The organization provides free, comprehensive assistance beyond securing a job through tailored programs and services, offering veterans and military spouses the tools and guidance needed to thrive in their new careers.
Since its inception, Hire Heroes USA has celebrated over 100,000 job placements and confirmed hires—a testament to its transformative impact. “Each hire is more than a statistic—it represents a life change, a family stabilized, and a community strengthened. This is the heart of our mission,” said Ross Dickman, the organization’s CEO.
In-demand industries such as IT and healthcare dominate Hire Heroes USA’s placements and confirmed hires nationwide. From January 2023 to November 2024, these fields accounted for over 15% of all hires, with healthcare emerging as the top industry for military spouses, representing nearly 17% of spouse hires.
In the Woodbridge area, the landscape is slightly different. Defense contracting and government roles are the most common industries for veterans, followed by IT. Banking, finance, and insurance are also prominent, particularly for military spouses. The organization’s $942 million economic impact is measured by multiplying the number of confirmed hires by the average salary, which for Hire Heroes USA clients stands at an impressive $69,263—well above the national average.
The average Woodbridge client is 41 years old with 16 years of military service. Among them is Ashley Bethea, who found her footing in a new career with Hire Heroes USA’s help.
Bethea, a military spouse and a U.S. Air Force veteran, shared, “Thanks to Hire Heroes USA, I not only got help with my resume but also guidance on how to approach interviews confidently. Today, I’m thriving in a job that supports my career aspirations while allowing flexibility for my family. ”
“After transitioning out of the military, I struggled to find a job that matched my skills,” said  James Thompson, a Marine Corps veteran who also benefited from the program. “Hire Heroes USA not only guided me but connected me with a career that has given me purpose and stability .”
Bethea’s new role as an AF Strategic Transportation Support Manager allows her to leverage over two decades of logistics expertise from her Air Force service. “By providing a platform to further develop my skills in logistics within a dynamic industry, I’m able to directly contribute to National Security,” she explained.
Hire Heroes USA holds virtual career fairs, resume workshops, and mentorship programs.
Habitat for Humanity in Prince William County, under the interim leadership of Steve Liga, is recalibrating its mission to tackle the unique challenges of expensive real estate and a community need for home repairs rather than new builds.
Liga, who stepped in as the interim director, detailed how his experience with other nonprofits led him to this role. He explained his immediate focus on stabilizing the organization’s financial footing and reconnecting with the community after a slow period exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Liga, “We should be doing a lot more.” He emphasized the need for Habitat to complete at least one new home every three years to maintain good standing with Habitat International. Currently, the nonprofit holds properties that have been undeveloped for years, which Liga is promptly addressing. “One of the first things I did was come in and say, ‘Let’s look at these two,'” Liga noted, specifying plans to have families move into homes on the properties.
The shift comes as the organization seeks to reinvigorate its involvement in local projects, particularly following a slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic. Liga outlined the organization’s plans to boost the number of home repair projects, emphasizing the critical need within the community, especially among the elderly and those on fixed incomes. “We got months’ worth of backlog of people who’ve applied and need help,” Liga said.
Habitat for Humanity aims to perform critical home repairs weekly and undertake significant projects every quarter. “Every week, we’re out there doing a project,” Liga said. Eligibility for these services is primarily based on income, with priority given to residents earning 60% or below the median area income and those capable of contributing to their repairs, whether through direct participation or other means like volunteering at Habitat’s ReStore at 10159 Hastings Drive in Manassas.
Liga also detailed plans for revitalizing the Habitat ReStore operations, which are crucial in funding the organization’s projects. An across-the-board price increase has been implemented to support Habitat’s mission better. While the Habitat ReStore in Manassas has been a success at its current location since 2016, a now-shuttered ReStore location in Woodbridge faced challenges due to the pandemic and strategic missteps. “Instead of doubling [Habitat ReStore’s] clientele as anticipated, they just split it,” Liga remarked.
The store was in an old Food Lion store near Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road.
Addressing staff concerns at the ReStore, Liga plans to improve benefits to reduce high turnover rates and ensure better customer service through a more stable workforce. “The turnover is high. It’s not a great paying job,” he said, laying out his plan to make staff positions more attractive and stable.
As Habitat for Humanity Prince William County celebrates its 30th anniversary, Liga is clear about the direction forward: focusing on critical home repairs and better leveraging the ReStore to fund these projects. “The 30th-anniversary campaign is building up the donor base, letting them know that when you’re donating, what that’s doing is that’s helping your senior citizen neighbor fix their roof,” Liga stated.
Liga said there will be no significant gala event to celebrate the milestone few nonprofits reach. Instead, the focus will be on direct community impact, with funds raised going straight into local projects.
The Zoe Freedom Center is gearing up for its fourth annual 5K run, a fundraising event supporting its mission to assist those struggling with addiction. The event on Aug. 24, 2024, will begin and end at the University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center, with participants running a course that stretches to the halfway point near Lafayette and Blue & Gray Parkway before looping back.
Founded by Dana and Mark Brown in March 2020, the Zoe Freedom Center launched the same day widespread shutdowns were announced for the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were surprised by the happenings, but we knew we were called to open this organization,” said Dana, “It proved to be the perfect time to open.” As other addiction services were forced to close or transition to virtual operations, the Zoe Freedom Center remained an in-person resource for those in need.
Driven by their personal experiences with addiction, the Browns established the center as a nonprofit organization offering free services to eliminate barriers for those seeking help. “I personally have 21 years free from addiction, and it was through my lived experience and my husband’s experience with a parent in addiction that led us to open this organization,” Dana shared. The center provides a wide range of services, including Peer Support, Counseling Services, Group Support, Family Support, and Grief Support for those grieving a substance-related loss.
In 2023, the Zoe Freedom Center served approximately 40 people per week and distributed 2,000 boxes of Narcan within the community. The organization also benefited from the efforts of 145 volunteers throughout the year. A key aspect of their work is a mobile unit that brings free Narcan—a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug—directly to those in need.
Looking ahead, the Browns are working toward establishing Zoe Residential, a free-of-charge residential restorative care home for women trapped in cycles of addiction often linked with sex trafficking, domestic violence, and childhood trauma. Dana said this long-term residence will be a private, multi-acre property offering a supportive, Christ-centered, trauma-informed environment. Women participating in the program will have opportunities to pursue education, internships, and apprenticeships, and engage in community service projects, helping them rebuild their lives and pursue their dreams.
The 5K race is not just a fundraiser but is also a symbol of the Zoe Freedom Center’s commitment to walking alongside individuals and families throughout their recovery journey. “We understand this is a journey, and we will walk with people every step of the way,” said Dana.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website says 79% of drug overdose deaths in Virginia in 2022 involved fentanyl or related substances. The overall state rate of drug overdose deaths decreased slightly by 5% from the previous year, reflecting ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis. However, the challenge remains significant, with emergency department visits due to overdoses rising by 5% in the same period.
The race begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Jepson Alumni Center. Participants can run or walk, and packets may be picked up Thursday and Friday at the Zoe Freedom Center, or 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the starting area.
