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When you first meet Dona Parameswar, the founder of Operation Decisive Victory (ODV), it is impossible not to notice her beaming smile and her passion to help those around her. But in 2018, Parameswar’s optimism and hopefulness were buried under piles of paperwork, unanswered voicemails, and surmounting stress as she and her husband desperately requested advice from veteran organizations to help with post-combat struggles. Before the brightly lit smiles, the inescapable feeling of loneliness plagued the Parameswar family.
Parameswar’s experiences have led her to start Operation Decisive Victory, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that meets veterans and their families where they are at. ODV guides veterans and first responders through the daily battle of regaining a sense of normalcy and security, making sure they never have to go through struggles on their own. There is no greater mission than ensuring that no veteran is left behind.
Originally from Kuwait and now residing in North Carolina, Parameswar, the wife of a former Marine, knows firsthand that when service members, “leave [the military], they leave their rank behind, their structure and routine behind, they leave friends and family behind and then are forced to come into a civilian world that does not understand their lifestyle or structure.” The most harrowing part is that, despite the seemingly infinite amount of organizations targeted at helping families like hers, Parameswar’s simple request for encouragement was bounced from group to group, leaving her family feeling more discouraged than ever.
The name Operation Decisive Victory speaks volumes about ODV’s mission. Parameswar says, “the word ‘Decisive Victory’ is a military term. In every war there are multiple battles. In each battle, we have to have a victory to go into the next phase of the war, which would be the next battle. A ‘Decisive Victory’ ends that phase and proceeds them to the next battle. Every day, in our journey, there is always a struggle, and our goal is to be that Decisive Victory, to make that day victorious so they can move onto that next day with hope.” ODV focuses on advocating, educating, and empowering, a trinity that ultimately leads to a life of confidence, where veterans can thrive rather than simply survive.
"Every day, in our journey, there is always a struggle, and our goal is to be that Decisive Victory , to make that day victorious so they can move onto the next day with hope."
What makes ODV unique is the fact that they strive to help all veterans thrive. Countless veteran families cannot find a helping hand or a listening ear, simply because they do not meet the criteria established by the organization.
Sometimes, what families need isn’t financial aid or counseling, but a friend, a friend who understands what they are going through, telling them that it’s going to be okay. ODV has an extremely personalized approach to supporting their veterans and first responders: Each of the staff members and board members are connected to the military in some way. Whether they are a military spouse, a child of a first responder, or a former service member, they all have direct experience for those they support. ODV is a guiding light, a source of hope for many families, and most importantly a friend.
ODV takes on the burdens of the people, the burden of constantly searching for help, the burden of retelling their story over and over, and the burden of financial strain in a holistic approach. “We are an organization that is here to help. We’re here to hold their hand through it and work through their struggle together. We will work with other organizations to see that we reach the most feasible solution,” says Parameswar. ODV partners with other organization to best serve each family. Each family is paired with member of ODV in order to begin a personal and trusting relationship, which becomes a beacon of hope in times of need. ODV will reach out to families on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis, depending on their individual needs.
How can you help? Parameswar says there are several amazing ways people can help ODV’s mission: “Just talk about us! Most people don’t know about ODV. Whatever the struggle may be for that veteran family that you’re talking to, they might need therapy, they might need financial assistance, they might need to pay for their car, or they may have an eviction notice, whatever the struggle is, tell them we are here. Like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, share our stories. Just share, and let the people know! For folks that are looking to donate, we are always looking for monetary donations and donations of time. It goes a long way!”
Operation Decisive Victory channels nearly every ounce that it gets from donations in order to fund nationwide operations at a 90/10 ratio. Every year, ODV makes it a priority to channel 90% of all of its monetary donations toward helping veterans, with only 10% going toward marketing, operational costs, and internal costs. In 2019, their first full year of operation, ODV had impressively kept an 86/14 ratio. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has put a hold on many fundraising efforts, but Parameswar remains hopeful since there is still half a year left for donations to come through. She says that in the midst of trial, the silver lining is, “how much glory we are giving God in the process of doing this!” Parameswar is a woman of great strength, great faith, and great passion. Dona’s message to struggling service families is, “Don’t quit. It’s going to be so overwhelming, it’s going to be so confusing and you’ll feel at a loss. It only takes one person’s words, it could be words, it could be actions, that could bring you down so badly…if you allow it to. So, keep the fight! You’ve got to stay on that path of hope, and just don’t quit!” Through ODV, each veteran is assured they are not alone, an assurance that can help them smile as brightly as Dona does.
For more information about Operation Decisive Victory visit: https://www.operationdv.com/
To learn more about how you can help Operation Decisive Victory
Follow Operation Decisive Victory on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
