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DALLAS – Army Staff Sergeant Colin Band, 27,
of Harker Heights, 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.
SSG Band, his wife, Reka, 27, and their
daughter Cheyenne, 14 months, will receive $40,000 from the Foundation to
assist with expenses after an improvised explosive device blew up and sent
shrapnel through his right eye and right leg in Iraq on March 12, 2004. The
shrapnel that went through his eye lodged in the left side of his brain, and as
a result of the injury he is currently in a coma. SSG Band has undergone
several surgeries, and the doctors cannot say whether or not he will ever wake
up or fully recover. Band is currently at Kindred Medical & Rehabilitation
Facility in San Antonio, Texas.
SSG Band
was assigned to
1st Calvary Division, 2nd Brigade, 2-12 Battalion based in
Fort Hood, Texas.
“What means the most to me is that
this grant is coming from someone who is not involved with the military. It is
really wonderful to know that people not involved in the military care about
what is going on,” said Reka Band. “I am so proud of Colin, and I want him to
know that other people are proud of him. I can’t wait until Colin can shake
their hand and thank them in person when he wakes up.”
The fund has approved more than
$790,000 in grants to 40 families across the United States since its inception.
Donations are still being accepted and can be made at any of the 5,700 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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