Wounded Warrior Project – Much More than Just Golf!
by J. David Eldridge, Esq.
You are probably familiar with the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit group that directly assists and serves affected veterans returning home from war, as well as their impacted families stateside (in a variety of ways as detailed below), but did you also know that over 1 in 3 returning service members live with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and over 1 in 5 live with TBI (traumatic brain injury)?
Moreover, the VA (Veterans Administration) is well known for its inability to effectively address and resolve the many psychological, medical and financial hardships suffered by disabled veterans and their families, being far behind the times in treating, caring for, assisting and helping fund desperately needed services and treatment for our troubled veterans returning home after serving and sacrificing so much for their country.
Thus the Wounded Warrior Project was created, for vets – by vets – to fill this enormous gap and to directly assist and support wounded veterans and their families in their greatest time of need.
Being a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I am personally very proud to help this great cause by providing meaningful assistance and real hope to other less fortunate brothers in arms not as lucky as I.
In this regard, some of the services and resources provided by Wounded Warrior include:
- free treatment for PTSD and TBI (including transportation);
- Counseling and professional services helping veterans recognize and deal with PTSD, TBI, and combat stress;
- helping veterans suffering from moderate-to-severe brain injury, spinal cord injury, or neurological conditions, take positive steps towards independent living;
- providing a range of health and wellness programs, including peer-led groups, support, and events across the country;
- helping with the transition to civilian life, including job assistance and training;
- outreach programs offering veterans, caregivers and family members support and updated information on available programs and services;
- Marriage and family counseling;
- Legal services;
- Help to acquire a service dog.
On a local level, Wounded Warrior coordinates with various groups to help raise much-needed funds, with approximately 80% of monies raised going directly to affected veterans, their families, and survivors, covering everything from medical bills, installing handicap ramps for wheelchair access, and helping with past-due mortgage payments, to providing service animals, training and job placement assistance, and much more.
I am privileged to be a board member of one such local group on Long Island (the McNamara Charity Golf Outing), and this year we celebrate our tenth year raising desperately needed funds for both Wounded Warrior and Paws of War, with the proceeds being provided directly to injured veterans on Long Island and their families.
This year’s golf outing will be held at the Bethpage Golf Course on Monday, August 19th, with 2 courses available solely for this fundraiser (Blue and Red courses).
Last year we raised well over $80,000 altogether – and hope to break the $100,000 mark this year for our deserving veterans and their families right here on Long Island.
Why not take a moment to think about what life must be like each day for our injured veterans and their spouses and children, and make a donation to this worthy cause? Anyone interested in chipping in or helping out can contact me at the office telephone number above.
Let us never forget those who sacrificed so much so that we may remain secure and free.
“The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the men who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
– Winston Churchill
