Wounded Warrior Project Hosts Injured Veterans at Hockey Game

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) recently arranged for 175 wounded veterans and their families to enjoy an ice hockey game between the San Antonio Rampage and Texas Stars for their "Paint the Rink Pink" event. To support breast cancer awareness and breast cancer survivors the ice, players, and hockey rink were all colored in pink.

"The people were almost as much fun as the event itself," said WWP Alumnus and Army veteran, Brian Turner. "A lot of the veterans I know don't do well in public settings, but when together, we're a lot more relaxed and able to enjoy each other's company. Everyone around us was with Wounded Warrior Project, so we had an amazing time together."

Many wounded service members face similar challenges adjusting to their injuries and civilian life. The WWP Alumni program creates support through shared experiences and builds camaraderie by bringing injured veterans together. By bonding through events, these veterans learn they are not alone. The WWP Alumni program is one of 20 life-saving programs and services offered free of charge to wounded service members, their caregivers, and families.

"Most of the veterans around me were talking about their injuries and recovery," said Brian. "One of the things I've noticed about these events is that you meet and interact with people at different phases of recovery. Some of the Alumni who have been with Wounded Warrior Project longer are the people most comfortable sharing, while the newer Alumni aren't quite there yet. They see there's a support system available to them, and it provides us a group of people who understand what we've been through."

In addition to an evening of camaraderie and sports, Alumni who attended were able to learn more about the WWP programs and services available to this generation of wounded veterans. One such program is Warriors to Work^®, which offers injured veterans, their caregivers, and family members access to a wide variety of professional development and career guidance opportunities covering topics like resume creation, interview preparation, business etiquette, and networking skills. Brian has already taken advantage of Warriors to Work's offerings, saying that his recent experiences with WWP have given him motivation to re-enter the workforce.

"I worked with Wounded Warrior Project on my resume and did mock interviews, because I want to go back to work," Brian said. "It's funny because one thing can lead to another with Wounded Warrior Project. You go to a hockey game or a career fair and you see what other veterans are doing, and it can really encourage you."

Since being founded in 2003, WWP has evolved its programs and services to meet the growing needs of the constituency it serves. Currently, more than 100,000 wounded service members, their family members, and caregivers receive support each year through free WWP programs and services. Through a high-touch and interactive approach, the WWP vision is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history.

About 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, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project