RVC Outdoor Destinations, the leading provider of high-quality
outdoor vacation properties in the United States, today announced the launch of
its Wounded Warrior Fishing sponsorship, an
initiative underscoring the company’s commitment to active and retired military
personnel.
RVC Outdoor Destinations has partnered with retired U.S. Air
Force Staff Sgt. and current U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Mark McDuffie, to offer the
program, which is designed to help soldiers injured physically or mentally in
Iraq or Afghanistan relax and enjoy the outdoors with their families. The
Wounded Warrior Fishing program, headquartered at the company’s Live Oak Landing
property in Freeport, Fla., will host an injured soldier and his or her family
one night each week to enjoy the outdoors through activities such as fishing
trips, river tours, onsite recreation activities and a cookout – all free of
charge.
McDuffie first started the program a year ago, as a
nonprofit called Wounded Warrior Fishing. Injured while fighting in Iraq and
now fully recovered, McDuffie operates at the Live Oak Landing property and
will head up the new partnership sponsored by RVC.
“Having been wounded at war, I can relate to what many of
these injured soldiers are going through,” said McDuffie. “I know that when soldiers
suffer, their families do too, and while I can’t take away their pain or
completely understand their particular situation, I can offer them time to
relax with their families. At the end of the day, if we can put a smile on
their faces for a few hours or for a weekend, we’ve done our job.”
Wounded Warrior Fishing and RVC will officially kick-off the
program on Memorial Day weekend to coincide with
the unofficial start of the summer travel season. In addition to the weekly
sponsored accommodations, Live Oak Landing will host 10 injured soldiers and
their families during an end-of-summer celebration the last weekend of
September. The group will be able to fish with local professionals, take boat
rides on the Choctawhatchee Bay, eat BBQ from local restaurants, enjoy massages
and relax.
Besides
the new Wounded Warrior Fishing sponsorship, RVC also offers active and retired
military members discounts on lodging, and several of its properties offer a free
RV site rental for active service men and women through the Tents for Troops
program. RVC locations individually raise money for regionally based military
charities through their own events and fundraisers throughout the year.
“RVC believes in taking care of the military
men and women who have made a tremendous sacrifice for our country,” said Andy
Cates, president of RVC Outdoor Destinations. “We wanted to find a meaningful
way to say ‘thank you,’ and for us that means giving them a chance to have some
fun in the great outdoors with their families.
The
Wounded Warrior Fishing program is part of RVC’s corporate commitment to give
back to these brave individuals. At each of our properties, we have different
ways of reaching out to the military community, knowing that each region has unique
needs. We’re always searching for new ways to show them how truly grateful we
are for everything they have done, for all of us.”
To
nominate someone for the Wounded Warrior Fishing program, please contact
McDuffie at mark_mcduffie@hotmail.com or call RVC’s Live Oak
Landing at 877-436-5063.
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