The Wounded Warrior Wolfpack basketball team narrowly defeated members of the Loews of Coronado Good Neighbor Program on June 25. In what began as a blowout ended in a 21-20 victory aided in part by Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka’s “liberal” refereeing. By all accounts, the Wolfpack wheeled away with the victory but the real winner of the fundraising event was the Travis Manion Foundation, which was the beneficiary of $2100 in donations.
“This was a great event for a worthy cause,” said Ben Hallowell, one of the driving forces behind Old Goats along with Sam Ward and Ian Shaw. “We were able to have fun and raise money in support of veterans and their families.”
The event, which also included friendly competition between Coronado Rotary and Optimist Clubs and the Wolfpack, is one of numerous events sponsored by Old Goats each year. According to Hallowell, it helped raise awareness of the Foundation and generated momentum for numerous events sponsored throughout the year by Old Goats including its November 11-13 event during which five Wounded Warriors – and their families – will be honored for their service and sacrifice.
The Old Goats was formed in 2008 as an informal group of USNA graduates to provide dinner, movie and sports tickets to the wounded warriors in the C5 unit at Balboa Naval Hospital. It has since evolved into actively supporting veterans and their families with events such as a Veterans Day weekend retreat and a Thanksgiving turkey dinner delivery. Additionally, the Old Goats currently work with Peter Harsch Prosthetics and the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station to reach those wounded warriors who are no longer on active duty and are transitioning to civilian life.
