Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin has announced a $2.5 million gift to the Call of Duty Endowment, the largest-ever private donation to the charitable organization.
Microsoft-owned Activision-Blizzard announced the gift in a blog post Monday, saying it will support job placement for over 4,000 veterans.
“I am proud to support our military veterans who have given years of their lives to defend America and our freedoms. These men and women represent the very best of our country’s enduring values,” Griffin said in a statement. “The Call of Duty Endowment honors the service of these heroes by helping them bring their capabilities to superlative jobs in the private sector.”
Named after the wildly successful video game franchise, the Call of Duty Endowment has placed over 125,000 veterans into jobs since its foundation in 2009. The organization says it has created more than $7 billion in economic value for veterans and their families through salaries.
In 2024, it says, it’s hoping to place more than 15,500 veterans into jobs.
“We want to thank Ken and Griffin Catalyst for their generous donation,” said Helene Imperiale, senior director of the Call of Duty Endowment in a statement. “The Endowment prides itself on working with nonprofits that are the most effective at providing the services veterans need most when seeking a job, and we’re honored that our work has been recognized by the team at Griffin Catalyst.”
Griffin and his Griffin Catalyst philanthropic venture have long supported service members and their families.
Last year, there were 241,000 unemployed veterans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some 60% of those were between the ages of 25 and 54.