|
DALLAS – Army Corporal Ricky Nelson,
32, of Oklahoma City, Okla., 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 eighth grant the
Fallen Patriot Fund has given to an injured soldier.
Nelson received $25,000 from the Foundation to
assist with living expenses after he sustained a gunshot wound to his right knee
on May 5, 2003, which led to the amputation of his right leg above the knee.
Nelson has a wife, Charlotte, 29, and five children, Noah, 3, Rachel, 6, Ryan,
7, Tylor Morrison, 11, and Christopher, 11.
Army Corporal Nelson
was assigned to 2/7 Infantry, 3rd
Infantry Division of the United States Army based out of Fort Stewart, Ga.
“I am very grateful to Mr. Cuban and the
Foundation for this grant,” said Nelson. “It has helped my family considerably.
It has been a Godsend that we received a grant because without it I’m not sure
what we would have done. I definitely recommend to any soldier in my position
to put in their application.”
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
|
