|
MIRAMAR, Fla. – Army Specialist Luis Calderon, 22, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has been selected as a grant recipient of the Fallen Patriot Fund, established on April 16 by the Mark Cuban Foundation, to help families of U.S. military personnel who were killed or seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Calderon and his wife, Darlene, will receive $30,000 from the Foundation to assist with living expenses after he was injured in Iraq. At the current time, Calderon is a quadriplegic. This is the first grant the Fallen Patriot Fund has given to a soldier who was injured in Iraq and has returned to the United States.
Army Specialist Luis Calderon was assigned to the Delta Company Fourth Infantry Division Forward Support Battalion of the United States Army based in Fort Hood, Texas. He was injured on May 5th while destroying a wall with an armored vehicle. The wall collapsed and struck his head. This event occurred in Tikrit, Iraq.
“It is very, very comforting to know there are people who care about soldiers and what they do for our country,” said Darlene and Luis Calderon. “Thanks to Mark Cuban’s Fallen Patriot Fund we will be able to start our new life and upcoming challenges in the future. This grant will assist us in the purchase of a home suitable for Luis’s needs. God bless you Mark.”
Donations to the Fallen Patriot Fund 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
|
