As a freshman at Binghamton University, Maya Markowski was excited to collaborate with her new community to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. The Binghamton University Men’s club ice hockey team is a Division I AAU team, holding the title for 2023 AAU National Champions. The team hosts and travels for games multiple times a month, with their home games fostering great Bearcat pride.
Maya reached out to the team captains and fundraising chair in hopes of collaborating with the team. The board was very enthusiastic at the prospect and happily agreed to the raffle on November 8th, 2024. Mr. Henrik Lundqvist was very generous and sent a signed puck to be raffled off as the grand prize. Additional prizes were 3 gift baskets. Students and families that came out to support the team were eager to participate in the raffle, raising just over $400! The winner of the puck was a senior biology student! The team went to win 6-4 with a four goal third period comeback, ending the night triumphantly.
Created in 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project is an organization that supports veterans that served in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. Their services range from mental health counseling for PTSD, depression, and brain trauma, to career counseling, independent living programs, and rehabilitative care. These programs aid veterans to transition home safely and be empowered in their communities. WWP provides a network for warriors to share their stories and provide the opportunity to be speakers at external events. The Wounded Warrior Project acknowledges that veterans leave the service with physical and invisible wounds, and they deserve the utmost respect and support.
Maya is more than honored to have been given the opportunity by HLF to engage her community to support a great cause and make a difference in the lives of brave veterans.
