Philly Sports Teams & Toyota Salute America's Military
Nov 7, 2022
Members of the United States Military are on call 365 days a year defending the interests and security of our nation. In honor of Veterans Day this month, four Philadelphia sports teams are teaming up again with their 25 local Toyota Dealers to thank, honor, and “salute” the 22 million brave men and women who have served in the Nation’s military. The month-long, market-wide military appreciation campaign centered around Veterans Day Week includes joint public-service messaging from Philadelphia’s Eagles (NFL), Phillies (MLB), 76ers (NBA), and Flyers (NHL) expressing appreciation and support for the men and women of America’s Armed Forces.
This collaborative effort for “Military Appreciation Month” in November is part of the larger ongoing partnership the Tri-State Toyota Dealers have with Philadelphia’s major professional sports teams with efforts to recognize, honor and support those who are serving – and, have served – in the U.S. Military.
“The Tri-State Toyota Dealers are pleased and honored to continue in the tradition of joining each of our Philadelphia sports teams to support our active military and veterans here in the Delaware Valley. These are our local service men and women to recognize and support,” said Paul Muller, President of the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association. “And, to be able to do that alongside all of our sports partners is a privilege, and quite frankly, it is a unique collaboration that doesn’t happen anywhere else in the country. It is purely ‘Philadelphian’, and we are so proud to take part,” Muller added.
The overall collaboration together with Toyota is part of each team’s individual efforts to “salute” active military members and honor veterans throughout the year.
“We salute all the men and women in uniform who day after day protect our freedom,” said Jackie Cuddeback, Phillies Senior Vice President, Partnership Sales and Corporate Marketing. “The Phillies are proud to once again partner with Toyota and our fellow sports teams in honoring those who bravely serve our country.”
A large part of the collaboration’s efforts in November will include honoring veterans and active members of the military during “military appreciation” games taking place at the Philadelphia Sports Complex throughout Veterans Day Weekend.
“Veterans Day is a time to honor retired military members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces,” said Don Smolenski, Philadelphia Eagles President. “We are fortunate to partner with the Tri-State Toyota Dealers and the Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers to recognize veterans and service members across all our platforms throughout the week.”
The Philadelphia sports community’s kick-off to the 2022 military appreciation tributes occurs on Saturday, November 12, at The Wells Fargo Center during the Sixers’ annual “Stars and Stripes” game presented by Toyota.
“We are thankful every day for the individuals who sacrifice so much to protect our freedom,” said Katie O’Reilly, 76ers Chief Revenue Officer. “The 76ers are proud to join Toyota and our fellow Philadelphia sports teams in recognizing these individuals all year long, but especially during Military Appreciation Month.”
The “military appreciation” initiatives will continue with Toyota-sponsored events at The Wells Fargo Center for the Flyers on Sunday, November 13 for the “Military Appreciation” game.
“The Philadelphia Flyers organization is honored to once again partner with Toyota to recognize and thank the brave men and women of our armed forces who sacrifice so much for all of us,” said Valerie Camillo, CEO of Spectacor Sports & Entertainment. “With the help of Toyota, our Military Appreciation Game is always an incredibly special day for our organization and our entire community, and we’re looking forward to celebrating active servicemembers, veterans, and their families at our game on Sunday.”
This effort then culminating on Monday, November 14 at the Eagles “Salute to Service” game presented by Toyota.
“We especially look forward to honoring these brave men and women at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday, November 14. Every year, our Salute to Service game is an opportunity for us to join Eagles fans to thank our active and retired military personnel for their service” added Smolenski.
Each of these Philadelphia professional sports teams are deeply involved in their communities, supporting veterans and active military members. As a part of those activities, each team supports Toyota’s efforts to highlight the Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
During all three military appreciation games in November, the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers, and Eagles will recognize honored veterans who are also HOH Ambassadors: U.S. Marine Sergeant, Dakota Meyer (Ret.); U.S. Army First Lieutenant, Melissa Stockwell (Ret.); U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, Rico Roman (Ret.); and The Honorable Patrick Murphy, U.S. Army veteran and former Pennsylvania Congressman, U.S. Congressman, and the 32nd Undersecretary of the U.S. Army.
Collectively representing our Nation’s armed services, all four of these honored veterans will be recognized for their work as Hiring Our Heroes Ambassadors helping veterans, service personnel and military spouses to find meaningful jobs and careers once they return to civilian life.
Hiring Our Heroes is an important program helping to enable those brave men and women who have served with tools and opportunities to translate their valuable skills and experience back into civilian life, including the Drive Your Future Initiative championed by Medal of Honor Recipient and HOH Brand Ambassador, Marine Sergeant Dakota Meyer (Ret.).
“Leaving the Marine Corps was fraught with the unknown,” states Sgt. Meyer. “That transition period to civilian life is when doubt, tension, and fear creep in and it feels like there’s no safety net. Empowering and equipping service members and their families to rely on the same resilience and strength they had during service is integral to a successful transition. The chapter after military service can be equally rewarding - Veterans are the backbone of society and by working together this population can thrive post service.”
First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell (Ret.) joined the Army in 2002 following her graduation from the University of Colorado. Two years later, she became the first female soldier in U.S. history to lose a limb in active combat after a roadside bomb struck her Humvee during a deployment to Iraq. Melissa joined Hiring Our Heroes and Toyota as a “Drive Your Future” Ambassador in 2020 to ensure service members, veterans and family members are prepared to drive their future and plan for their next career move.
“I am honored to be a part of the military appreciation events put on by Toyota and Hiring Our Heroes this year with the Philadelphia sports teams,” begins Lt. Stockwell. “It's a testament to their support for Veterans like myself and that they take the time to recognize those who have worn our nation's uniform. I hope this can bring awareness to Hiring our Heroes as they continue to ease the transition from military to civilian life. Thanks to the sports teams for recognizing our service and taking time to honor our service!”
Army Staff Sergeant Rico Roman (Ret.) had his left leg amputated above the knee when wounded by an improvised explosive device while serving his third tour in Iraq in February of 2007. As a Purple Heart recipient, he was introduced to sled hockey in 2008 by Operation Comfort, an organization dedicated to assisting injured U.S. service personnel at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Staff Sergeant Roman joins Toyota initiative to champion the ongoing support of the military and veteran communities.
“I am so thrilled to be part of Team Toyota during these military appreciation events and celebrating the great partnership with Hiring Our Heroes,” states Staff Sgt. Roman. “This partnership is so important in providing resources to veterans who return into civilian life after serving in the U.S. Military. Thank you to all who have served and those who support us."
Similar to Sgt. Meyer, Lt. Stockwell, and Staff Sgt. Roman, The Honorable Patrick Murphy is a retired combat veteran who is also now a Drive Your Future Ambassador for the Hiring Our Heroes program, committed to helping our Nation’s veterans and their spouses find meaningful employment.
A former member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, United States Congressman, and the 32nd Undersecretary of the U.S. Army, Hon. Murphy will be in his hometown of Philadelphia throughout Veterans Day Week working with Sgt. Meyer, Lt. Stockwell, Staff Sgt. Roman, Toyota, the Philadelphia sports teams, and local media outlets to highlight the importance of helping veterans successfully transition back into civilian life.
For the past nine years, Toyota has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on its Hiring Our Heroes initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful jobs.
“At Toyota, we believe that hiring veterans is a smart move and a great investment. We encourage every business to support returning service members who are starting new chapters of their lives,” said Ben Pyle, General Manager of Toyota Motor North America’s Central Atlantic Region.
“As part of the overall ‘Toyota Family’, the support we place behind the Hiring Our Heroes program and the invaluable work our Ambassadors, and so many others are doing to help our vets assimilate back into civilian life is one of the most-important things we do year-long as the local Toyota Dealers here in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys,” said the Tri-State Toyota Dealers’ President, Paul Muller.
The Hiring Our Heroes program, championed in partnership with Toyota by Sgt. Dakota Meyer, Lt. Stockwell, Staff Sgt. Roman, and The Honorable Patrick Murphy, is an initiative that resonates with Philadelphia’s professional sports teams:
“Hiring Our Heroes is a wonderful program that provides much needed assistance to veterans who are entering the workforce after their service,” said Cuddeback. “We are honored to support the efforts of Toyota and the Tri-State Toyota Dealers in this commitment to members of our military.”
To support their mission, visit ResumeEngine.org, MyCareerSpark.org, and HiringOurHeroes.org to learn more about the Hiring Our Heroes program and how you may help and get involved. And, to support the military appreciation efforts from each of the Philadelphia sports teams, purchase tickets to the games honoring the brave men and women of the American Armed Forces.
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Media Contact:
Jennine Craig
jennine.craig@saatchifield.com
610-730-8116
About Hiring Our Heroes
Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, “Hiring Our Heroes” has helped hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment through more than 860 job fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Germany; a suite of free online career-based resources; and the Hiring 500,000 Heroes campaign.