Riverdale, NY – Manhattan is rallying behind our troops and showing their support of our nation's heroes during multiple games this season. In collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), Manhattan's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will invite local WWP injured service members to games throughout the 2015-2016 season.
The men's and women's cross country teams will be the first squads to honor a member of the WWP on Friday, October 9 at Van Cortlandt Park at 1:00 pm.
"We are very honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project on a number of events over the course of the coming year,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Noah D. LeFevre. “The experience this program provides our student-athletes to the real heroes and role models of this nation is invaluable. These men and women have given so much to protect our freedom with their service, we are honored to have the opportunity to make a lasting connection with them."
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. Being included in game day activations can provide a life-changing experience for veterans during their recovery and transition back to civilian life. For some attendees, these events may be their first time outside of the house since incurring their injuries and seeing the support of their community can provide the motivation they need to keep pushing forward.
“We applaud Manhattan for creating an exceptional experience to show their support of their local WWP injured service members,” said Steve Nardizzi, executive director at Wounded Warrior Project. “We're very excited to see collegiate sports events honoring WWP veterans expand and go to the next level. Experiences like these are beneficial to everyone involved. They are a great way to unite communities and enhance game day for fans, student-athletes, coaches. Additionally, these events pay public tribute to the sacrifices this generation of service members and their families have made.”
More than 52,000 service members have been physically wounded during the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. An estimated 400,000 more are living with the invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
