Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission Marks 90 Years of Service and Impact
Since its founding on August 5, 1935, as the Kane County Veterans Relief Committee, the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) has stood as a vital resource for veterans and their families. Created during the Great Depression to aid World War I veterans, the VAC remains one of the oldest and most active veterans advocacy agencies in Illinois, continuing its mission to serve those who served.
Today, the VAC operates as a veteran-led agency, providing services in advocacy, benefit application assistance, claims management, transportation to VA medical appointments, and financial aid for indigent veterans. In Fiscal Year 2024, the VAC helped secure $9.57 million in new monetary benefits for Kane County veterans, dependents and survivors. The staff also secured nearly $1.94 million in new VA healthcare benefits.
“Our mission has always been to stand with Kane County veterans and their families," said VAC Superintendent Jake Zimmerman. “As we mark 90 years of service, we're proud of the impact we've made and remain committed to honoring the sacrifices of our veterans, whether by securing benefits, providing critical support, or simply making sure they know they're not alone."
Serving a community of approximately 16,500 veterans, which ranks seventh in veteran population among Illinois' 102 counties, the VAC has expanded its reach through partnerships, including its role in the Kane County Veterans Treatment Court, established in 2018. This program, built on a coordinated team of judicial, legal, and veterans' services partners, has helped participants reach treatment goals. The court marked participant graduations in 2024.
The VAC's legacy also includes its leadership in establishing the Kane County Veterans Memorial at the Kane County Government Center campus in Geneva. The memorial was a project led by former VAC Superintendent John Carr, who tragically passed away in a car accident in early 2025 and was dedicated in 2004.
Over the years, the VAC has earned multiple honors for its work. In 2024, Veteran Service Officer Jesus Arteaga received the Illinois Association of County Veterans Assistance Commissions' Steve Barrett Veteran Service Officer of the Year Award, the only statewide recognition for excellence in veterans' benefits claims. That same year, the VAC became the first in its region to receive the HIRE Vets Medallion Award, honoring the office's commitment to hiring and retaining veterans.
More information is available at the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission website: https://www.kanecountyil.gov/pages/veterans.aspx
