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DALLAS – Army Staff Sergeant Cromwell NaVion,
32, of Killeen, 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.
SSGT NaVion,
his wife, Jennifer, 31, and their son, John Christopher, 3, will
receive $13,000 from the Foundation to assist with expenses after he was injured
in an IED explosion in Iraq on January 5, 2004. NaVion
sustained injury primarily to his head and face and lost his left eye, as well
as damage to nerves in his right arm, a fractured right knee and shrapnel
injuries on his left leg. Due to the extent of his injury, NaVion
underwent emergency brain surgery and had to be resuscitated during transport.
SSGT
NaVion
was a tank commander with the 366th Alpha Company, 4th
Infantry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas.
“This grant is a help for our family,”
said Jennifer. “It will help pay our bills, because both of us are not working
at the present time due to my husband’s injuries and he needs me at his side for
assistance.”
The fund has
approved more than $805,000 in grants to 41 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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