Hope For The Warriors®

You can Sponsor a Warrior to participate in different events? Hope For The Warriors has sponsorship opportunities for the community to support Warriors in all Team Hope For The Warriors events.

Sponsorship can range between $200, for a local Run For The Warriors race, or up to $5000+, to support adaptive equipment, travel, and lodging at larger events. Please email Steve Barto, sbarto@hopeforthewarriors.org to learn how you can sponsor a warrior.

Did you know?: Corporate Matching

Hope For The Warriors works with organizations that participate in corporate matching. Be sure to ask your employers or check with your HR department to find out if your company offers corporate matching.

Team Member Section: Michael Roesch and Daria Smith

US Air Force Veteran, Michael Roesch, will not slow down. Through injuries and setbacks he continues to participate in endurance events in support of veterans on Team Hope For The Warriors.

Michael served in the Air Force from 1999 to 2003. His transition after service was challenging; he described himself as “rough around the edges” and was not prepared for the adjustment back to civilian life. Michael grew up a military brat, and once he left the Air Force he lost the warrior culture that had surrounded him his entire life. However, through fitness and physical challenges, Michael found a place to call home through Hope For The Warriors.

Beyond his resiliency, Michael has a secret weapon that keeps him going—his girlfriend, Daria Smith. In his own words, “She does not allow me to be a lesser version of myself.” Daria participates in every endurance event with Michael and offers immense support. Both are pillars in the Team Hope For The Warriors community and inspire us all to become the best versions of ourselves.

Read more about Michael and Daria here!

Program Information:

Charity Navigator:

For the 5^th year in a row, Hope For The Warriors® has received a four-star rating on Charity Navigator. This exceptional rating, achieved by only 5% of the nonprofits they evaluate, highlights Hope For The Warriors® financial responsibility to the service members, military families, and families of the fallen we support. Team members can continue to ask people to donate towards fundraising goals with confidence! We invite you to view their latest evaluation of our efforts on the Charity Navigator website.

A Warrior’s Wish®:

This year, Hope For The Warriors will grant 9 wishes to support service members, veterans, and military families. The nature of these Wishes will vary in scope from business, fitness, financial, and outdoor-related. The enrichment process will continue long after the Wish is granted to promote stability within the lives of these heroes and their families. As the Wishes are granted we will share the stories in the upcoming newsletters. Learn more about A Warriors Wish

For more information please contact Steve Barto at sbarto@hopeforthewarriors.org.

Amputee Awareness Campaign:

Hope For The Warriors recently participated in the MediaplanetUSA Amputee Awareness campaign in which the industry came together to encourage readers to learn more about the over 2 million Americans affected by limb loss as well as gain valuable information on prevention methods. The campaign was distributed through USA Today on April 29^th 2016 and is published online. Read the full campaign here: http://bit.ly/1YJkoSs

Rock ‘n’ Roll Series:

The Rock ‘n’ Roll race series has teamed up with everydayhero as their official fundraising platform. You can now run in any Rock ‘n’ Roll event and raise funds for Hope For The Warriors! Every race participant will be asked if they want to fundraise on behalf of their favorite cause during the race registration process. When you register and are asked to choose your charity, pick Hope For The Warriors® and you will automatically be given a Rock ‘n’ Roll everydayhero fundraising page!

Run For The Warriors:

Save the date for the 2016 Run For The Warriors Race Series:

May 14: 11th Annual Run For The Warriors, Jacksonville, NC

May 29: 2nd Annual Memorial Day Run For The Warriors, Tampa, FL

June 5: 7th Annual Big Apple Run For The Warriors, New York, NY

July 4: 5th Annual New Bern Run For The Warriors, New Bern, NC

August 21: 7th Annual Sunset Run For The Warriors, Shelton, CT

September 25: 6th Annual Harmon Meadow Run For The Warriors, Secaucus, NJ

October 16: 3rd Annual DMV Run For The Warriors, Washington, DC

October 23: 7th Annual ASA Sponsored Run For The Warriors, Chicago, IL

November 12: 9th Annual Long Island Run For The Warriors, Lindenhurst, NY

Stay tuned for the 2016 Run For The Warriors® Race Series Registration sites, www.runforthewarriors.org.

Representing the Team:

Be sure to send us an email with your race schedule and where you will be wearing your Team jersey. Each time you wear your jersey, you help our mission to restore self, family, and hope. Feel free to share photos and special stories too!

sbarto@hopeforthewarriors.org

Important Links For Social Media:

Hope For The Warriors®Facebook

Twitter When you tweet be sure to use #TeamH4W

NYCHalf Marathon Team Facebook Group

NYC Full Marathon Team Facebook Group

MarineCorps Marathon Team Facebook Group

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Veteran Restores Self Through Team Hope For The Warriors

US Air Force Veteran, Michael Roesch, will not slow down. Through injuries and setbacks he continues to participate in endurance events in support of veterans on Team Hope For The Warriors.

In 2012, while doing a Tough Mudder, Michael saw a participant wearing a Hope For The Warriors shirt, which led him to reach out to the organization. He then began participating in events with Team Hope For The Warriors; his first event was the 100-Mile Relay with the Marines. After a positive experience Michael went on to participate in any endurance event he could register for, including the Long Island Run For The Warriors and the New York City Marathon.

Michael found a community through Hope For The Warriors, where he was recognized and appreciated for his service. Hope For The Warriors also gave him the ability to give back and continue to serve the military community by connecting him with other veterans who were struggling with their transitions.

In 2013, with the NYC Marathon approaching, Michael seriously injured his knee. Being the consummate warrior, he continued his training and participated in the marathon. Around Mile 9 his knee completely gave out; however, he walked to the finish line. Six months later Michael had his first knee surgery, and went right back to supporting veterans through endurance events. On March 23, 2016, he needed another surgery on his knee as it became painful for him to walk.

As Michael shared the challenges he was facing with his knees to his Battle Buddies and fellow Team Hope For The Warriors members, Len Lacina and Steve Suwilic, his friends asked him how he planned on continuing to live an active life and do what he loves with non-functioning knees. This conversation helped convince Michael to request a handcycle, so he reached out to Hope For The Warriors. On November 7, 2015, Michael was given a handcycle at the 8^th Annual Long Island Run For The Warriors.

Michael on his handcycle at the Long Island Run For The Warriors

Michael has put his handcycle to good use, and this winter he logged about 300-400 miles on his new ride. Recently, he has also participated in the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge and three marathons with Team Eva (Every Veteran Appreciated). This year Michael plans on participating in seven of the ten Run For The Warriors Races and the Marine Corps Marathon with Team Hope For The Warriors. In August, he is planning a bike ride with other veterans that will start in Montauk, Long Island and end in Battery Park, Manhattan, covering well over 100 miles.

Michael and Daria at the the Got Heart, Give Hope Gala, where he was honored.

We will continue to follow Michael and Daria as they train for many events this year! To learn more about Team Hope For The Warriors and find out how you can get involved, visit: www.hopeforthewarriors.org. For the complete 2016 Run For The Warriors schedule, visit: www.runforthewarriors.org.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Fall 2016 Spouse/Caregiver Scholarships Now Open!

The Hope For The Warriors Spouse/Caregiver Scholarship is now open for Fall 2016!

Completed applications are due by Tuesday May 31, 2016.

Scholarship winners will be notified in writing by July 1, 2016 and announced on the scholarship website. Please review the website for the full list of scholarship rules.

The Spouse/Caregiver Scholarship Program identifies, recognizes, and rewards post-9/11 spouses/caregivers for their strength, fidelity, and resolve despite adversity. Scholarships aid in continued education at a reputable, accredited university, college, or trade school for spouses/caregivers as they assume critical roles in the financial well being of their families.

To Apply

Applicants must complete and submit the application/certification forms along with:

Proof of service
Proof of injury/death
Original essay
Two-page questionnaire
One letter of recommendation

Completed application packets should be sent to:

Email (in one PDF Document) to: Scholarships@hopeforthewarriors.org

Fax (entire packet) to: 910-401-1245 Attn: Amber

For more information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, e-mail scholarships@hopeforthewarriors.org.

To learn more about how the Spouse/Caregiver Scholarship impacts military families, read our many blog stories written by scholarship recipients, like this one.