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TAPS Partners with NFL to Bring Together Bereaved Military Families from the U.S. and U.K.

Families of Fallen Military Heroes Connect in London to Create New Memories and Honor Their Loved Ones Together

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 24, 2018

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will partner with the National Football League (NFL) to host its 2018 TAPS U.K. Experience in London from October 25-29. The multi-day event will bring together bereaved military families from the United States and the United Kingdom to honor fallen heroes who served in the American or British Armed Forces. Families will have the opportunity to come together around football, extend their network of support and move forward on their grief journeys.

Since 1994, TAPS has served as the leading U.S. organization caring for the families of fallen American military service members. Through 25 years of service, TAPS has developed an effective peer-based emotional support model for bereaved military families that it now shares with partner nations all over the world. Thanks to its partnership with the NFL, TAPS has a special opportunity to engage with organizations in the U.K. to help support bereaved families of the British Armed Forces.

“The TAPS U.K. Experience, made possible by the NFL, is an extraordinary event bringing together surviving military families from two nations sharing a special friendship,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. “This international event will bring together those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom, and empower young people to effect positive change in our world.”

“This weekend is a great opportunity to unite survivors on both sides of the Atlantic to honor their loved ones,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson. “The NFL is proud to support TAPS as they continue their incredible work in the United States and extend support to families abroad.”

Specially trained TAPS Military and Legacy Mentors will take part in the U.K. Experience to share the TAPS model of mentorship with the U.K.-based Diana Award and Scotty’s Little Soldiers organizations. TAPS Legacy Mentors are bereaved military children who have received mentorship and care through TAPS and are now giving back by serving as mentors themselves. During the U.K. Experience, TAPS Legacy Mentors will have the chance to engage with young adult recipients of the Diana Award, who are similarly committed to giving back to their communities through service and mentorship.

“At The Diana Award, we believe in the power of peers, the power that young people have to create change,” said Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award. “We are excited about this opportunity to bring together young people from TAPS and young Diana Award holders to share their experiences, create a peer support network for themselves and work together on shared projects that create lasting change in their communities.”

TAPS Military Mentors are active-duty service members and recently separated veterans who serve as mentors and companions to bereaved military children and help maintain their connection to the military community. While in London, TAPS Military Mentors from both the U.S. and British Armed Forces will support bereaved U.K. and American military children. It will be the first time the TAPS military mentorship program is introduced to the U.K. children and young adults receiving care from Scotty’s Little Soldiers.

“I’m incredibly proud of how our relationship with TAPS has developed over the last few years,” said Nikki Scott, founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers. “The shared experiences and new memories we’ve helped create for bereaved Forces children both in the U.K. and the U.S. is what makes our relationship so special.”

INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:

The TAPS U.K. Experience will begin on October 25 and culminate with the Philadelphia Eagles v. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Game at Wembley Stadium on October 28.

Available for interviews are:

  • Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder
  • Diana Hosford, TAPS Vice President of Sports and Entertainment
  • Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award
  • Nikki Scott, Founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers
  • British Army Major Oliver Ford, TAPS Military Mentor
  • Surviving families of fallen U.S. and British Armed Forces service members

To schedule interviews, please contact Rita Barry-Corke in Washington, D.C. at media@taps.org or +1 (860) 304-1807.

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ABOUT TAPS

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the leading U.S. organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 80,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).  

ABOUT THE DIANA AWARD

The Diana Award is a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world. We aim to foster, develop and inspire positive change in the lives of young people and we are proud to have the support of TRHs The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Diana Award is given out in Diana, Princess of Wales’ name to young role models who are selflessly transforming the lives of others.  We are looking to recognise young people going above and beyond in their daily lives to create and sustain positive change. For more information or to make a nomination visit - http://diana-award.org.uk/nomination-centre/.

ABOUT SCOTTY’S LITTLE SOLDIERS

Founded by war widow Nikki Scott in 2010, Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports children and young people across the U.K. who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces. The charity was set up in memory of Nikki’s husband and father to her two children, Corporal Lee Scott, after he was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. The charity honours Corporal Lee Scott’s memory – both as a loyal soldier and a loving father – and provides a practical yet personal way for the public at large to show their appreciation for those brave individuals who make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. Currently Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports 354 bereaved Forces children and runs a variety of programmes to help children smile again and look forward to a brighter future. You can visit the charity online at http://www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/.