Jun 20, 2019   SOURCE: BusinessWire

ESPN Teams with DAV to Help America’s Disabled Veterans Access Life-Changing Services

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and ESPN are teaming up to support disabled veterans across the country. As part of the new relationship, ESPN has donated $50,000 to support DAV’s Mobile Service Office (MSO) program to assist veterans and their families in applying for benefits earned in military service and is raising awareness of how DAV helps more than 1 million veterans annually.

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“ESPN is known for serving sports fans anytime, anywhere. With their continued support, we’re able to help those who’ve served where they live,” said Marc Burgess, DAV national adjutant and CEO. “The MSO program brings DAV’s team of specially trained benefits experts, who are veterans themselves, to some of the nation’s most vulnerable disabled veterans to assist them in getting critical benefits, from health care to disability. These resources often have a transformative impact on a veteran’s life.”

The MSO program is DAV’s “office on wheels.” It extends benefits and claims assistance to veterans who might not be able to access help due to distance, lack of transportation, health or other reasons. ESPN is supporting approximately 70 MSO stops this year, starting in August and continuing through October in states including Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota and California.

“At ESPN, we salute America’s Heroes for their incredible sacrifice and service to our country,” said Kevin Martinez, ESPN vice president of Corporate Citizenship. “We are incredibly proud to team up with DAV to support the MSO program, enabling veterans to more easily access the benefits and resources they are entitled to and deserve.”

ESPN is spreading the message of DAV’s work by airing its public service announcements (PSAs). DAV’s “Victory for Veterans” PSAs tell stories of how the nonprofit helps America’s veterans overcome obstacles and achieve personal victories, both big and small, as well as encourage other veterans to access its free services. DAV members and staff also spoke to ESPN employees about the challenges of transitioning from active-duty military to civilian life, and how veterans with visible and invisible wounds can get support from DAV to help rebuild their lives.

To learn more about ESPN’s charitable giving and cause marketing programs, visit www.espn.com/citizenship. To access DAV’s services or speak to a service officer, visit www.DAV.org.

About DAV: DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at www.dav.org.

About ESPN: ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplifts the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use the power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information, go to www.espn.com/citizenship.