Watery Alumni Event Hosted for Injured Service Members and Their Families
Sliding and swimming their way through an afternoon of family fun, wounded veterans and their families enjoyed a day at Timber Falls Waterpark.
The event was hosted by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), as part of the Alumni Program, which gives injured veterans a chance to deepen their bonds with family and fellow wounded service members through camaraderie at welcoming events in relaxed environments.
"I was glad to attend a family friendly event," Army veteran and WWP Alumnus Ryan Lewis said. "When we got there, we met with the WWP staff, who did a great job getting everyone organized. My family and a few other WWP families settled around some tables and let the kids go have fun."
While some of the WWP Alumni and their family members splashed around in the water, other event attendees took the time to get to know each other more.
Many WWP Alumni face similar challenges and events like this offer a chance to come together and connect with other wounded veterans and family support members.
"It's good to be around others who understand what it's like to be a military family," Lewis said. "The bonds are already there for many wounded veterans, because of that shared experience. The kids don't fully understand it, but they're also able to make friends as the adults spend time together. There are support systems for everyone because of those relationships, which events like this help create."
The families were also served lunch and given briefs about WWP's direct programs and services, which are offered free of charge to injured service members, their family members, and caregivers.
For WWP, there is a distinct difference between members and Alumni; the term Alumni indicates a mutual shared experience and denotes your place in an organization was earned.
There are no membership fees or dues at WWP – those were paid by wearing the uniform and on the battlefield. It is for that reason that all WWP programs and services are offered to Alumni free of charge.
Among the programs discussed, was the WWP Warriors to Work® program, which provides career guidance and support services to injured service members, caregivers, and family members interested in transitioning to the civilian workforce.
Warriors to Work offers injured veterans, caregivers, and family members access to a wide variety of professional development and career guidance opportunities covering topics including resume creation, interview preparation, business etiquette, and networking skills.
The Warriors to Work team also partners with employers across the country by helping them connect with qualified candidates, providing information and education about combat-related injuries, facilitating a productive onboarding process, and developing a long-lasting relationship throughout the life cycle of employment.
In February 2016, more than 2,400 WWP Alumni were assisted with their career goals through Warriors to Work. To find out more about WWP programs and services, please visit: woundedwarriorproject.org/programs.aspx.
About Wounded Warrior ProjectThe mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. The WWP purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
