The American Sportscasters Association Mounts a National Campaign to Promote the Efforts of the Pentagon's Warrior & Family Support Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 22, 2010
Contact: Patrick Turturro 212-227-8080

New York, NY – The American Sportscasters Association (ASA), is working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s “Warrior & Family Support” program and its efforts to promote “The Sea of Goodwill,” a white paper written by Maj. John W. Copeland and Col. David W. Sutherland which focuses on helping a war veteran, especially those wounded in battle, and their families, reintegrate into civilian society. The ASA has designed a national campaign to promote this program.

The ASA, via radio, TV, and field activities, will attempt to educate the public on the trials and tribulations a wounded veteran goes through as he or she attempts to make the transition back into civilian life and where they might go for help in these matters.

This is a result of a meeting in New York City with ASA President Louis O. Schwartz; Patrick Turturro, Special Assistant to Mr. Schwartz; Col. David W. Sutherland, Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his staff of Maj. Ed Kennedy and LCDR Kim Mitchell, and subsequent telephone conversations. Col. Sutherland serves as Director of the Joint Staff’s Warrior & Family Support program.

The following is a preliminary outline of some of the activities we plan to achieve in support of this program:

1. PSAs FEATURING SPORTSCASTERS, ATHLETES, OR OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES & CELEBRITIES, FOR TV AND/OR RADIO

2. IN THE BOOTH -TV & RADIO - Visits to the broadcast booth during a sporting event by Pentagon officials and veterans for an on-air interview.

3. HANDOUTS AT SPORTING EVENTS - Listing problems that the disabled veterans endure and ways the public can help.

4. CELEBRATING WOUNDED WARRIORS ON THE BIG SCREEN IN STADIUMS - Veterans who are invited as guests.

5. SPECIAL PROGRAM AT MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS - Featuring a video which would be shown throughout the country via TV.

6. CREATE A WORKSHOP FOR VETERANS TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A SPORTSCASTER OR OTHER POSITIONS IN THE SPORTS BROADCASTING FIELD.

Lou Schwartz, President of the ASA stated, “It was a special thrill for me to meet with Col. Sutherland and listen to his comments and passion for the disabled veterans and how important it is to assist them in their recovery and re-entry into civilian life. The ASA and I look forward to the honor of working with Col. Sutherland and his staff in their “Warrior & Family Support” mission to improve the quality of life for our heroes and their families, past, present and future.”

Dick Enberg, Chairman of the ASA and TV Voice of the San Diego Padres; Bill Walton, NBA Hall of Famer and former ABC/ESPN basketball analyst; Warner Wolf, former WCBS-TV sports anchor; and Bert Sugar, noted author and boxing historian, are the first ones who have agreed to take part in this series of public service announcements.

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