Veterans United Home Loans and Hire Heroes USA are teaming up to spotlight the epidemic of veteran unemployment as Veterans United sponsors the No. 32 car during NASCAR's Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Veterans United, a company that helps veterans use their VA benefits to buy or refinance homes, will showcase the Hire Heroes USA logo on the No. 32 car owned by Frank Stoddard's FAS Lane Racing to raise awareness and support for this impactful organization, which provides transition assistance and job placement services for returning veterans and transitioning military personnel.

The unemployment rate for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan was 11.7 percent in September, significantly higher than the nation's overall jobless rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Former members of our Armed Forces are having trouble achieving the American Dream they fought to preserve.

To help put a face to this alarming trend, Veterans United will send Marine Corps veteran Ryan Baer to Phoenix to enjoy Veterans Day race weekend and watch the Sprint Cup Series race from the pit box. A decorated Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and MBA candidate, Ryan will graduate this winter into an uncertain job market. Ryan, who is currently being coached through Hire Heroes USA's veteran employment program, will have the chance to network with business executives and employers throughout the weekend.

"We hope our continued partnership with Hire Heroes USA raises awareness of the significant employment problems facing our returning service members, who have sacrificed so much," said Nathan Long, CEO of Veterans United, the nation's leading dedicated VA lender.

Earlier this year, Veterans United donated $25,000 to Hire Heroes USA to help the agency further its mission of providing free services to prepare veterans for civilian job search through self-marketing, interview skills and revised resumes.

The organization's president, UFC star and former Marine Corps captain Brian Stann, serves as official spokesman for Veterans United.

"Sharing the stage with Veterans United during a nationally televised NASCAR race allows us to reach thousands of employers and millions of viewers nationwide," Stann said. "Veterans possess a diverse skill set and an unmatched degree of adaptability. Employers that skim over this group are doing themselves a serious disservice."

Veterans United is also proud to continue its sponsorship of NASCAR and former crew chief Frank Stoddard's team at FAS Lane Racing. Stoddard owns the Veterans United No. 32 car, a Ford Fusion from Roush-Fenway Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports.

Mike Bliss will drive the Veterans United No. 32 car in Phoenix.

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Veterans United Home Loans is the nation's No. 1 dedicated VA lender. More than 800,000service members have come to Veterans United for help with their home loan benefits in thelast nine years. The Missouri-based national lender will finance more than $1.6 billion in loansin 2011. Its mission is to help veterans and active duty military members take advantage of thehome loan benefits earned by their service.

Founded in 2007, Hire Heroes USA is a national, nonprofit organization headquartered inAlpharetta, Ga. Hire Heroes USA offers free transition assistance, job search assistance and jobplacement services to those who have honorably served in the US military — and to their spouses- in order to reduce veteran unemployment. Hire Heroes USA has gained national recognitionfor its comprehensive "recruitment to placement" continuum of veteran assistance and corporateengagement, resulting in one veteran hired every business day. For more information visitwww.hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @hireheroesusa.