Detroit Lions to Provide Educational Scholarships to TAPS Children of Fallen Military Heroes
Scholarships Will Help Fund Higher Education for Michigan Children Who Have Lost a Family Member in the Military
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 4, 2019
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is pleased to announce a new initiative by the Detroit Lions to provide educational scholarships to Michigan children who have suffered the loss of a parent or sibling who served in the military. The Lions are funding the scholarships as part of Detroit Lions Inspire Change, a new player-driven social justice initiative launched in the city of Detroit.
“We are humbled to be included in the Inspire Change initiative and grateful for the Lions’ ongoing support of our surviving military families,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder and 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. “Our surviving military children have borne a tremendous sacrifice for our country. The higher education scholarships being provided by the Lions will help them to live out their loved ones’ legacies and further empower them to make a difference in our country and our world.”
The scholarships, which may be applied toward tuition, room and board, books, fees, computers and other educational expenses, are intended to bridge the gap between available education resources and the total cost of higher education. All high school seniors who have lost a parent or sibling who was an active duty service member or veteran who died of a service-connected cause are eligible to apply. Students must be enrolled to attend public or private institutions, colleges, universities or vocational schools.
“I am extremely proud of our players for their hard work and collaboration all season in bringing this initiative together,” said Lions Head Coach Matt Patricia. “Our locker room is a microcosm of society and the powerful platform with which we are gifted brings a responsibility to make a difference in our communities. Through this initiative, our team has an opportunity to truly make a difference. Our guys do a great job of paying respect and showing their support for those that have gone out and made the ultimate sacrifice. Those that are out currently sacrificing everything they have to allow us to be able to do what we do every single day, we’re very blessed for that.”
Eligible students should contact education@taps.org and submit their applications no later than May 31, 2019. Scholarship awardees will be announced on June 28, 2019.
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ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 85,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of 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).
ABOUT DETROIT LIONS
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL), and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. The team located to Detroit in 1934 and are the National Football League’s fifth oldest franchise. The Detroit Lions most recently made the NFL playoffs in 2016, when they finished with a 9-7 record. In addition to professional football, the Detroit Lions have a very visible and active community relations role in the Detroit area. With a focus on health and wellness and community revitalization, the Lions have contributed more than $7 million through philanthropic efforts since 1991. For more information, visit www.Detroitlions.com.