Staten Island Performing Provider System and the Staten Island Service Member/Veteran and Family (SMVF) Taskforce are the first organizations to launch a fundraising campaign with the national charity End Veteran Debt (EVD) to abolish $1M in Veteran Debt across the U.S. and provide $15K to support and assist the Staten Island Military community. 

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Our campaign is built off the successes of Jerry Ashton, Navy Veteran, who cofounded RIP Medical Debt (AKA Undue Medical Debt). From January 2014 to April 2025, Undue Medical Debt gained national attention by forgiving over $45B (yes, Billion) in medical debt. This resulted in its CEO, Allison Sesso, to be named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in 2025.

National Impact – Local Impact

The innovative approaches to societal ills by Jerry’s earlier charity, now embodied in End Veteran Debt, will add breadth to the SIPPS/SMVVF depth in our intention to deliver a similar impact for the Staten Island veteran community – this time abolishing all forms of debt, not just medical.

A first-ever Veteran Debt Summit will be held from June 4-6, 2025 at the Higgins Hotel in New Orleans. EVD and SI PPS is assembling thought leaders from veteran organizations, NGOs, and charities to serve as speakers, panelists, and attendees for a single task – remove unpayable debt from the equation when dealing with the challenges of PTSD, homelessness, drug abuse, incarceration, and mental illness.