Bobby Rahal Automotive Group Donates $35,000 to SoldierStrong to Help Military Veterans Take Their Next Steps Forward

The Bobby Rahal Automotive Group donates $35,000 to SoldierStrongThe Bobby Rahal Automotive Group today announced a $35,000 donation to SoldierStrong to assist military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service.

This is the seventh consecutive year that the 13-dealership group in central and western Pennsylvania has donated a share of the revenue from every new and used vehicle sold at its central Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh region dealerships during November in recognition of Veterans Day. To date, the group has donated more than $260,000 to SoldierStrong’s mission.

Founded in 1989, Bobby Rahal Automotive Group represents the Acura, BMW, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Volvo brands. The group is also extensively involved in community programs and charitable organizations within the communities they serve, contributing over $1 million in charitable funds and sponsoring and staffing upwards of 75 charitable events to date.

“Bobby Rahal Automotive Group is delighted to increase awareness of the SoldierStrong organization and the care they provide to our country’s veterans,” said Harrisburg Area Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Brian Buehler. “Throughout the month of November, we did so by highlighting SoldierStrong on showroom displays, on our websites, on our social media pages and on email campaigns to our clients. We are honored to not only build awareness but also to donate a portion of the proceeds from every vehicle sale in November directly to SoldierStrong. On behalf of Bobby Rahal Automotive Group and through the transactions of our loyal clients, we are proud to support SoldierStrong so they can assist veterans who’ve sacrificed so much for us.”

Dr. Chris Meek, chairman and co-founder of the Stamford, Conn., organization, noted the Rahal family’s commitment to America’s veterans extends beyond its most recent generous gift. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing shows its support for SoldierStrong through its NTT IndyCar Series race team’s program, Turns For Troops. For every lap that Bobby’s son, Graham Rahal, completed in the 2024 season, sponsor United Rentals donated $50 to SoldierStrong.

Additionally, Graham Rahal serves on the SoldierStrong Advisory Board, a role in which he has used to raise broad awareness and significant material support for the organization, particularly through the philanthropic efforts of the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation.

“On behalf of SoldierStrong and the brave men and women we serve, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Bobby Rahal Automotive Group for their generous contribution to our mission,” said Meek. “Their support is instrumental in helping us fully realize our goal to provide revolutionary medical technology to injured veterans. It is an honor to partner with an organization that has such a long-standing tradition of excellence, like Bobby Rahal Automotive Group, to empower those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Their unwavering commitment to our heroes is truly inspiring, especially to other businesses across the country seeking to make a similar meaningful impact in their communities.”

Honor Veterans During National Salute to Veteran Patients Week!

National Salute to Veteran Patients WeekThis week marks National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, a time to honor the bravery, sacrifices, and service of our nation’s veterans.

Across the country, the more than 9 million veterans receiving healthcare services from Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities are receiving special recognition and care, many of whom are benefiting from the revolutionary medical technologies SoldierStrong provides. But they still need our support.

At SoldierStrong, we remain dedicated to improving the health and lives of our nation’s heroes. Through the donation of wearable robotic exoskeletons, known as SoldierSuits, to help paralyzed veterans walk again and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS), we deliver life-changing and life-saving results for those who have given so much for our country.

National Salute to Veteran Patients Week offers an opportunity to remind our veterans that they are not forgotten. This National Salute to Veteran Patients Week we are asking you to help us salute veteran patients by making your best contribution to SoldierStrong. Whether you can give $25, $50, $100 or even $1,000, please know that your gift will make a direct difference in the lives of veterans.

SoldierStrong remains proud of our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Did you know that, according to the Journal of General Internal Medicine, in general VA hospitals provide a higher quality of care than their non-VA counterparts? The impact the VA and SoldierStrong are making together is changing the lives of countless veterans. And we couldn’t do it without the support of patriots like YOU!

Your support means the world to those who have dedicated their lives to serving us. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of veterans and show them the appreciation they truly deserve.

SoldierStrong Joins Forces With Patriot Mobile to Assist Military Veterans in Taking Their Next Steps Forward

Patriot MobileSoldierStrong and Grapevine, Texas wireless provider, Patriot Mobile, are proud to announce they are joining forces to expand access to medical technology to veterans.

“We are excited to help SoldierStrong be the hands and feet of Jesus to our nation’s heroes,” said Glenn Story, Patriot Mobile CEO. “The men and women who are injured in service to our country deserve access to the best medical care available, and Patriot Mobile is proud to help SoldierStrong in this effort.”

Since 2013, Patriot Mobile has given Americans a conservative alternative for their cell phone service by providing dependable, nationwide coverage on 4G and 5G networks and exceptional all U.S.-based customer support. Patriot Mobile gives a portion of every dollar to support organizations that fight for our freedom.

Dr. Chris Meek, who co-founded SoldierStrong following his experience at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, praised Patriot Mobile’s support for military members, veterans, first responders and their families.

“SoldierStrong is enthusiastic about Patriot Mobile’s financial support, which helps uplift our shared mission to remember, honor and celebrate our heroes in uniform, especially those injured in service to our country,” Meek said. “Patriot Mobile has made a positive impact not just on its local community but also on the community of military veterans nationwide.”

Meek continued, “The same integrity and dedication that Patriot Mobile’s people devote to their work and in service to others will make a difference in the lives of veterans living with severe spinal cord injuries and paralysis, as well as the debilitating impacts of post-traumatic stress. It’s a true honor to work with and receive support from Patriot Mobile. Without the support of organizations like Patriot Mobile, SoldierStrong would be unable to benefit the lives of so many deserving veterans.”

Contributions from Patriot Mobile will fund SoldierStrong’s efforts to donate wearable robotic exoskeletons, known as SoldierSuits, which are used to aid paralyzed veterans in walking again, as well as BraveMind virtual reality software and hardware systems used to treat post-traumatic stress in post-9/11 veterans. SoldierStrong has donated more than $7 million in revolutionary medical technologies since 2013, including 30 SoldierSuits and 30 BraveMind systems to date.

SoldierStrong Announces 2024 Recipients of Annual Commitment to Service Award

SoldierStrong is proud to announce the individual and corporate 2024 recipients of ourannual Commitment to Service Award.

The organization presents the Commitment to Service Award to individuals and corporations that have demonstrated exemplary and inspirational leadership and provided material support to SoldierStrong’s mission. Recipients leverage their talents and resources to elevate the standard of excellence in health care available to our nation’s Veterans.

LTG Patricia D. Horoho (Ret.)

LTG (Ret) Patricia “Patty” D. Horoho was the 43rd United States Army Surgeon General and the Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command. She made history as the first woman, first nurse and non-physician to hold these posts. In these roles, General Horoho led the world’s third-largest health care system with a multi-billion-dollar budget, a staff of 156,000 and a global logistics, research and care network that spanned five continents.

In 2017, she was chosen to establish and lead Optum Serve, the end-to-end federal business of both Optum and UnitedHealth Group. Her role has expanded to include leading Optum Health Solutions, and she was later appointed as Chief Strategy, Innovation and Transformation Officer for Optum Health.

She established the 2Serve Together Foundation in 2023, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and recognizing military women by providing them with opportunities to share their individual stories, or simply put, to say “Thank you for your service.” This initiative was inspired by her late father, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Frank J. Dallas, a Veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

“SoldierStrong is honored to recognize LTG (Ret) Patty Horoho with our individual 2024 Commitment to Service Award. Her work within the Veteran community and continued support of SoldierStrong have demonstrated her unwavering dedication to service, healthcare, mental health and Veterans,” said SoldierStrong co-founder and chairman Dr. Chris Meek. “I’ve always admired a sentiment attributed to General Horoho: ‘It’s wonderful to be the first, but you are committed to seeing that you’re not the last.’ Her career has been one of trailblazing, not just for herself, but for other women, particularly servicewomen, who have followed in her footsteps. General Horoho’s leadership and impact continue to inspire, and her legacy serves as a beacon for all those who strive to serve with excellence, compassion, and vision.”

“It is deeply humbling to be named the 2024 recipient of the SoldierStrong Commitment to Service Award, and I am truly grateful for this prestigious recognition,” said General Horoho. “SoldierStrong’s dedication to serving those who have sacrificed greatly for our democracy and our freedom is both inspiring and critical. I am delighted to be recognized by an organization that embodies the power of service, sacrifice and compassion that allows our Veterans to thrive with the dignity and respect they so richly deserve. It is a privilege to be part of this important work, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration with SoldierStrong.”

Bobby RahalFounded in 1989, the Bobby Rahal Automotive Group is a 13-dealership group in central and western Pennsylvania that represents the Acura, BMW, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Volvo brands. For eight consecutive years the group has donated a share of the revenue from every new and used vehicle sold at its central Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh region dealerships to SoldierStrong during the month of November in recognition of Veterans Day.

Under the leadership of founder and chairman of the board Bobby Rahal, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time CART champion, the Bobby Rahal Automotive Group is extensively involved in community programs and charitable organizations within the communities they serve. To date, they have contributed over $1 million in charitable funds to numerous organizations, including more than $260,000 in donations to SoldierStrong.

“The Bobby Rahal Automotive Group’s commitment to charitable causes is second to none,” said Meek. “Recognizing Rahal Automotive with our corporate Commitment to Service Award serves as a testament to the selfless generosity their team continues to show by having the backs of those servicemen and women who have had our backs on the battlefield and beyond. Their ability to rally communities around life-changing causes is an example of benevolence, leadership and doing the right thing for all Americans to look up to.”

“It is truly an honor to receive SoldierStrong’s Commitment to Service Award. It is our privilege to assist in efforts to bring cutting-edge medical devices and technology to improve the daily lives of the brave men and women who have selflessly served to protect and defend our country and its citizens,” said Harrisburg Area Bobby Rahal Automotive Group President, Brad Lee. “The SoldierStrong mission aligns perfectly with our core value and belief that involvement in the communities we serve is imperative and contributes to the growth and welfare of both the public and our company.”

SoldierStrong Announces Partnership with Honor and Respect to Benefit Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress

Honor and Respect 2024

 

SoldierStrong is proud to announce a continued partnership with Honor and Respect to benefit veterans throughout the country living with post-traumatic stress (PTS).

Honor and Respect is a Marion, Iowa, firm launched in 2018 by U.S. Air Force veteran Ron Slagle and his family to raise funds to aid first responders and military personnel, who “devote their lives to helping all of us” and are caught in the midst of the mental health crisis through the sale of one-of-a-kind athletic shoes. 

Slagle said Honor and Respect will donate a share of its proceeds from every purchase of the Military Shoe to SoldierStrong’s BraveMind initiative, which seeks to reduce the disturbingly high national average of 17 veteran suicides a day. Through the partnership, SoldierStrong will receive $10 of every purchase of the Honor and Respect Military Shoes throughout December for customers who use promo code “SoldierStrong” at check out. The Military Shoe can be purchased here.

 “I believe we all have a responsibility to offer help to those who have dedicated their lives to helping all of us, either through service in the military or as first responders,” said Slagle, a retired Marion police officer. “Those experiencing PTS should not have to live through their symptoms alone and aside from honoring all of those who have served, we must also make sure that the very best in treatment is available to those who may need it. I feel empowered to be partnering with SoldierStrong in an effort to further guarantee that appropriate PTS treatment is widely and readily available.”

SoldierStrong’s BraveMind initiative donates virtual reality systems to Veterans Administration medical centers across the country to assist in treating veterans experiencing PTS. Since 2019 SoldierStrong has donated 30 BraveMind systems. 

“Honor and Respect is a remarkable demonstration of patriotism and compassion by an outstanding family from America’s heartland. SoldierStrong is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Honor and Respect as we work to ensure that those who have served our nation are provided the resources they need to help them take their next steps forward into life after service,” said Dr. Chris Meek, SoldierStrong co-founder and chairman. “The Slagle family’s desire to donate a share of Honor and Respect’s proceeds to SoldierStrong will provide direct care for veterans coping with the effects of post-traumatic stress.”

He continued, “It’s important that all revolutionary technologies to treat PTS are available to any and all veterans who might benefit from these services. That’s why it is SoldierStrong’s mission to get the BraveMind program into as many VA Hospitals as possible, so that the greatest number of veterans can have access and the chance to benefit from the effective technology in an effort to relieve their PTS symptoms.”

Support Veterans This Giving Tuesday by Giving the Gift of Mobility!

Today is Giving Tuesday! SoldierStrong encourages our supporters to take just 60 seconds out of their day to view the video message from Sgt Dan Rose, a U.S. Army combat veteran and SoldierStrong Ambassador.

In 2011, Dan was blessed to survive an improvised explosive device attack in Afghanistan. However, he was unfortunately left paralyzed from the chest down.

More than a decade ago, SoldierStrong donated our first SoldierSuit – a device to help injured and paralyzed veterans stand and walk again – to Dan.

As a paralympian, volunteer in his community and a wonderful father to his daughter, he is a tremendous example of overcoming adversity and displaying resilience.

At SoldierStrong, we want to ensure that all veterans are given the same opportunity for mobility that Dan has been given.

Right now, veterans at the Audie L. Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital in San Antonio and the Biloxi VA Medical Center are in desperate need of the SoldierSuit technology.

In honor of Giving Tuesday, we ask you to please consider making a contribution to our efforts to provide veterans with the revolutionary medical technology they need and deserve.

When many veterans first experience spinal cord injury or paralysis they are often told that they will never walk again. But veterans like Dan – and so many of our other SoldierStrong Ambassadors – continue to defy those odds with the SoldierSuit.

With your gift of $25, $50, $100 or even $1,000 this Giving Tuesday, you can help veterans in Texas and Mississippi defy those odds too.

Please consider supporting SoldierStrong’s mission on this special day so that we can give back to those veterans who gave so much to us – they are the ones who truly exemplify what it means to give.