NEW YORK, April 19 Major League baseball players are honoring the sacrifices made by our nation's wounded warriors by launching an exclusive line of military-themed licensed products to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, it was jointly announced today by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the Wounded Warrior Project. Major Leaguers are also contributing an additional $100,000 from the Major League Baseball Players Trust to the Wounded Warrior Project, to support their efforts in ensuring this generation of wounded warriors is the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation's history.
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The Major League Baseball Players Association, in association with its licensee Activa Global Sports & Entertainment, today unveiled this unique apparel line of men's and women's camouflage and army green T-shirts, baseball hats and army style hats featuring the names, numbers and facsimile signatures of 26 of the game's top players. (See below for complete list of players.)
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The merchandise is now on sale exclusively at approximately 1,500 Wal-Mart locations across the country.
A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each item will be contributed directly to the Wounded Warrior Project in support of its on-going efforts to provide programs and services to thousands of wounded servicemen and women.
"Thanks to Major League baseball players, the MLBPA, the Players Trust, Activa Global Sports & Entertainment and the American public, who believe in our mission of honoring and empowering wounded warriors, we are able to further enhance our unique programs and services for the wounded and their families," said Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director, Steve Nardizzi. "Their vital support will help ensure that this generation of warriors will not be forgotten."
"On behalf of the players participating in this program, and all Major Leaguers, in general, it's an honor to help raise funds and awareness of our wounded warriors by supporting the Wounded Warrior Project," said Johnny Damon of the Detroit Tigers and a national spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project. "Thousands of brave young men and women put their lives on the line every day for each and every one of us, and this program gives us an opportunity to show our gratitude. I also would like to thank Activa Global Sports and Entertainment for joining us in support of such a worthy cause."
Over 37,000 of our nation's armed forces have been physically wounded during the current military conflicts. Hundreds of thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds of war, including post traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). WWP assists wounded warriors and their families through a holistic approach to their recovery, providing programs and services to aid their physical rehabilitation and improve their mental health and well-being. Whether through caregiver retreats, combat stress programs, career and education services or adaptive sporting opportunities, WWP empowers warriors with the tools essential to not just survive their injuries but to thrive and achieve personal and professional success.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Major League Baseball Players Association to create a line of products and an awareness campaign to help the brave men and women who put their lives at risk to ensure our freedom. These warriors have sacrificed so much for our country and we are humbled to be able to contribute to their cause," said Ray Taccolini, President, Activa Global Sports & Entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, apolitical organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
About The Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association (www.MLBPLAYERS.com) is the collective bargaining representative for all professional baseball players of the thirty Major League Baseball teams and serves as the exclusive group licensing agent for commercial and licensing activities involving active Major League baseball players. On behalf of its members, it operates the Players Choice licensing program and the Players Choice Awards, which benefit the needy through the Major League Baseball Players Trust, a charitable foundation established and run entirely by Major League baseball players. Please visit the Players Trust channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/mlbplayerstrust.
About Activa Global Sports & Entertainment LLC
Activa Global Sports & Entertainment, LLC is a licensee of professional sports leagues, players associations, colleges and universities. Activa Global specializes in retail products, promotions, packaged media and sponsorship activation, with a history of executing high profile promotions and innovative retail programs. To learn more please visit www.ActivaGlobal.com.
Participating Players:
Lance Berkman - Houston
Mark Buehrle - Chicago
Johnny Damon - Detroit
Prince Fielder - Milwaukee
Adrian Gonzalez - San Diego
Zack Greinke - Kansas City
Roy Halladay - Philadelphia
Josh Hamilton - Dallas/Ft. Worth
Ryan Howard - Philadelphia
Torii Hunter - Anaheim (Los Angeles)
Derek Jeter - New York
Chipper Jones - Atlanta
Derrek Lee - Chicago
Tim Lincecum - San Francisco
Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay
Nick Markakis - Baltimore
Joe Mauer - Minnesota
Dustin Pedroia - Boston
Albert Pujols - St. Louis
Manny Ramirez - Los Angeles
Jose Reyes - New York
Grady Sizemore - Cleveland
Chase Utley - Philadelphia
David Wright - New York
Kevin Youkilis - Boston
Ryan Zimmerman - Washington, DC
SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project
