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September 10, 2007
Strikeouts For Troops Joins Forces With USAA On Sept. 11
To Help Wounded U.S Troops and Families
On Patriot Day, USAA to contribute $400 for every MLB strikeout to Barry Zito’s Strikeouts For Troops
San Francisco, CA (September 10, 2007) – Strikeouts For Troops™, a national non-profit organization, founded by San Francisco Giants pitcher, Barry Zito, to assist war-wounded troops and their families, has launched a joint effort with USAA, a financial services company that serves only military families.
On Patriot Day September 11, USAA will contribute $400 for every strikeout thrown in Major League Baseball to Strikeouts For Troops matching and expanding Zito’s personal donation of $400 for each strikeout he records.
“We started Strikeouts For Troops to help our wounded soldiers by providing some comforts of home while they recover in military hospitals, often far away from their loved ones," Zito said. “I am honored that the effort with USAA on September 11, Patriot Day, will make such a significant difference in the lives of so many military families in need. I am equally grateful to my fellow professional baseball players who have joined in this effort to recognize and help our brave troops who represent our country with honor while fighting for our freedom."
To kick off the joint effort, a surprise reunion took place during yesterday’s Military Appreciation Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, reuniting a deployed Sailor with his family. As his wife and daughter were warming up to throw out the first pitch, Navy Petty Officer First Class, John “Mike” Broughton, deployed aboard U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts since March 2007, stunned his family – and 40,000 spectators – as he walked onto the field to help deliver the pitch.
“USAA has served the military and their families for more than 85 years, and reuniting a military family was the best way to announce our support of Strikeouts For Troops,” said Barbara Gentry, Senior Vice President, USAA Community Affairs. “By financially assisting organizations like Strikeouts For Troops, USAA can show its appreciation and respect for the sacrifices our nation’s military personnel have made on behalf of all Americans.”
A growing number of all-stars throughout professional baseball are joining Strikeouts For Troops, and are making donations that make a difference in the lives of war-wounded veterans.
About Strikeouts For Troops™
Strikeouts For Troops is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping our U.S. war wounded service members and their families by providing "comforts of home" while being treated at military hospitals nationwide. Strikeouts For Troops was introduced on April 5, 2005 after Barry Zito had the privilege to visit with soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Today, Strikeouts For Troops is supported by numerous professional baseball players including Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees), Curt Schilling (Boston Red Sox), CC Sabathia (Cleveland Indians), Nick Swisher (Oakland Athletics), and Jake Peavy (San Diego Padres). Together, these players and baseball fans have helped to raise over $500,000, with 100 percent of the funds being distributed to those in need. Strikeouts For Troops is non-partisan, and is a 501 c 3 donor advised fund based at the Community Foundation For The National Capital Region. To learn more, visit strikeoutsfortroops.org.
About USAA
USAA, a diversified financial services company, is the leading provider of competitively priced financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military and their families. Named by BusinessWeek as 2007’s Customer Service Champion, USAA provides convenient and accessible financial products to its 6 million members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com.
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