TAPS Honor Guard Gala to recognize NBA, USA Basketball's Support for Families of America's Fallen Heroes
Gen. Martin Dempsey, Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Geno Auriemma TAPS National Community Partnership Award on behalf of players, coaches, staff, fans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va. - The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will present the inaugural National Community Partnership Award to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and USA Basketball at the TAPS 2017 Honor Guard Gala on April 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The award pays tribute to a member or organization who has shown extraordinary support and personal engagement with the surviving families of America's fallen heroes.
"TAPS is honored and grateful to partner with the NBA and USA Basketball, who give the families of our nation's fallen heroes the opportunity to celebrate the lives of their loved ones and make special memories," said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of TAPS. "For many, watching sports as a family is a treasured memory, and connecting with the players they cheered for with their loved one is a special way to honor those memories. The NBA's extraordinary commitment has resulted in thousands of meaningful moments for surviving military families across America."
The NBA, WNBA, National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association and National Basketball Referees Association have welcomed surviving military families to events in each of the cities that is home to an NBA team. The USA Basketball Men's and Women's National Teams invited surviving military families to attend events and games before they headed to Rio for the Olympic Games in 2016. Each player and coach was presented with a photo button of a fallen hero and carried it with them to the Olympics where they won gold.
Accepting on behalf of the players, coaches, staff and fans will be USA Basketball Chairman and 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey; Jerry Colangelo, Managing Director, Men's Senior National Team; and USA Basketball National Coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Geno Auriemma.
"It's an honor to be recognized alongside our colleagues at USA Basketball by an organization with such a worthy mission," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "We are proud to support this cause by providing one-of-a-kind sports experiences to the loved ones of American heroes and by welcoming them into our NBA family."
Funds raised through the Gala will be used to support families of fallen military heroes through programs such as the TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar, National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camps, TAPS Regional Survivor Seminars; and TAPS Retreats for surviving spouses, parents, adult children and siblings.
This year's Title Sponsor is USAA and the Legacy Sponsor is HSBC Bank. Presenting Sponsors include BAE Systems, DynCorp International, Oshkosh Defense, Prudential Financial, Telos Corporation, Health Net Federal Services and United Technologies Corporation.
The evening will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. with the dinner and program to follow at 7 p.m. The National Building Museum is located at 440 G St. NW in Washington, D.C. Sponsorship information is available at www.TAPS.org/Gala or by emailing gala@taps.org. Photos attached for public use.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Please email media@taps.org or call 202.588.TAPS (8277) to request interviews or additional details about the 2017 TAPS Honor Guard Gala.
ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America's fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 70,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).