2018 Annual Report Who We Are

Mission/Vision

Merging Vets Merging Vets And Players (MVP) was peer-to-peer mentorship is And Players’ supported by professional created in 2015 by NFL insider Jay mission is What We Do Our People staff who also provide to match up Glazer and former Green Beret and connection as appropriate Program staff are combat combat veterans Our program combines a to necessary services. veterans trained in NFL Player Nate Boyer to address and former physical workout with peer- MVP recognizes that intervention models for the the unique challenges faced by both professional to-peer mentoring. Once a whether injured on the treatment of trauma. They combat veterans and retired athletes. athletes week our members come field or in the field of battle, leverage their network, together ­­-- after together for a workout athletes and vets often understanding of veteran the uniform facilitated by expert trainers share physical challenges. services and culture, and These men and women can benefit comes off -- to in an elite gym. The gym They also share mental their own challenges give them a new provides a setting where challenges. It has many of transition to build from each other’s strengths, team to tackle veterans/players feel names, but PTSD is not relationships with veteran experience and abilities to unlock their the transition comfortable and confident. confined to wartime members. The interactive together. Participation in the workout combat. It is a diagnosable MVP training provides staff full potential and lead their families, is good for the body & mental condition that with the tools to amplify the communities and country toward a brain. accompanies multiple kinds impact of their peer support of trauma. As a result, and physical activity better future. Following the workout, they both vets and players face program. Our training participate in the “huddle”, transition that is often and program model were an opportunity for them to accompanied by a loss of developed by recognized come together, recognizing purpose and identity. experts in the field of their earned scars. The mentoring and trauma- huddle, facilitated by MVP members can also informed techniques. specially trained facilitators, participate in 4 service offers support and shared projects and 10 network experience in the hope building events. Events are of helping others choose inclusive of their peers, strategies that will also help family, and friends and them be successful. This strengthen the foundation 3 PARTICIPANTS RETENTION PROGRAM OUR 1,000+ 92% 95% program participants members retained reported high levels of IMPACT in four key cities from 2017 to 2018 satisfaction in program

HOURS IMPACT RESOURCES EXPANSION

9,965 500% 90% 3 program hours more participants reported high levels of new locations in Atlanta, provided to participants attending 4+ sessions satisfaction in resources Chicago, and Las Vegas

4 5 2018 STORIES

Michael Strahan

In October, Good Morning America host and NFL Veteran Michael Strahan and MVP Ambassador participated in a session with our Los Angeles Chapter. Michael interviewed some of the MVP participants about their experiences and revealed his own connection to the military in his family along with his own personal struggles of transition out of the NFL. At the end of the session Michael surprised all of our members with workout gear from his line MSX. 7 Heracio “Junior” Aguilar LOS ANGELES

I been with MVP since the earliest stages so going on about 3 years now. I can Home for the Holidays still recall my first experience being a bit uncomfortable upon walking into the gym In 2018, Merging Vets And Players partnered with and participating in the session, however, Hilton Hotels, American Airlines, and Michael Strahan in due time that changed. I not only grew for the Home For The Holidays Campaign. The holidays as a person mentally but physically, in the are a challenging time for our members who often time spent with MVP. I went on mission feel isolated during their transition. To counter this, with a small group from MVP to Hurricane we provide the opportunity for four of our members Harvey where we assisted in relief efforts, across the US to be reunited with loved ones during MVP has given me the chance to feel and the holiday season. We know relationships matter and act like a solider again with my fellow even more so during the holidays. brothers in arms. In fact, I even have lost over 80 pounds throughout my time with MVP and am back down to Army weight! Lyft Rides Lyft rides support me in several ways, I live In 2018, MVP partnered with Lyft to a bit further than most from where MVP The person who visited me during MVP’s Home for offer free rides to our MVP Members is held, the area isn’t exactly the safest the Holidays was my younger brother Josh, who I was in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and neighborhood, and public transportation very close to growing up. The last time I saw him was Chicago. Transportation can be an is very challenging at night due to bus two years ago, January 2017. The best part of being obstacle for some of our members routes being limited. With that being said, reconnected for the holidays with my brother, Josh, to get to program. Operating in my attendance at program had been was not only getting to spend time with him exploring cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles affected at times since I started anew Southern California but also introduce him to my new where public transportation is job that required early shifts. After MVP world in a much more positive manner. unreliable creates an initial barrier sessions, I would take a bus that was over to participate in our program. an hour long leaving me with only a few Last time Josh visited me I was homeless, so for This can set our members back in hours of sleep per night at best. With the him to see the change in my life was amazing. I now their transition process and many Lyft rides that MVP was provided, I have have an apartment, an extensive support network of rely on our weekly programming been able to cut that trip home by more friends, veterans’ organizations that I’m involved with to feel mentally and physically than half the time, thus allowing me to and continuously contribute to, steady work, and I’m healthy throughout their week. obtain adequate sleep and rest. I am now finishing up my undergraduate degree at California Though Lyft’s donation, together Andi Ward able to attend the program that has been State University, Northridge studying Kinesiology. As a we provided over 100 rides to our important to my progress in regards to LOS ANGELES person, I am more at peace, more comfortable in my members. my transition mentally, physically, and sobriety, and more rooted in my community because professionally. of MVP and this experience they afforded me. 9 MEMBER STORIES

Roy was introduced to MVP by a fellow member. He attended the Las Vegas chapter’s first anniversary session and immediately felt like he was part of a family again.“ MVP to me is that feeling of comradery and esprit de corps that we find in service, unable to be replicated anywhere else for veterans. It has been monumental and instrumental to my transition. It’s a tribal and family community. I have lost too many brothers and sisters in combat and after combat while dealing with their own internal wars. I have helped many of them while I was on active duty and now that I’m retired by listening and continuing to being a mentor.”

Roy sees that MVP is an outlet for his fellow service members and it keeps them moving forward through transition—it is a house of hope, sanctuary, and a family reunion every week with a good workout in between. It Roy Flores resonates with what’s worked for him in his transition of balancing it family, laughter, and U.S. ARMY VETERAN “I have lost too many sweat. brothers and sisters He believes his next step in helping out his in combat and after Vegas MVP community is by simply showing Roy was born and raised in and around the combat while dealing that if he can transition well—they can as well. projects in the Bronx, New York. His parents were immigrants who became naturalized citizens. with their own internal During his career, he was deployed to Iraq In addition to Roy’s new job, his family and MVP, and did two tours back-to-back from 2003- He joined the Army in 1994 and believed in the wars. I have helped he is working on a book/screenplay tentatively Army’s values of a brotherhood of men and 2005. During an extensive, year-long process titled: From Bronx to Bagdad and Everywhere women and the belief of defending the nation many of them while I he applied and was selected to serve in the in Between based on the journals and logs he White House Communications Agency from with the values of good vs. evil. When he signed was on active duty and kept during his time in the Army. “I want to up for my first 4-year tour, he thought “when I’m 2009-2013 until another deployment in 2014. leave a legacy for my kids that shows a human done, I’m done” but he stayed in for 23 years. now that I’m retired by In late 2014 he returned to Fort Drum, New element and also a behind-the-scenes look at During his first year, both of his parents died. “I York until he retired in 2017 and moved to military life.” was an only child, and at 18 the Army became my listening and continuing Las Vegas with his wife and two children. After family.” to being a mentor. leaving the Army, he took a couple of months “ off to regroup and started a new job in 2019 in Project Management in the entertainment industry. 10 11 MEMBER STORIES

“For a year I went into isolation and was full of rage. I was married to Kelsey and had James, my first child. I didn’t talk to my wife, family, or friends.” He found a job in Texas at General Electric as a steam turbine engineer but after three years the pain was too much. The first spine fusion surgery in 2013 for holes in his vertebrae didn’t work. He gained 300 lbs., couldn’t face a second rehab, and was out of work for another year.

Then he heard from Tony Stewart, a former teammate, that Jay Glazer was launching a program working with veterans and athletes in transition and in 2015 agreed to be the first retired football player to participate in the retreat that became MVP. “Jay was in the process of creating a safe place to connect retired professional athletes and veterans. The guys in the group felt a good sense of relief sharing their experiences and just listening to the others: “We went through different things, some had injuries, and feeling a sense of loss of our identity. As a former professional athlete, people tend to Orenthall ‘Oren’ James O’Neal Oakland Raiders, his agent, We went through different Oren O’Neil He started playing Pee Wee and numerous friends. He see you in a certain way and don’t really “ football at age 9. Despite great joined the Raiders as the first respect your daily struggles, but MVP is things, some had injuries, FORMER NFL PLAYER technique, hustle, effort, and pick of Round 6 of the NFL different.” love for the game, no college Draf. and led the Raiders 2007 and feeling a sense of loss Oren went back to Dallas but kept in was interested. Pursuing his run offense into sixth place in of our identity. As a former dream, he decided to ‘walk- the NFL. Then disaster struck. touch with the people he met at the on’ for a chance to play. He In 2008, he went down with retreat and MVP. Now he is expressing professional athlete, people sat out the entire season and severe physical injuries. He his anxiety in poetry: “I write poems was eventually awarded a full was out for the whole 2008- for my kids so they know my story tend to see you in a certain scholarship. 2009 season. He came back and to pass down some hard-earned way and don’t really respect as a starter in the 2009-2010 wisdom to them.” His next venture On Sunday, April 29, 2007, season, but injured his back is a nonprofit dedicated to helping your daily struggles, but MVP underserved youth by exposing them Oren was sitting in church and and ankle and was cut from is different. ignoring the buzz of his cell the team in April 2010. His to new opportunities that’ll show them “ phone, missing calls from the football career was over. possibility for their future. 12 Donors & Supporters WAYS TO GIVE

$250,000 and above KEY SUPPORTER $1,000 - $24,999 Mountain Primal Meat Company 872 Laborers Armstrong Foundation $100,000 - $199,999 Chicago Bears McCarthy Family Foundation Chicago Cubs Blakely Paige Denver Broncos DTAGs LLC Fox Sports Annual Giving resources to help our you gain valuable marketing $50,000 - $99,999 members transition with life exposure, which contributes to Golden Knights Foundation Annual gifts to Merging Vets American Airlines skills and support they need your profitability and creates Gugliotta Family Foundation And Players provide much- to transition successfully. healthier communities where Bob Woodruff Foundation needed, unrestricted support Peter & Stacy Hochfelder Charitable your business will thrive. We Dan Quinn to sustain daily operations and Planned Giving offer a multitude of corporate Foundation fund our program that gives National Football League (NFL) partnership opportunities., Raiders Foundation a weekly supportive team of A planned gift will ensure MVP from sponsorship of high- Rock N Reilys peers to combat veterans and members will have a positive profile events, to experiences former professional athletes. and supportive environment $25,000 - $49,999 Marines Care Foundation that enhance our members’ Plan your annual donation to each week to thrive, leading success. Through partnerships Bellator MMA The Gostfrand Family Merging Vets And Players and to more successful and your company will invest in Robert McCormick Foundation The Kelley Family know that your contribution productive futures. Create providing a better future to will ensure MVP can continue your legacy and ensure The Oplinger Family The Morini Family combat veterans and former to offer life changing our valuable, life-changing professional athletes while Workforce Software The Pack Family programming to the nations program continues to serve gaining valuable recognition The Modell Family combat veterans and former future members. and exposure. professional athletes. The James Family Other Ways To Give The Slater Family Endowment Corporate Social Responsibility The Starker Family We also have unique Endowing Merging Vets And opportunities for you to Seattle Seahawks Players with sizable gifts and By investing in Merging Vets And Players you are making a respond to the needs of our Silicon Valley Community Foundation bequests is ensuring peer combat veterans and former support for present and future tangible impact on the lives of Supervisor Shelia Kuehl combat veterans and former professional athletes. Please combat veterans and former visit vetsandplayers.org for SMAC Entertainment athletes in transition. Your professional athletes who will successfully transition and more information. Southern California Gas Company donation will have a lasting impact over time, providing become leaders and your future employees. In addition, 14 15 Financials

“The people that I’ve met here are the building blocks for the rest of my life. Without the conversations at MVP I wouldn’t be as far in my recovery. “ 8% 84% 8% Administration Program Fundraising - Kirstie Ennis (left) MARINE VETERAN

16 CONTACT US

Los Angeles Chicago Unbreakable Performance Center POW! Gym Chicago 8225 W. Sunset Blvd. 310 South Racine Ave, 1st Floor West Hollywood 90069 Chicago, IL 60607 (323) 536-9322 (312) 829-7699

Atlanta Las Vegas Team Manu MMA Club Xtreme Couture MMA 2652 South Cobb Dr. 4055 West Sunsent Rd. Smyrna, GA 30080 Las Vegas, NV 89118 (404) 316-1110 (702) 616-1022

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