Super Bowl A Great Opportunity To Promote The Wounded Warrior Project
CBS4's Jamie Leary is driving to California's Bay area with photographer Michael Abeyta for Super Bowl 50. They left from Denver early Monday morning will be filing reports about the Denver Broncos along the way.
SAN MATEO, Colo. (CBS4) - The Super Bowl brings with it a lot of promotional opportunities. A single ad can do wonders for a business or organization. It's not often we get to see these benefits from the charitable side of things. For the Super Bowl Weekend, the Wounded Warriors Project took the opportunity to a star-studded event at the College of San Mateo.
Saturday the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team (WWAFT) took on San Francisco NFL alumni.
"These guys are the people that are the true heroes. Bring a little fun for everybody and make a little," said Jim Leonhard, a former pro for San Diego and San Francisco.
The WWAFT is comprised of servicemen and women who have suffered mentally and physically.
"I've been to all the bad places. I was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq and that blast removed my legs from the knee down," said Davey Lind, a retired Marine Master Seargent.
But for guys like Lind, "To be able to get out here and play with our team and some of the alumni, it's great because you have guys who have been through similar experiences."
It's all a part of the mission of the WWAFT to raise awareness and support for the warriors and their families. Additionally, by showcasing the team on the football field, the WWAFT hopes to demonstrate that "a loss of a limb doesn't mean the loss of an athletic career."
Having celebrity guests on the WWAFT like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Jen Welter, the first female coach of the NFL, helps ensure the important message gets attention.
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"There's no better feeling in the world," said Welter just before dashing back onto the field.
All the proceeds from Saturday's game went right back into the WWAFT, disabled veterans programs in the Bay Area, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
