|
DALLAS
– Army Sergeant Robert Patrick Armstrong, 38, of Fort Hood,
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.
Armstrong will receive $40,000 from the Foundation to assist with living
expenses after he was injured while guarding a children’s hospital in
Ba’Qubah, Iraq. Armstrong has a wife, Esther,
37, and two children, Gabriel Scott Meily,
17, and Mary Katherine Cooper Meily,
15. This is the third grant the Fallen Patriot Fund has given to a soldier who
was injured in Iraq and has returned to the United States.
While
guarding the children’s hospital in Iraq on July 26th, Armstrong
was attacked and lost his right leg above the knee, left eye, left lower
fasciotomy and has multiple shrapnel wounds throughout the body. Upon initial
injury, medical staff reported “death is imminent within two hours.”
Through a miraculous recovery, Armstrong survived.
Army
Sergeant Robert Armstrong
was
assigned to the HHC1/67AR 4th Infantry Division, 2nd
Brigade based out of Fort Hood, TX, and received a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star
and a Combat Infantry Badge upon return to the United States.
“We
are deeply appreciative of the Mark Cuban Foundation and the Fallen Patriot Fund
for their hospitality and this gift, which has been great,” said Robert and Esther Armstrong.
“We are deeply honored to receive it and know that they are out helping
families who are victims of such terrorism.
It is a true honored gift and to know they are helping out is just a
blessing.”
The fund has given more than
$300,000 in grants to 19 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.
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
|
