SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Following the 13th annual Bears in the Air Program, David Sage, St. Joseph County Airport Authority Board President, presented a $10,000 check to Center for the Homeless Chief Resource and Veterans Services Officer Lani Vivirito on Wednesday morning at the South Bend International Airport.

"We've used this funding for a variety of needs. Sometimes we are able to implement different programming or meet other financial needs for the facility. As I mentioned earlier, we're really looking to do some renovations around the facility. In years past, we've done ADA upgrades, that sort of thing, just to kind of meet the needs of the population," said Vivirito.

The funds will be used at the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center on the campus of the Center for the Homeless.

Marine Veteran Rodney Lewis stated, "This means a lot, especially when you serve the country and you're down a little bit, and you turn to the Miller Vet Center, and they just give you a helping hand. They reach out and they help you."

Sage says they're honored to be a part of the solution for veterans in need moving forward and back into permanent housing.

Airport officials say besides this donation, the Bears in the Air program collected over 2600 bears that were delivered to children in five area hospitals.