Philly sports teams & Toyota salute nation’s heroes
PHILADELPHIA (November 4, 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.
_“As the city where the Army and Marine Corps were founded, it is imperative we ensure our veterans and their spouses have economic opportunity and thrive in our communities. The global pandemic has skyrocketed military spouse unemployment rates to staggering levels which is a threat to the wellness of our military families_,” said Hon. Patrick Murphy.
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.
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.
Since 2012, Toyota has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the Hiring Our Heroes initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful jobs. Toyota worked with Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer and Hiring Our Heroes to develop free, online career resources that help vets and spouses translate all their military experiences and volunteer work into language that civilian employers understand. These tools, ResumeEngine.org and MyCareerSpark.org, help translate these skills and produce a tangible resume to be sent to hiring managers and employers. Over 10,525 vetted employers are currently in ResumeEngine.org and MyCareerSpark.org, searching these vet and spouse candidates to fill their open positions, including over 650 Toyota dealers.
About Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer (Ret.) | MOH RECIPIENT
Sergeant Dakota Meyer (Ret.) in is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the War in Afghanistan. He was presented with the Medal of Honor (MOH) for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Meyer was the third living recipient since the Vietnam War and first living United States Marine in 41 years to be so honored. Sgt. Dakota Meyer completed his active duty in 2010 and now serves in the Individual Ready Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He also serves as Toyota’s Brand Ambassador for “Hiring our Heroes,” working with Toyota to develop the Personal Branding Resume Engine at www.ResumeEngine.org – a free, online tool that helps veterans and transitioning service members develop a resume that captures the entirety of their military service and puts it in a language that resonates with civilian employers.
About First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell (Ret.)
Melissa Stockwell joined Hiring Our Heroes and Toyota as an Ambassador in 2020. Melissa 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. She is a two-time U.S. Paralympian, competing first in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics in swimming and later in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she won a bronze medal in triathlon. She is also a three-time world champion in triathlon.
About Staff Sergeant Rico Roman (Ret.)
Rico Roman is a retired Army Staff Sergeant that 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. Roman, a Purple Heart recipient, 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. In 2009, he joined his first major league hockey team and has been hooked ever since. In addition to sled hockey, Operation Comfort introduced Roman to hand cycling, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair football. Rico Made his debut on the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in 2011 and went on to secure a spot on his first Paralympic team in 2014. Three-time Paralympian (2014, 2018, 2022); Three-time medalist (3 gold); three-time world champion (2021, 2019, 2012)
About The Honorable Patrick Murphy
The Honorable Patrick Murphy joined Hiring Our Heroes and Toyota as a Personal Branding Ambassador in the fall of 2017. He is America's first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress and later served as the 32nd Undersecretary of the U.S. Army until January 2017. Hon. Murphy was America's first Iraq War Veteran elected to the U.S. Congress after serving two overseas deployments-Tuzla, Bosnia in 2002 and Baghdad, Iraq in 2003-04 and earned a Bronze Star for his service. Hon. Murphy provides keynote and opening remarks for Sports Expos, Community Engagement Events, and Transition Summits including Networking Receptions. He is heavily leveraged for engagements with U.S. Army installations.
About the Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the most storied franchises in the National Basketball Association, having won three World Championships, earning nine trips to The Finals and making 51 playoff appearances over 70 seasons. The Philadelphia 76ers organization is a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment property. For more information, visit philadelphia76ers.com.
About the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one name, one city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. Since 2004, the team's home has been Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia section of the city. For more information, visit phillies.com.
About the Philadelphia Flyers
Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers and its venue, the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers are one of the NHL’s iconic franchises, established in 1967. The team's “blue-collar” style of play and tireless work ethic has captured the hearts of Philadelphians over its 53 years of existence. The franchise has also been one of the NHL's most successful, with the league's second-best all-time winning percentage, 36 playoff appearances, two Stanley Cup championships and eight overall appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals. Currently, the team features a very young core group of players and a steady development plan for prospects, ensuring that the Flyers are poised to remain in the upper echelon of the NHL for many years to come. For more information, visit PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
About the Philadelphia Eagles
For more information, visit PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
About Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association
The Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association (TDA) is comprised of 25 Toyota Dealers in the Greater Philadelphia market dedicated to providing customers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Northwestern Delaware and Southern New Jersey communities with Toyota vehicle sales and service.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.