NFL Partners with Bob Woodruff Foundation to Support Military and Veteran Nonprofits - Bob Woodruff Foundation

NFL Partners with Bob Woodruff Foundation to Support Military and Veteran Nonprofits

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NFL Funding Creates Grant Referral Pipeline for Nonprofit Organizations and Funds Healthy Lifestyles Programs for Veterans and Military Families

Expanding Salute to Service, the NFL will partner with the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) to create a grant referral pipeline for veteran nonprofit organizations and to support healthy lifestyles programs for veterans and their families. The NFL and BWF made the announcement today on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”

The donation funded by the NFL Foundation will broaden the league’s efforts to support veterans, service members, their families and their caregivers. The partnership is designed to optimize the NFL’s impact on the military community by leveraging BWF’s expertise as a grant maker to the most innovative programs across the country and deep knowledge of the urgent and emerging needs of service members and their families.

For decades, the NFL has honored and supported veterans, service members and their families through Salute to Service, a year-round effort that works to honor, empower and connect those who serve through the unifying lens of football and strategic partnerships with impact-driven organizations.

This morning, Tony Richardson, NFL legend and son of a retired Army sergeant major, joined the “Good Morning Football” crew in studio at NFL Experience Times Square to break the news and discuss the importance of this partnership and the immediate impact it will have on our nation’s heroes.

“The NFL is proud to partner with the Bob Woodruff Foundation and continue our efforts to positively impact the military community,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson. “As a respected thought leader, the Bob Woodruff Foundation provides us with the most effective expertise to address the needs of our service members. The NFL is committed to evolving its work in the military landscape and funding programs that will make a tangible, long-lasting impact on our nation’s heroes.”

The Bob Woodruff Foundation expertly navigates the landscape of 40,000+ military- and veteran-serving organizations to fund best-in-class programs that ensure positive outcomes. The NFL’s investment to BWF will create the grant referral pipeline and also support the Healthy Lifestyles and Creating Community Initiative. The latter will foster physical health and wellness, create healthy habits, and increase social connectedness for veterans, service members, and their families and caregivers.

“Collaboration is at the core of who we are at the Bob Woodruff Foundation; by joining in partnership with the NFL, we continue to affirm our collective commitment to our country’s veterans,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, executive director, Bob Woodruff Foundation. “Based on BWF’s understanding of the veterans landscape, and the NFL’s tremendous Salute to Service efforts, we see a ripe opportunity through strategic initiatives to impact positively the lives of more veterans, service members and their families than ever before.”

The Bob Woodruff Foundation is accepting grant proposals as part of this partnership, and its upcoming fall cycle, through June 11. Grants for this cycle will be announced in October. Learn more.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation: The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long term-needs of today’s veterans. To date, BWF has invested more than $55 million to find, fund and shape programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members and their families, across the nation. For more information, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @Stand4Heroes.

 About the NFL Foundation: The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.