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DALLAS – Army Staff
Sergeant Ryan Kelly, 23,
of Abilene, 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 a family in Texas.
Kelly received $20,000
from the Foundation to assist with living expenses after
he lost part of his right leg when a roadside bomb
detonated next to a vehicle he was riding in on July 14,
2003. Kelly has a wife, Lindsey, 22.
Kelly
was a reservist assigned to the 490th Civil
Affairs Battalion based in Abilene, Texas.
“This grant goes a long
way in helping relieve financial stressors my wife and I
face in our transition,” said Kelly. “We are extremely
thankful for all the Fallen Patriot Fund has done for
our brothers and sisters in arms and their families.”
The fund has
given more than $700,000 in grants to 35 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 donations have been received from 48 states and Canada. In addition, the Bank of America Foundation will match their associate’s 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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