NY Yankees Donate to the Wounded Warrior Project

NY Yankees Donate $75,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project

December 30, 2004 - Wounded Warrior Project, a program of United Spinal Association, was the recipient today of a $75,000 donation from representatives of the New York Yankees Baseball club. At a Press Conference held at the VA Museum at the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Manhattan, Yankees team President Randy Levine, Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost, and newly signed pitcher Carl Pavano presented the generous donation on behalf of the Yankees and team owner George Steinbrenner to Gerard M. Kelly, Executive Director of United Spinal Association. Also on hand was Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), who recommended United Spinal's Wounded Warrior Project to the Yankees upon hearing of their desire to make a donation to an organization assisting soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Yankees also presented a check for $25,000 to Army Specialist Robert Loria, who was severely wounded while on duty in Iraq. Senator Clinton recently joined other members of Congress in working to have the Army pay for costs associated with Loria coming home after returning from Iraq wounded.

"The generosity of the New York Yankees and George Steinbrenner cannot be overstated",

said Gerard Kelly,

"and it is heartening to see that even the Yankees, to whom millions of people look up to, appreciate and respect the sacrifices that these young men and women are making everyday in defense of our freedoms."

Other Wounded Warriors who attended the check presentation included Sergeant Jeremy Feldbush, Lance Cpl Ian Lennon and Corporal Daniel Lasko. Sgt. Feldbush, from Latrobe, PA, was seriously wounded when a piece of shrapnel pierced the side of his head. As a result of his injuries, Jeremy lost his right eye, underwent over a seven-hour life threatening brain surgery, and was left blind in his left eye. Lance Cpl. Lenon is a 24-year-old Marine from Lindenhurst, NY, who sustained 3rd degree, burns over 1/3 of his body, including his hands and face, as the result of a fuel explosion. Cpl. Lasko was born in Easton, PA, and served in the 1st Battalion- 6th Marines for 3 years. Cpl. Lasko was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device(IED) while serving in Afghanistan. All three have benefited from the Wounded Warrior Project and continue to work with the project to help other soldiers.

Wounded Warrior Project is a program of the United Spinal Association, a veterans service and disability rights organization. Through this program, United Spinal shares its 57 years of expertise in veterans advocacy with a new generation of veterans trying to readjust to civilian life. For further information or if you are interested in contributing please visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.