The University of South Florida has launched a new fund that will honor veterans of past wars by providing support to current student veterans.
On Tuesday, USF honored 27 veterans from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and Gulf War and their families who made donations to help establish the university's new Next Greatest Generation Veteran Fund.
The fund is made up of gifts from families and friends of the fallen veterans -- and so far they've raised more than $40,000.
The money will help provide competitive awards, scholarships and other academic or programmatic support to USF's student veterans. It may also help remove financial obstacles impeding a student veteran's success.
The first recipient of the award was John Jacoby, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in Afghanistan.
Jacoby, a freshman engineering student, recently lost his home to a fire after Hurricane Irma -- the Next Greatest Generation Veteran Fund help provide Jacoby with financial relief to take care of his wife, and five-month-old son.
Members of the public interested in making a gift, or learning more about the veteran fund, can contact Larry Braue at 813-974-9935 or by email at lbraue@usf.edu.
