Green Bay Packers Give Back today announced that the organization has awarded a $250,000 Veterans Impact Grant to the Flight of Champions Fund.
Donations to the fund help cover the cost of the honor flights that leave from Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport as part of the Flight of Champions effort between the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers. The Flight of Champions honors veterans who served in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War by bringing them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials and monuments dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Each sports team sponsors a planeload of veterans, guardians and team representatives from their area.
This grant will fund future flights out of Green Bay, ensuring that more than 100 veterans can fly out of northeast Wisconsin to spend the day touring Washington D.C.
"Having been part of the Flight of Champions from the beginning has been an honor for me," said Al Timmerman, Jet Air Group CEO and Flight of Champions board member. "Listening to the veterans' experiences, watching them come off the plane with tears in their eyes has been a wonderful experience. Seeing them feel proud of what they went through and feel good about themselves. Listening to one veteran talk about being 17 years old, getting ready for church at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941. What a special way this is to give back to our vets. This grant will allow more veterans to experience recognition for their service."
The Packers have supported the Flight of Champions effort since 2019, helping support the flights through donations and by providing Packers alumni as guardians to assist the veterans throughout the day, serve as companions and make sure they have a safe and memorable experience.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Packers Give Back has awarded the Veterans Impact Grant specifically for organizations that serve veterans and their families. A component of the Green Bay Packers Give Back program, the grants, combined with other Packers charity endeavors, contribute to a comprehensive Packers charity impact in excess of $11 million in the past year.
