News
SYA Free Throw Fundraiser To Benefit Wounded Warriors
By Kara Stamper
Special to the Centre View South
December 15-21, 2011
The Southwestern Youth Association basketball league is embracing the holiday spirit by combining fun, fundamentals, and fundraising. The first annual Free Throws for Wounded Warriors program, benefitting local veterans, will kick off this Friday, Dec. 16. Every one of the 1,700 players in SYA’s basketball league, ranging from first graders to high school seniors, will attempt 20 free throws during their practice time. For each shot made they will collect on pledges from family, friends and community members for two worthy and important organizations: the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program and Friends of the Wounded Veterans.
SYA seventh grade commissioner and coach Charlie Velasco credits his son Nicholas as the inspiration behind this inaugural program. “He wanted to figure out a way to work together to help all of the men and women coming back from war,” said coach Velasco. “We want to lead by example and teach the kids that there is more to sports than X’s and O’s. This will be a wonderful gift from the SYA family with the help of our generous community.”
FOTWV is based in Centreville and raises money to benefit 400 soldiers in the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Belvoir. Financial aid is provided for emergencies, airfare to reunite families, holiday gifts, and legal services as needed. In an effort to improve morale, FOTWV organizes entertainment opportunities such as pig roasts and crab feasts.
Our 1st event was in September at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Va.
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Group Raises Thousands for Wounded Soldiers
A Centreville nonprofit raffled off a 1992 classic Harley motorcycle on Sunday, raising about $16,000.
By Frank Klimko of Centreville Patch
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Centreville nonprofit raised about $16,000 yesterday as part of their effort to ease the recovery of wounded soldiers being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
The charity event, at Centreville’s Fast Eddie's Sports & Billiards, was the biggest fundraiser so far for the new group, Friends of the Wounded Veterans, which started last year. The group raffled off a 1992 classic Harley Davidson motorcycle on Sunday. About 200 people showed up for the daylong event which included the raffle, a battle of the bands and a classic car/motorcycle show, said Army National Guard Sgt. Kenny Walls, who co-founded the group with his buddy Mike Sibley, a chef.
Both declared the event an unqualified success and said they were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the Centreville community.
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Bigger Christmas for Wounded Soldiers
Local group receives support from union, citizens and businesses.
By Brian Cain of CentreView Northern Edition
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Centreville citizens, businesses and a local union are supporting Friends of the Wounded Veterans (FOTWV), even though they are not a tax-exempt non-profit — yet — in an effort to support recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during Christmas.
Friends of the Wounded Veterans, started one year ago by Army National Guard Sgt. Kenny Walls and his friend Mike Sibley, collects Christmas presents for wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed.
"We wanted to give something back to the troops, especially those who were wounded and had no family around during the holidays," said Walls. "This is an important cause, and to be able sit down with a wounded soldier during the holidays makes you feel good deep down inside. More importantly, it helps their morale and ultimately their recovery."
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