterans Initiatives please contact the CVSO at VeteranServices-SMC@smcgov.org
George Smith (USMC) Commander of American Legion Chapter 105.
Patriots of the Year Winners Andrew Trapani and Wendy Weller
Enterprise of the Year Veteran Surf Alliance
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Jackie Speier
Key Note Speaker RADM Thomas Cooper
WWII Albert Adrevano
Pledge of Allegiance
USMC 23rd Marine Regiment Color Guard
POW/MIA Table at the Veteran Recognition Luncheon