As of Tuesday, Oct. 22, there is still no definite knowledge on the total profit raised from the Wounded Warrior Weekend fundraiser with the selling of the T-shirts.
Assistant Director of First Year Experience & Family Programs Stacey Wilkerson estimated that around $1,000 was raised over the weekend.
Computer Operations Manager for Information Technology Services Crystal Thibault estimated that around $1,200 to $1,500 was raised over the weekend.
All proceeds from Wounded Warrior Weekend will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit veterans service organization that assists wounded veterans and their families.
This year’s schedule of events included the Longwood Wounded Warrior Weekend (LW3) Benefit Soccer Game on Oct. 18 as well as the Memorial 5K Walk/Run and the Longwood Women’s Soccer Game on Oct. 19.
Profits raised from the events came from Wounded Warrior Weekend T-shirts that were sold at $15 each. Admission into the Memorial 5K Walk/Run required the purchase of a Wounded Warrior Weekend T-shirt.
The T-shirts were available for purchase in the lobby of Dorrill Dining Hall from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11 and from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18. They were also available for purchase at the Wounded Warrior events as well.
Wilkerson stated that cost this year for organizing Wounded Warrior Weekend was the same as the previous year, stating, “There’s not really any difference.”
The only main expenditure in the making of the event is the printing of T-shirts, reported Wilkerson.
Wilkerson could not comment on the number of T-shirts that were printed or the total cost of the printing of them.
She said that the Wounded Warriors Committee will continue to sell T-shirts, stating, “There was a surplus from the weekend.”
Concerning the number of attendance for the weekend, Thibault estimated that around 100 people attended LW3 Benefit Soccer Game along with the participants, while around 100 people participated in the 5K Walk/Run as well.
Thibault commented that this year’s LW3 Benefit Soccer Game seemed better attended than in the past.
Otherwise, she said, “It was about the same as far as participation-wise and as far as how much money we raised.”
Wounded Warrior Weekend is organized by the Wounded Warrior Weekend Committee, which is composed of Wilkerson, Thibault, Longwood APMS of ROTC Stephan Ruppel-Lee and Head Women’s Soccer Coach Todd Dyer. Thibault mentioned that Athletics Director for Marketing and Game Operations Eric Stoller assisted that Committee as well.
Associate Women’s Soccer Coach Steve Brdarski was a long-time member of the Committee. Since February 2013, Brdarski currently works as soccer head coach at St. Bonaventure University.
With Brdarski’s absence, Wilkerson said, “[Dyer] just stepped right in and took up any slack that would have been there.”
Wilkerson has been a member of the Wounded Warrior Weekend Committee for five years now.
Wilkerson said, “I’m really honored to be a part of something like this because I think we not only get to honor wounded warriors and fallen soldiers in general, but wounded warriors and fallen soldiers that are Longwood alum and members of our community.”
She added, “I think it’s probably one of the most meaningful things I get to do here and something that I look forward to every year.”
Thibault has been a member of the Wounded Warrior Weekend Committee for four years now.
While Wilkerson described Thibault as leading the group and “[doing] just an excellent job on putting it all together and keeping us all on track,” Thibault stated that she was in no way the head of the Committee.
“There’s never really been a head of the committee. We’ve always just kind of worked together to do it,” Thibault said.
Sharing her thoughts on being a member of the Wounded Warrior Weekend Committee, Thibault said, “It means a lot to me. I have a lot of friends, especially my best friend’s husband. He was in the army, and my father-in-law was a wounded warrior back in the Vietnam War. So, it means a lot to me to be able to give something back to the individuals that sacrifice so much for us.”
