NJ Devils forward Palmieri launches military support foundation

NJ Devils forward Palmieri launches military support foundation

by Elizabeth Howe / connectingvets.radio.com

 September 5, 2018 

New Jersey Devils’ hockey star Kyle Palmieri is expanding his support of military families.  The Kyle Palmieri Foundation, founded by the Devil’s right wing and his fiancee, Ashlee Casper, will give back to those who have sacrificed to preserve American freedom.

Palmieri is not new to military support projects. Since 2016, he has hosted service members and their families through Squad21. Designed around Palmieri’s jersey number, 21 active duty service members or veterans are invited to attend one of the 21 Squad21 games. Those selected have the chance to attend the game and meet Palmieri afterwards in a private meet and greet.

While this program will continue, the Palmieri Foundation adds three new military organizations to the list of ways Palmieri supports service members: Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), National Military Family Association (NMFA) and Pets for Vets.

“Squad21 started as a small way for me to give back,” said Palmieri. “The reaction I got from the people who participated, to see the smiles on their faces, knowing how much they’ve sacrificed in order for me to do what I love — it really hit home with me. Obviously, Squad21 is limited by the number of games during the season. The foundation is just a way for me to expand and do a little more.”

The three organizations Palmieri chose to support through the foundation are all smaller military organizations that may not receive the same level of national support and recognition that some other organizations do. Additionally, Palmieri chose these three organizations for some personal reasons.

With both a sister and a brother-in-law in the military, Palmieri has seen the impact of SWAN and the NMFA in person.

“SWAN is so important because there are more and more women joining the military, putting their lives on the line. They need the same resources as every other member of the military,” Palmieri said. “And having a sister who’s married to an active duty service member — you see what the family goes through, the support they need and the support they deserve. The families are sacrificing too.”

As for Pets for Vets, Palmieri has experienced the emotional support his own shelter dogs have offered him.

“Being around pets and the emotional support they give is something that’s awesome, and you can’t really put it into words what a companion can do.”

“There are endless challenges facing our nation’s military service members and veterans,” Palmieri said. “We hope to help ease some of these challenges by providing support through the Kyle Palmieri Foundation and through our partnerships with NMFA, SWAN, and Pets for Vets. Each of these organizations provide invaluable support and services, and the Foundation looks to help expand their incredible work. We’re proud to offer our help as a way to say thank you to the brave men and women who are serving and have served our country.”

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Devils Forward Kyle Palmieri to Launch “The Kyle Palmieri Foundation”

Devils Forward Kyle Palmieri to Launch “The Kyle Palmieri Foundation”

Contact:  Corinne Weltman
Pete Albietz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2018

 

Devils Forward Kyle Palmieri to Launch

“The Kyle Palmieri Foundation”

Newark, NJ— New Jersey Devils right wing Kyle Palmieri and his fiancé Ashlee Casper have officially launched his new foundation, The Kyle Palmieri Foundation. The mission of The Kyle Palmieri Foundation is to give back to those who put their lives on the line to preserve our freedoms as Americans.

Kyle and Ashlee will continue their mission to show their sincerest appreciation for active and veteran service members and their families for their sacrifices they have made. The foundation plans to raise funds for various programs that benefit the military community.

“There are endless challenges facing our nation’s military service members and veterans. We hope to help ease some of these challenges by providing support through the Kyle Palmieri Foundation and through our partnerships with NMFA, SWAN, and Pets for Vets. Each of these organizations provide invaluable support and services, and the Foundation looks to help expand their incredible work. We’re proud to offer our help as a way to say thank you to the brave men and women who are serving and have served our country,” said Kyle.

The issue is personal to Kyle, as he has several family ties to the military. Currently, his sister Taylor and brother-in-law Stephen are honorably serving our country in the National Guard and the U.S. Army. This close connection to the military inspired Kyle to do more to help those who sacrifice the most.

What began as an idea with a military recognition program ran in conjunction with the New Jersey Devils called Squad21 in 2016, The Kyle Palmieri Foundation has since evolved into a full-fledged charity organization that supports three (3) military nonprofits. The foundation will also develop special events in the future that will raise funds to assist in the continued support for active and veteran service members. The original Squad21 program will still live within the foundation.

The Kyle Palmieri Foundation proudly supports the following organizations and programs:

  • Squad21 – Squad21 is a military recognition program that offers active and veteran service members the chance to attend a New Jersey Devils home game in Newark during the regular season. Playing upon Kyle’s team number of 21, twenty-one people are randomly chosen from a military organization for each of the 21 designated Squad21 games and invited to bring a guest. As part of the program, the service members and their guests have an exclusive meet-and-greet with Kyle following each game. Fans can support and interact with the Squad21 program using #Squad21 on social media. For more information, please visit:  www.nhl.com/devils/community/player-programs
  • Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) – The Service Women’s Action Network is the voice of all military women. SWAN is a member-driven community network advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women. They are committed to seeing that all service women receive the opportunities, protections, benefits and respect they deserve. For more information, please visit: www.servicewomen.org
  • National Military Family Association (NMFA) –The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening and protecting the families of the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen. NMFA provides families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with information, works to get them the benefits they deserve, and offers programs that improve their lives. For more information, please visit: www.militaryfamily.org
  • Pets for Vets – Pets for Vets was created to improve the lives of both Veterans and animals by bringing them together in a thoughtful, caring way. Their goal is to give back to the brave servicemen and women who have given everything to our country, while finding homes for deserving shelter pets. For more information, please visit: www.petsforvets.com

“Kyle understands military families and the challenges they face because he is part of one,” said NMFA Executive Director Joyce Raezar. “We at NMFA are grateful for Kyle and the Kyle Palmieri Foundation for shining a light on those who stand behind our service members and whose sacrifices often go unnoticed.”

“For the last ten (10) years, SWAN has served as the leading, national organization advocating for the issues important to all military women and we’re excited that the Kyle Palmieri Foundation will help us amplify their voices,” said Lydia C. Watts, SWAN CEO. “With nearly 2.5 million women veterans and women who currently serve in our military – the highest number in U.S. history I’d like to add – it’s vital that we draw attention to their individual and collective needs. We’re thankful that the Foundation shares our goal of ensuring all service women have access to the tools and support they need during and after their service.”

“Pets for Vets® is honored to be a beneficiary of the Kyle Palmieri Foundation and is very excited to be able to work with them to recognize and thank our military servicemen and women,” said Ann Black, Pets for Vets® Inc. President.

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About the Kyle Palmieri Foundation

The Kyle Palmieri Foundation (Federal Tax ID 82-3386658) is a nonprofit corporation with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c) (3) founded by New Jersey Devils forward Kyle Palmieri. The mission of the Kyle Palmieri Foundation is to give back to the patriots who put their lives on the line to preserve our freedoms as Americans. For more information regarding the Kyle Palmieri foundation, please visit www.kylepalmierifoundation.com and follow @kpalmierifdn on Instagram and @kpalmierifdn on Twitter.

 About Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment

Founded by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) includes in its portfolio the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils, leading venue Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, the Delaware 87ers, the Binghamton Devils, the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball, and renowned esports franchise Team Dignitas. Led by some of the best and brightest minds across a diverse spectrum of industries, HBSE positions itself as one of the most pioneering, innovative global sports and entertainment businesses to date. HBSE also strives to positively impact the local communities in which it operates through the powerful platform of sports. For more information, visit www.hbse.com.

About the New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are part of the 31-team National Hockey League, with teams throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1982, the team is in its 34th season in the Garden State. During that time, the Devils have won three Stanley Cup Championships: 1995, 2000 and 2003. For more information about the Devils, visit NewJerseyDevils.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NJDevils). The New Jersey Devils organization is a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment property.

About Prudential Center

Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 175 concerts, family shows and special events each year. The arena is also home to the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, which opened its doors to the public on October 2017. The 8,200-square-foot experience marks the first GRAMMY Museum outpost on the East Coast, and features a dynamic combination of educational programming and interactive permanent and traveling exhibits, including a spotlight on legendary GRAMMY winners from New Jersey. Ranked in the Top 8 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (PruCenter). Prudential Center is a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment property.

Contact:

Corinne Weltman
New Jersey Devils
cweltman@newjerseydevils.com
973.757.6226

Pete Albietz
New Jersey Devils
pablietz@newjerseydevils.com
973.757.6118

Ashlee Casper
The Kyle Palmieri Foundation
info@kylepalmierifoundation.com