Bayer and the New York Red Bulls will be honoring military and law enforcement heroes at the Red Bulls match against the Chicago Fire tonight.
On this special night, members of Bayer’s veteran-employee organization, Bayer Resource for Armed Forces Veterans (BRAVE), along with veterans supported by the veterans-service organization, Community Hope, will be honored during the pregame ceremonies. A total of 100 veterans and their families will hold a field-sized United States flag across the pitch. Additionally, two veterans, Specialist Fernando Lopez and Sergeant Cesar La Serna, will conduct the pregame coin toss.
Specialist Fernando Lopez, a combat veteran of the Iraq War, was faced with homelessness and a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2014, when he turned to Community Hope for help. With Community Hope’s assistance, Specialist Lopez was able to find an apartment in Jersey City. He also finished chemotherapy and radiation treatment last month.
Also receiving special recognition that night will be children and families of fallen New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers. As part of the recognition, these children will escort the Red Bulls players onto the pitch before the game, greet the players at halftime and receive their own personalized Red Bulls uniform.
“Bayer is honored to recognize these courageous individuals for the sacrifices they have made for our communities and our country on the anniversary of September 11,” said Raymond F. Kerins, Jr., senior vice president and head of Communications, Government Relations and Policy for Bayer Corporation. Kerins, the son of a former NYPD homicide detective, is also the executive sponsor of BRAVE. “Like many of the Red Bulls fans who will be in attendance tonight, I have deep personal connections to our military and law enforcement communities. To see organizations like Bayer and the Red Bulls support and honor these heroes is a truly moving experience for me. ”
In the days and weeks leading up to the game, the Red Bulls announced that their Tickets For Troops program, usually reserved for matches around Memorial Day, would be rolled out to support the veterans attending Friday’s match. Tickets For Troops allows for anyone purchasing tickets to Friday’s match to donate tickets to veterans in Community Hope’s veterans-assistance programs.
“The New York Red Bulls are proud to join Bayer in honoring our military veterans and law enforcement families,” said Red Bulls General Manager Marc deGrandpre. “Our partnership with Bayer is built upon a commitment to social responsibility and community outreach. Tonight is a perfect illustration of this collective commitment.”
Earlier this year Bayer became the official Life Sciences Partner of the New York Red Bulls; many features of the partnership focus on employee involvement and community giveback opportunities. In addition to honoring first responders on September 11, Bayer and Red Bulls employees teamed up to rebuild a Nature Conservancy in Newark on September 8. The organizations will continue to work together on various volunteer efforts and employee engagement opportunities in the future.
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