Mississippi Valley State Alumna Maj. Jas Boothe Serves 8,000+ Women Veterans Through Final Salute Inc.

Maj. Jaspen "Jas" Boothe (U.S. Army, Retired), a proud graduate of Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), has transformed personal tragedy into a lifeline for thousands of women veterans facing homelessness. As founder of Final Salute Inc., she has created one of the few nonprofits in the nation dedicated exclusively to housing homeless women veterans and their children—serving more than 8,000 women veterans across 30 states and territories over 15 years.

Boothe's journey from MVSU basketball scholarship recipient to decorated military officer to nonprofit founder exemplifies the resilience and community-focused values that HBCU education instills. Born in Chicago and raised at the Cabrini-Green Homes with family roots in Mississippi, she chose MVSU despite offers from other HBCUs.

"I've been to other universities outside of an HBCU, and there is definitely nothing like the experience you get at an HBCU as a Black American," Boothe told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

From Personal Crisis to National Mission

After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications at MVSU, the proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. joined the Army National Guard. But her path took a devastating turn when, as a stage-three cancer patient, single mother, and newly-disabled veteran, she lost everything in Hurricane Katrina.

While undergoing two surgeries and 30 cycles of radiation during a six-month hospital stay in Texas, Boothe sought housing support from a federal agency designed to serve veterans. The response she received was shocking.

"'Yes, we help veterans, but you're a woman.' And I said, 'Yeah, last time I checked.' And she said, 'Well, you mentioned you had an illegitimate child, right? You need to go get on welfare and food stamps like other women in your situation,'" Boothe recalled.

Forced to couch-surf and stay with an aunt while recovering, Boothe recognized a systemic gap in services for women veterans—particularly the more than 70% of homeless women veterans who have at least one child in their care.

The HBCU Foundation for Service

Boothe credits her MVSU education as pivotal to her entrepreneurial and service journey.

"Going to an HBCU gave me that foundation of community and probably was essential in my journey to start my nonprofit organization," she said.

Several years after experiencing homelessness herself, Boothe watched one of Oprah Winfrey's final talk shows featuring a homeless veteran woman living in her car. Realizing that tens of thousands of women veterans still lacked resources and support, she founded Final Salute Inc. in 2010.

Despite being warned that obtaining 501(c)(3) status could take years, Boothe wrote directly to the IRS explaining the urgency of the crisis facing women veterans and their children.

Three Signature Programs Serving Women Veterans

Final Salute Inc. operates three comprehensive programs addressing different aspects of women veterans' needs:

• The H.O.M.E. Program provides transitional housing, food, clothing, and on-site case management to homeless women veterans and their children
• S.A.F.E. helps prevent homelessness by easing financial hardships, including emergency assistance with past-due rent, utility assistance, and financial education
• Next Uniform supports women veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce with professional business attire, makeovers, image consulting, and headshots at no cost

The organization's impact is reflected in testimonials from veterans like Lisa, a Navy veteran and single mother, who stated: "I had issues with my vehicle, which has caused me to fall behind on my rent. I reached out to Final Salute and they have helped me and my girls to keep our home."

Another beneficiary, Veteran S. Moore of Woodbridge, Virginia, who lost her job while fighting cancer and suffered heart failure from chemotherapy drugs, shared that Final Salute paid her entire electric bill—critical because she plugs into a wall outlet at night to keep her heart pump going.

Recognition and Continued Impact

In late April, Boothe was honored as one of 100 Women to KNOW in America at a national summit in Phoenix—a "premier recognition program honoring high-achieving women who demonstrate exceptional leadership, professional excellence, and significant societal impact."

"My recognition is on behalf of all women who have served and sacrificed for this great nation. You know, we are not damsels in distress. We are not birds with broken wings. We are the trailblazers; we are the mountain movers," Boothe shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Final Salute Inc. is also the beneficiary of the annual Ms. Veteran America competition, an advocacy competition for women veterans, which will be held in Tampa on October 11.

After spending 17 years in the military—originally enlisted as a Mustang Officer beginning as a truck driver, then commissioned as a Human Resources officer—Boothe medically retired following cancer treatment (now in remission), two knee replacements, and spinal fusion surgery. Her father, who initially questioned why she would serve in the military given America's treatment of Black Americans, became her biggest supporter before his passing. Her oldest son Brandon followed her example by joining the U.S. Air Force, and she is now married to a U.S. Marine.

Maj. Boothe's full podcast interview will air on "Class is in Session" on Sunday, May 10 at 3 pm ET on Black Enterprise's streaming platforms.

Originally reported by Black Enterprise.