Jim Nicholson, shareholder at the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, recently received the 2011 Champion of Veterans Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). He was among seven individuals honored at an event celebrating the PVA’s 65th anniversary.
Nicholson was the former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs — a position that was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate — and has been recognized for his leadership and advocacy for veterans to better receive heath care services, benefits, jobs, education and housing assistance. While heading the Department of Veterans Affairs, Nicholson was the principal advocate for veterans in the U.S. government and oversaw 1,400 hospitals and clinics that provided supplemental care and rehabilitation to 5.8 million veterans. For 22 years, Nicholson served in the U.S. Army Reserve, was decorated for combat in Vietnam and retired in 1999 as a colonel. He then served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and was knighted by Pope John Paul II for his leadership on human rights issues.
The PVA strives to help military heroes lead normal lives after returning from duty, which includes receiving health care and benefits and finding jobs. The organization is dedicated to veterans service, medical research and civil rights for people with disabilities. PVA was founded by service members who came home from World War II with a spinal cord injury. For more information about PVA, visit
www.pva.org.