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DALLAS – Marine Staff Sergeant Mark Graunke,
Jr., 26, of Flower Mound, Texas, has
been selected as a grant recipient of the Fallen Patriot Fund,
established on April 16, 2003, by the Mark Cuban Foundation, to help
families of U.S. military personnel who were killed or seriously injured during
Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is the sixth grant the Fallen Patriot Fund has
given to an injured soldier.
Graunke received $40,000 from the Foundation to
assist with living expenses after he lost his left hand, left eye, right leg
above the knee, his right thumb and index finger, and hearing in his left ear
when a bomblet exploded in his hands during his work as an Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (EOD) Technician on July 2, 2003. Graunke has a wife, Florence, 24.
Marine Staff Sergeant
Graunke
was assigned to the 1st EOD
Platoon, 7th Engineer Support Battalion out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
“I am very thankful
to Mark Cuban, Brian Cuban and everyone who is associated with the Fallen
Patriot Fund. Being the sole provider of my family while my wife looks for
work, I was concerned about our finances. Having just moved into a new home,
the Fallen Patriot Fund has helped ease our financial situation,” said Graunke.
“Although my Marine Corps career as an EOD technician is over, I am ready and
willing to confront the challenges that civilian life has to offer. We say in
the Marine Corps, ‘Improvise, Adapt and Overcome,’ and that is what I do.”
The fund has
given more than $570,000 in grants to 29 families across the United States since
its inception. Donations are still being accepted and can be made at any of the
4,200 Bank of America banking centers; through the Web site at
www.fallenpatriotfund.org, or mailed to the Fallen Patriot Fund, c/o Bank of
America Private Bank, TX1-492-19-09, P.O. Box 832409, Dallas, Texas,
75283-2409. Additional information and grant application may be obtained
through the Web site.
The Mark Cuban Foundation will match
donations to the Fallen Patriot Fund dollar for dollar up to $1 million. Since
April 16, 2003, donations have been received from 48 states, Canada and Italy.
In addition, the Bank of America Foundation will match employee donations dollar
for dollar from gifts of $25 up to $5,000.
Financial resources are vital to enhancing
the sustainability of the family unit who has suffered a loss because its loved
one sacrificed him/herself for freedom. Within
that group, grant recipients will be selected in accordance with criteria
established by The Mark Cuban Foundation. All proceeds will be disbursed.
The Mark Cuban Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) organization,
contributions to which are tax deductible.
Please contact a tax advisor for further details on charitable
contributions.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Gillian Breidenbach (Bank of America) 214.209.3122
Gillian.M.Breidenbach@bankofamerica.com
Dawn Holgate (Mark Cuban), 214.658.7170 (office)
214.878.2867 (mobile)
dawn.holgate@dallasmavs.com
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