A boost for some local veterans.

The St. Joseph County Airport Authority presented a $10,000 check to the Robert L. Miller Veteran's Center.

That money comes from the annual "Bears in the Air" at South Bend International Airport.

Over the past 11 years, the program has raised $86,000 to help homeless veterans across Michiana.

"It's been a substantial difference in being able to support the 600+ men that we've been able to move into permanent housing and get and get off the street and back into their own, their own home,” said Lani Vivirito, South Bend C.F.H. Chief Resource & Veterans Service Officer.

"They sign on the dotted line they were willing to put their life on the line to protect and serve the people of our great country, and so just to do that today is, is terrific,” said Mike Daigle, South Bend International Airport C.E.O. & Executive Director.

In addition to the money raised, the "Bears in the Air" program collected more than 2,500 teddy bears and delivered them to children in six local hospitals in the week before Christmas.