NFL and USAA Honor Warriors With Super Bowl Surprises
Thanks to the support of the NFL and USAA, four veterans unexpectedly found themselves under the Allegiant Stadium lights on Sunday, Feb. 11, in Las Vegas for the biggest game of the year – Super Bowl LVIII.
“It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experiencing it in my home city with my son is something I’ll never forget,” said Air Force veteran Arnulfo Dauto.
Two days before the Super Bowl, Arnulfo volunteered to share his story with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) at Super Bowl Radio Row, where sports broadcasters gather and air their shows the week of the big game. That’s when Up & Adams host Kay Adams and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride teamed up to tell him that he was Super Bowl-bound, thanks to the NFL.
Arnulfo’s surprise came three months after Antoinette Wallace, a National Guard veteran from Staten Island, New York, received similar news while standing on top of the Empire State Building on Veterans Day. NFL legend Kevin Boothe honored her service by offering two tickets to the game. “I felt like I just won the lottery,” said Antoinette, who went to the game with her brother.
Corporate Partners: WWP’s Powerful Playmakers
Gifting veterans with Super Bowl tickets through the NFL’s Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway Program is one way the league gives back to those who served America.
Beyond the Super Bowl, the NFL’s yearlong Salute to Service initiative exists to honor, empower, and connect with the nation’s service members, veterans, and their families through a shared love of football. WWP is 1 of 5 veterans service organizations included in the initiative.
Salute to Service also involves corporations like USAA, an official NFL Salute to Service Partner and longtime WWP™ corporate partner that supported the Super Bowl surprises. Thanks to USAA, Marine Corps veteran Lance Cpl. Graham Dorsey and Air Force veteran Josh Polson also received two tickets each to the Super Bowl. Graham made unforgettable memories with NFL legend Rob Gronkowski ahead of the game, and Josh, a die-hard Chiefs fan, met Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo before watching his team hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
More Than a Game
After service, wounded warriors frequently experience isolation and mental health challenges, often lacking the support networks needed to help them thrive. Connecting veterans with others at events like the Super Bowl can help minimize isolation and encourage socialization, leading to more positive outcomes.
Learn more about the NFL’s support of WWP mental health programs.
While the warriors spent Super Bowl Sunday in awe and gratitude, partners like the NFL and USAA recognize Super Bowls and Sunday night football wouldn’t be possible without those who served.
Stay tuned for more NFL and WWP stories this offseason as Salute to Service continues.
Contact: Gracie Scribner — Public Relations, gscribner@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.489.5295
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.