On November 14^th, Activision employees and friends participated in the 6th annual Veterans Day of Service. The Veterans Day of Service is an annual event where Activision Blizzard employees and friends partner with local organizations to support vets.

“Everyone at IW wishes to thank our veterans for their sacrifice. We as Call of Duty developers have enormous pride for our armed forces and their legacy in helping shape this country… We hope our small gesture of gratitude and appreciation can help make a difference in a veteran’s life even if it’s just for a day or a moment.”  Drew Surmenian, Producer, infinity Ward. 

There were hundreds of volunteers at 30 sites in multiple countries, including projects hosted at several studios, giving the chance to make a positive impact for veterans across the globe. In Santa Monica, near Activision Blizzard’s HQ, there were multiple onsite and offsite projects. One of those was creating a garden and seating areas at the Westwood VA campus and another creating an inviting outdoor space.

At CalVet, a Department of Veterans Affairs site in Westwood, employees sanded and stained furniture for future use onsite. “CalVet is a beautiful campus doing wonderful things for our vets, and I’m looking forward to volunteering on my own there.” – Jacqueline Aguirre, Employee Communications Specialist, Activision. 

Activision also hosted onsite projects at studios – Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer, Raven, High Moon, Vicarious Visions, Toys for Bob, and more with developers happy and eager to help serve veterans.

“Today, we put together a packet with a letter of advice for vets looking for a new career. I hope that the letter of advice I wrote to a job-seeking vet measures up to even a sliver of the impact their services have made on this country. I love our veterans!”  - Candice Harris, Producer, Infinity Ward.

This year some Call of Duty League™ teams and pro players also joined the Day of Service including the Florida Mutineers, OpTic Gaming LA, and Minnesota RØKKR. It was the first time pro teams and players participated. One team cooked homemade meals for vets, others did some drawing and painting for murals, and another worked with the organization Hearts & Hammers. 

“Whether it has been through the Call of Duty Endowment or through opportunities like the Veterans Day of Service, it has always been important to us to take time and give back to those who have given so much.”  - Dan Bunting & Mark Gordon, Co-Studio Heads, Treyarch

The Veterans Day of Service was partially inspired by the work of the Call of Duty Endowment, an organization founded with the goal to help find high-quality jobs for veterans. In celebration of the Endowment’s 10^th anniversary, they recently announced the ‘Hire. Honor’ campaign, an initiative to help veterans get back to work and adjust to civilian life post-military service.

If you are interested in supporting the Endowment, you can help the Hire. Honor campaign by purchasing the Call of Duty Endowment Honor Pack in Call of Duty®: Mobile or enter for a chance to play Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® against the fan-favorite streamer Dr Disrespect and NBA Champion Klay Thompson who have partnered with Omaze to raise funds for the Endowment.

If you’d like more information on the Endowment and the work they are doing to support veterans visit https://www.callofdutyendowment.org.

If you are interested in supporting veterans, connect with the Call of Duty Endowment or contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service department to see how you can get involved. The Veterans Day of Service is one day that we highlight alongside the year-round service and support of the Call of Duty Endowment. Find a way to give back and support veterans, and to all the veterans – thank you for your service!

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About the Call of Duty Endowment:

The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit organization co-founded by Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. The Endowment seeks to help veterans find high-quality careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the job market and by raising awareness of the value vets bring to the workplace. For more information about the Call of Duty Endowment, please visit www.callofdutyendowment.org.

Other ways to donate to the Call of Duty Endowment

Help the Call of Duty Endowment reach its goal of getting 100,000 veterans back to work by 2024, by donating HERE. Rest assured, 100 percent of your donation or Defender Pack purchase goes directly to Endowment grantees; Activision Blizzard pays for the Endowment’s operating costs.

Finally, if you are (or know someone who is) a veteran, transitioning service member, or service leaver requiring assistance in looking for employment in the U.S. or U.K., then visit the Veteran Support section of the Call of Duty Endowment website to be paired with a partner organization who can help in the job search.

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