William H. Moore, Executive Director
USAF Disabled Veteran
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Retired)
William H. Moore was born and raised in Worcester, Mass. Served in the United States Air Force as a Crash Rescue Firefighter, Bill was injured in a successful rescue of two pilots from a burning F-111 and was discharged honorably with a service connected disability.
He attended Assumption College under the GI Bill where he earned his Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2000, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies in 1996 and an Associate in Science from Quinsigamond Community College in 1992.
Prior to starting Project New Hope Inc., Mr. Moore held numerous positions in the Commonwelth of Massachusetts beginning as a laborer with the Metropolitan District Commission, Department of Youth Services as a Juvenile Correctional worker, Department of Social Services as an Adolescent Social Worker and with Workforce Central – Division of Career Services as a Disabled Veterans Employment Counselor. Mr. Moore retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2007.
In January 2011 Mr. Moore started Project New Hope Inc. He is the Chairman, President & CEO of Project New Hope Inc., a voluntary position he holds today
Project New Hope in New England
LOCAL NEED
Upon learning of Project New Hope of Minnesota, Bill Moore began the process of establishing a similar operation in Massachusetts. The location was ideal, given the proximity of several military bases. At the Mass Military Reservation alone the movement of military personnel to and from combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan took on such a pace that, due to the relatively small size of our armed forces, too many servicemen and service women were facing nearly back-to-back deployments. It is no longer rare to hear of military personnel embarking on their 4th and 5th combat assignments.
Such a marathon schedule of departures and returns is not only a serious cause of stress for the serviceperson, but an incredible burden for their families. While military life can provide a certain type of stability, the turmoil created by the frequent deployments has the potential to overshadow any benefits of stability.
The returning veterans can hardly avoid returning with altered personalities or views of life compared to when initially deployed. Each additional deployment only adds cumulative, often negative affects to the individuals’ personalities. Returning to his or her prior life can often be a problematic transition. Adding to the complexities of returning warriors’ transition, the veterans’ families have faced difficulties coping with the temporary loss of a key member. They have had to assume responsibilities previously held by the absent individual. Children must learn to conduct themselves without that critical role model and disciplinarian. When the combat tour concludes, the joy is mixed with the resumption of traditional roles by all parties, a prospect sometimes creating confusion, frustration and possibly resentment.
For those experiencing difficulties in the transition, Project New Hope Inc offers free weekend retreats for individual veterans as well as entire families. The retreats, held in the midst of some of the most beautiful and peaceful forest land in New England, provide counseling sessions with professional counselors and holistic providers; there also is ample time for the families to enjoy recreational activities as a function of reaffirming the bonds they felt prior to deployment.
Project New Hope Inc is managed by a board of directors and is a tax-exempt 501C (3) organization. All staff, board members and retreat assistants, including professional counselors are unpaid volunteers.
Funding for Project New Hope Inc is provided by contributions, private donations and grants presented by corporations and other organizations. The majority of those funds go to the costs of acquiring facilities for the weekend camps, including meals and overnight accommodations. There are no paid personnel.
