Veterans Connect at Wounded Warrior Project Football Camp for Kids

CINCINNATI, Jan. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One-by-one, children as young as 8 years old lined up to take instructions and learn about the game of football. Each was excited about the opportunity to learn from a professional who has won an NFL Championship and now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

At the recent Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connection event, wide receiver Brandon LaFell wore a Bengals-orange shirt while teaching kids about technique, various routes, and catching the football with your hands.

"The event was amazing," said Army veteran Alvin Rodriguez. "I appreciated learning about football and watching my kids enjoy their experience."

WWP connected veteran families for the special camp to show the importance of getting out of the house and spending time with one another and other warriors. In a WWP survey of the injured warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.7 percent) talked with fellow veterans to address their mental health issues.

"Wounded Warrior Project events help bring joy and excitement to my life," said Army veteran Christopher Warren. "They also provide a chance to interact with fellow veterans I would normally never run into."

Of course, playing football alongside an NFL star is something most kids never have a chance to do.

"My kids loved the scrimmages and catching passes from Brandon LaFell," said Army veteran Mike Kirchgessner.

"It was great being there with other wounded warriors," said Marine Corps veteran Kenneth Burdine. "I enjoyed seeing the children have fun and enjoy life."

WWP offers a variety of programs and services that assist injured veterans with mental health, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, and connecting with other warriors and their communities. Generous donors make it possible for warriors to take part in connection activities and benefit from program resources at no cost to them.

"I do not go out very often, so I look forward to participating in Wounded Warrior Project events," Christopher said. "They offer things that don't come from counseling sessions or medication."

To learn and see more about how WWP's programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/ and click on multimedia.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project