Christopher Meek (born 1970) is an American philanthropist, financial services executive and author.[1] Meek is the co-founder and chairman of SoldierStrong, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization which provides support to America’s military veterans. He is also the co-founder of the nonprofits, ReachStrong, which provides an online resource for mental and emotional well-being and START Now!, a non-profit which provided foreclosure counseling to homeowners.[2]
Chris Meek | |||||||||
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| Born | 1970 | ||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||
| Alma mater | Syracuse University (BA, MPA) Pace University (MBA) University of Southern California (Doctorate) | ||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Financial services executive, philanthropist, author | ||||||||
| Known for | Founder of SoldierStrong | ||||||||
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In addition to his philanthropic work, has served as a financial services executive for over 25 years[3] and has been a member of the Maxwell School Advisory Board at Syracuse University.[4]
Education and career
editIn 1992, Meek graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He has a Master of Business Administration degree from Pace University,[5] and an MPA from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.[6]
Meek was an equity derivatives trader at Goldman Sachs for 16 years before stepping down as a vice president in the securities division in August 2011.[7][8][9] He has also served as the managing director of global relationship management at S&P Global.[4]
In 2018, the George W. Bush Institute selected Meek in the inaugural class of the institute's Stand-To Veteran Leadership Initiative.[10]
Philanthropy
edit
In April 2009, Meek held a mortgage modification event for homeowners and lenders at a Stamford, Connecticut community center.[11] The event led to the founding of the foreclosure counseling non-profit START Now!.[9] According to Meek, from April 2009 to March 2011, it had helped prevent foreclosures on 250 properties.[8]
Meek also founded SoldierSocks in 2009 after a conversation with a former U.S. Marine about the lack of basic necessities, such as socks and baby wipes, available to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.[12] By 2013, SoldierSocks had sent 73,000 pounds of hygiene items, and founded the SoldierSocks Veterans Grant Foundation.[13] In 2013, the organization changed its name to SoldierStrong and shifted efforts to meet the needs of returning service members. It provides medical technologies to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans in the country. It partnered with Ekso Bionics, the manufacturers of robotic exoskeletons, to give paralyzed veterans the ability to walk again.[14] By 2017, the organization had donated more than $2 million worth of medical devices. This helped 25,000 spinal cord-injured veterans get access to equipment that helps them use their arms or legs.[15] As of December 2023, SoldierStrong has donated 30 exoskeleton suits to VA hospitals providing access to 35,000 injured veterans nationwide.[16]
Through his organization, Meek provides the BraveMind virtual reality system, used to treat veterans living with PTS. The technology is developed by the USC's Institute for Creative Technologies.[17]
Meek also provides academic scholarships through the SoldierScholar program at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and at the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University.[12][18][19][20]
On May 22, 2018, Meek testified in front of the U.S. House Subcommittees on Research and Technology and Energy on the topic of empowering U.S. veterans through technology.[21]
Politics
editIn the summer of 2010, Meek was appointed to the Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission.[9] On November 17, 2011, Meek formally announced his candidacy to represent Connecticut's 4th congressional district.[22] He ended his campaign on May 26, 2012, a week after he got 27% of the vote in the Republican state convention.[23] He has not been a candidate for public office since that time.
Awards and recognition
editIn 2014, Meek received the Syracuse University’s Orange Circle Award for his philanthropic work.[24]
Podcast and books
editMeek is the host of a podcast, Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek which airs on the Voice America Talk Radio Network’s Empowerment channel. On his podcast, guests such as Anne Beiler, Karen Pence, Dana Perino, Ray Scott, and Charles Haley among others have appeared.[25]
He is also the author of the book Next Steps Forward: Beyond Remembering (ISBN 979-8986020808) which was published in May 2022. The book is about his experiences at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001 and how they impacted the course of his life. As a charter media member of the nonprofit Voices Against Trafficking, he has also contributed to the organization's anthology titled, Voices Against Trafficking: The Strength of Many Voices Speaking As One (ISBN 978-1733360524) which was published in December 2021.[26]
Personal life
editMeek is married with three children.[23]
References
edit- ^ Keating, Susan (February 9, 2017). "Meet the Man Helping Paralyzed Veterans Stand, One Robotic Skeleton at a Time". People. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Varnon, Rob (March 22, 2011). "Goldman Sachs' exec brings foreclosure counseling show to Bridgeport". Stamford Advocate.
- ^ "Chris Meek MBA - Guest Profile". Transformation talk Radio.
- ^ a b "Maxwell Advisory Board". Syracuse University. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Meek, Chris". The Maxwell School of Syracuse University. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "Maxwell alum Chris Meek speaks with Fox News about empowering veterans". Maxwell School. June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Class Notes". Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 32, no. 3. Fall–Winter 2009. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ^ a b Varnon, Rob (March 22, 2011). "Goldman Sachs' exec brings foreclosure counseling show to Bridgeport". The Stamford Advocate. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c Kim, Elizabeth (November 18, 2011). "Activist starts 4th District campaign". The News-Times. Hearst Newspapers.
- ^ "Bush Institute Announces Inaugural Class of Stand-To Veteran Leadership Initiative". George W. Bush Presidential Center. 12 April 2018.
- ^ Quinn, James (April 17, 2009). "US clutches at straws of recovery". The Telegraph. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Wilson, Korey (July 3, 2013). "Stamford's founder of Soldier Socks helps troops in need". The Norwalk Hour. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Vineyard Vines helps Soldier Socks expand". Greenwich Post. Hersam Acorn Newspapers. July 17, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Bionic Suit Could Help Paralyzed Soldiers Walk Again". Fox News. 13 June 2013.
- ^ Keating, Susan (February 9, 2017). "Christopher Meek Helps Paralyzed Veterans Stand, One Robotic Skeleton at a Time". People.com.
- ^ SoldierStrong (December 18, 2020). "VA New Orleans Receives Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Exoskeleton From National Nonprofit SoldierStrong". Globe Newswire.
- ^ "Life After Service: StrongMind technology to treat Veterans with PTSD". VA News. 6 March 2020.
- ^ Blair, R. (June 13, 2013). "Bionic Suit Could Help Paralyzed Soldiers Walk Again". FOX 61. Tegna. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Stories From Main Street: Stamford-Based Charity Tries To Help Paralyzed Vets Walk Again". CBS. June 24, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Pottle, Justin (October 10, 2013). "The Ekso makes its Greenwich debut". Greenwich Time. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ "Empowering U.S. Veterans Through Technology". science.house.gov. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Altimari, Daniela (November 17, 2011). "Republican Chris Meek Formally Announces His Run for Congress in CT-4". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Vigdor, Neil (May 26, 2012). "Obsitnik won't face primary for GOP House nod". CT Insider. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Rodoski, Kelly Homan (27 March 2014). "Orange Circle Awards to Be Presented April 2". SU News.
- ^ "Next Steps Forward". The VoiceAmerica Talk. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Voices Against Trafficking - Table of Contents. ISBN 1733360522.