The league has raised more than $58 million to support the military and veteran communities
This weekend the National Football League (NFL) will bring to life Salute to Service, the League’s year-round effort to Honor, Empower and Connect with our nation’s service members, veterans and their families. Salute to Service is highlighted during games in Weeks 9 – 11 and in other special events around the League, as fans and the NFL’s 32 clubs demonstrate their gratitude for the sacrifices made by our military community.
Since 2011, more than $58 million has been raised for our Salute to Service partners to support and uplift our nation’s military community through resources, programming, recognition and unique experiences that take place within the United States and across the world.
“We are indebted to our military heroes and recognize the sacrifices they make on a daily basis that provide us the freedom and security to play the game of football,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “Through our Salute to Service initiative, the entire NFL family seeks to honor, empower and connect service members, veterans and their families with organizations that support the military community in the United States and across the world. We are extremely grateful for those who have served and those who continue to serve our great nation.”
Through the NFL’s five core Salute to Service partners, which include the Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United Service Organizations (USO), Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF), and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the NFL looks to make positive impacts in the lives of many in the military community. The NFL has increased connectedness between the NFL family and military community, created greater independence for Wounded Warriors, and built stronger connections through a shared love of football.
Honor, Empower and Connect
Honor in Action: The NFL and its Salute to Service partner, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which provides care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes, hosted an exclusive experience for military families in London, where six TAPS families alongside military surviving families from the British Armed Forces Charity SSAFA, as well as The Families’ Activity Breaks (FAB), had the opportunity to attend a family welcome reception at Winfield House, the residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, as well as viewing a private team practice hosted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The exclusive experience culminated with tickets to the Broncos-Jaguars game at Wembley Stadium. During this time families from the United States and the United Kingdom came together to connect, bond, and share. This is the fifth year of the NFL TAPS UK Experience.
Empower in Action: In October, wheelchair football athletes from across the nation competed in the third USA Wheelchair Football League (USAWFL) tournament of the 2022 season, with the Los Angeles Rams Wheelchair Football Team taking home the tournament title. The USAWFL is a program of Bob Woodruff Foundation grant recipient Move United and is made possible through contributions by the NFL. Through the USAWFL, adults with disabilities, including wounded veterans, can take part in fast-paced and competitive football games. Since 2020, more than 700 athletes and coaches have taken part in the league.
Connect in Action: In October, the United Service Organizations (USO) opened its northernmost center at the Thule Air Base in Greenland a part of the NFL’s ongoing efforts to increase social connections within the military Community and the local communities in which they occupy. The center was built partially through funding from the NFL’s Salute to Service grant program and will connect a military population of around 600 men and women from numerous military branches. Its amenities include comfortable furniture for resting, computers and Wi-Fi access, complimentary snacks and beverages, as well as a lounge area with TVs, gaming entertainment, movies and more.
Salute to Service Weeks 9-11
Salute to Service comes to life on-field with field stencils, banners, goal post wraps, game balls, helmet decals, and New Era and Nike gear. In addition, Salute to Service apparel is available for purchase at NFLShop.com and in stadium retail stores. The NFL does not profit from the sale of Salute to Service products. All charitable contributions are donated to the NFL’s Salute to Service partners. Fans can also bid on authentic, game-worn gear and other memorabilia to raise money for the NFL’s Salute to Service partners. Text STSBID to 635635 or visit NFL.com/Auction to bid.
It Takes All of Us
GEORGE KITTLE (San Francisco 49ers), DAMIEN HARRIS (New England Patriots), ELIJAH MOORE (New York Jets), CAM JORDAN (New Orleans Saints), TARRON JACKSON (Philadelphia Eagles) along with COACH RON RIVERA (Washington Commanders) will be featured in TV spots to honor veterans, service members, and their families who have benefitted from the NFL’s Salute to Service funding of partners including the Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS) and the USO. The spot highlights service members, and players, along with a TAPS family. In 2021, the TAPS family featured tragically lost their son during his service in the military. Since then, the family has become involved with the Los Angeles Ram’s Salute to Service efforts, recognizing the impact their son’s passing has had on their life. The spots will air across various network partners over the course of the Salute to Service campaign. Additionally, features on NFL Network and short-form video vignettes across the NFL’s social channels will look to further honor veterans, service members, and their families while also highlighting the work of the league’s Salute to Service partners.
Official NFL partners recognize and support our nation’s service members and veterans through Salute to Service
The NFL and USAA, an official NFL Salute to Service partner, announced the 2022 nominees for the annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The Salute to Service Award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni with demonstrable commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities, as nominated by NFL clubs. New this year is an opportunity for fans to vote for their favorite nominee, which will help determine the award’s three finalists. To see all the nominees and vote, fans can visit NFL.com/SaluteFanVote from now until November 30. One vote per day, per fan is permitted. The finalists will be announced in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally in February during the week of Super Bowl LVII.
Crown Royal has a deep tradition of generosity, and as a long-standing supporter of the military community, is proud to give back to the most generous ones who selflessly serve. Programs like “Packages From Home” have supported over 1 million servicemen and women with the Purple Bag Project. This season Crown is taking the bag-packing program that provides food, hygiene, and entertainment items to veterans worldwide, the ones that make game day royal through packing events with over a dozen NFL teams across the country.
Additionally, NBC Sports Next, a division of our broadcast partner NBC, will help generate funds for our Salute to Service partners for a second year through its “Round-Up” campaign throughout November. NBC Sports Next’s GolfNow and TeeOff websites comprise the largest online tee-time marketplace in golf and the industry’s leading provider of golf course operations software and services to more than 9,000 courses worldwide. Anyone booking tee times on GolfNow or TeeOff in November will be provided the opportunity to round up the total cost of the reservation to an even-dollar figure, with the additional contribution going to our Salute to Service partners.
The NFL’s Salute to Service Partners:
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) – The NFL partners with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to fund programs that support the families of fallen military service members. Thousands of survivors can access services to support all those grieving the loss of a military loved one. Through the partnership, more than 6,000 survivors who are part of TAPS have been able to participate in NFL events and honor their fallen loved one(s). The NFL is also working to fund the TAPS Young Adult Program and the TAPS Military Mentor Program. These programs along with events like the TAPS NFL UK Experience and the TAPS NFL Nevada Experience engage survivors from across America to bring hope, healing, and connection.
The Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF) – To help honor leaders who exemplify Pat Tillman’s enduring legacy of service, the NFL partners with the Pat Tillman Foundation, which provides more than $24 million in academic scholarships and lifelong leadership development to more than 800 Tillman Scholars.
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) – The NFL partners with Wounded Warrior Project® to provide over 200,000 wounded veterans and family support members access to free programs and resources in mental health, financial and career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care. The NFL has honored countless warriors through connection events at regular season games, the NFL Draft, the Super Bowl, and Pro Bowl and empowered them through impactful Wounded Warrior Project programs like Soldier Ride®. Since 2011, the NFL has donated more than $10 million to help injured veterans and their families tackle their next mission in life.
Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) – Since 2018, the NFL and the Bob Woodruff Foundation have made a measurable impact in the lives of more than 575,000 service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers. The NFL and Bob Woodruff Foundation partnership is designed to optimize the positive impact that the NFL and its 32 clubs have on the veteran community by leveraging BWF’s national network. To date, BWF has invested over $9.5 million in 76 grants to best-in-class organizations supporting veterans and their families through NFL-BWF Healthy Lifestyles and Creating Communities and NFL-BWF pipeline grants. The NFL and BWF also invested over $330,000 in 46 states to ensure communities across the country were equipped to support the service members, veterans, families, and caregivers in their area during the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Service Organizations (USO) – For more than half a century, the United Service Organizations (USO) and the NFL have partnered to express gratitude to the Armed Forces and to bring communities of fans and supporters together to give more than thanks to the military. Leveraging American football as the cornerstone of the partnership, the USO and NFL honor, empower and connect service members and military families. Through support of USO center expansions, holiday programming and a variety of other events and activations, the NFL helps to deliver sports, entertainment and gaming to troops being called to serve missions around the world. Since 2007, NFL players and coaches have traveled on USO Tours to 26 countries to meet and thank more than 97,000 service members.
For more information on Salute to Service, visit NFL.com/Salute.
COURTESY NFLmedia.com
