The U.S. Air Force Academy’s cadet wing selects a local veteran charity each year to sponsor as part of its annual Wing Open Boxing tournament.  For the second year in a row the cadets selected the veteran support group called The Home Front Cares (THFC).  This non-profit organization is led by local retired military members and has the sole purpose of helping needy veterans and military families with rent/mortgage payments, utilities, car and home repairs, childcare and groceries, as well as other essential life needs. (See more info at their website – http://thehomefrontcares.org/)

The Air Force Association’s Lance P. Sijan Chapter partnered with the cadets and the Rampart Alumni Chapter of the Academy’s Association of Graduates to host a pizza party for augmenting funds to help the cause.  The pizza party was held two hours prior to the tournament on February 19th in the Cadet Field House and nearly 80 attendees enjoyed as much pizza and soft drinks as they could consume.  Additionally, several attendees admitted the sole reason they participate each year is to enjoy Cathy Cooper’s famous chocolate truffles, an annual tradition for the party.  Sijan Chapter Community Partners not only donated the food and drink, but also provided a dozen door prizes that help to draw attendees year after year.

Sijan Chapter hosts were Bob and Cathy Cooper who have led the event for ten of the past twelve years.  A lifetime member since 1992, Bob stated, “Faithful volunteers from both the Sijan AFA Chapter and the Rampart Chapter of the Academy’s AOG make this event a lot of fun; the result is a remarkable involvement from the local community.”

The pizza party netted $950 and the Sijan Chapter added $1,000 to help THFC impact the lives of local veterans.  Audience donations collected during the boxing tournament added an additional $2,000 to the cause for a total $4,300 impact to the local veterans of Colorado Springs.