Press Release
Veteran Tickets Foundation gives 250 seats to Veterans for D-backs game on Independence Day.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phoenix, AZ, June 27, 2008: The Veteran Tickets Foundation celebrates Independence Day by donating 250 free tickets to Veterans and their families for the D-backs vs. San Diego Padres game on July 4th. All festivities will take place in the Miller Lite Diamond Club at Chase Field.
"I'm very excited about our partnership with the D-backs," said Mike Focareto, President and Founder of Veteran Tickets Foundation. "Besides celebrating Independence Day, we are also celebrating the official launch of the Veteran Tickets Foundation."
Veteran Tickets Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization committed to acknowledging the extraordinary service of all Veterans by providing free and discounted event tickets to the more than 26 million Veterans and more than 1.3 million active duty service members. The organization was founded and is run by Veterans. Focareto himself was disabled Veteran and served in the first Gulf War and now works as a design engineer.
"This year, I was at the Super Bowl with my good friend Chris Blindheim who is a former Marine (and now a director in the Foundation)," said Focareto. "We were totally enjoying the game, and I looked over and saw this empty seat. An empty seat at the Super Bowl! The idea hit me right between the eyes. Wouldn't it be great if someone would have given that seat away to another Veteran and written it off as a donation? That's where the inspiration for Veteran Tickets Foundation came from. And now, less than six months later, we are throwing out the first pitch on July 4th at a D-backs game."
Representing Veteran Tickets in throwing out the first pitch will be a soldier who was deployed in Iraq, and after a few short months back home, his wife was then sent to Iraq. "There is going to be a huge surprise. I can't tell you more than that, but I promise there won't be a dry eye in the house."
Focareto is quick to add that giving free and discounted tickets away is not a "handout". Veteran Tickets believes that tickets are an important expression of gratitude and that we honor the service of our soldiers now and long after their tour of duty has passed, tickets are a token of our appreciation. The Veteran Tickets Foundation teams up with major sports teams, leagues, promoters, organizations, venues, and everyday ticket holders to get Veterans to every event throughout the country.
While many Veterans' groups stress a certain branch of the military or represent a class of Veteran, such as Vets with Disabilities, Veteran Tickets makes no such distinction. Focareto is fond of the saying, "If you served, you deserve. Whether you're a Green Beret who loaded machine guns or a support person who loaded vending machines, you're a Veteran. You served. You deserve a ticket."
All the tickets to the July 4 D-backs - Padres game have been distributed to Veterans and their families. On Sept. 12, 2008, the D-backs will again partner with Veteran Tickets Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the Foundation. When purchasing tickets, a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to the Veteran Tickets Foundation.
Veteran Appreciation Night is on Friday, Sept. 12, when the D-Backs take on the Cincinnati Reds at 6:40 p.m. with post-game fireworks.
For more information visit: http://www.VetTix.org/events.php.
