Heroes Athletic Association

OUR MISSION

NEWS & EVENTS

Heroes Athletic Association (HAA) supports the integration of Service Members, Veterans, Law Enforcement Professionals, Firefighters and their families into local communities through adult recreational sports leagues and events. As Heroes leave their base, post, firehouse or precinct, the accountability of a team conveys the feeling of being wanted and needed. Building new relationships in a familiar environment reduces the anxiety associated with major life change and serves an effective counter to suicide or risky behavior in the Hero community.

HAA believes we can help Heroes easily find the comforting inclusivity provided by a local sports club in a new community, deterring them from making rash or anxious decisions as they transcend to life’s next chapter.

“We cannot do this alone. We call on our community partners to join us in this effort.”

Dr. Richard Stone, Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION

“We cannot do this alone. We call on our community partners to join us in this effort.”

Dr. Richard Stone, Veterans Health Administration

NEWS & EVENTS

Support through Athletics

What H.A.A. Does

Heroes Athletic Association provides three significant services for Veterans, military members, police, firefighters and their families as they transition from their military or municipal careers:

FUNDS

HAA funds adult community recreational athletic teams for the Hero and his or her family to engage socially outside of their unit/base, precinct or firehouse, creating a new community support network.

INCLUDES

HAA offers that Hero a new team or club for him or her to be accountable to on the field, links, track or court etc. In turn that adult team/sports group needs and wants the hero in order to play or participate each week.

INTERACTS

HAA ensures that all transitioning Heroes are contacted and engaged routinely by virtue of being involved in a regularly scheduled sports activity.

“A survey of more than 4,000 first responders found that 6.6 percent had attempted suicide, which is more than 10 times the rate in the general population, according to a 2015 article published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services.”

U.S. News and World Report, March 2017

Whom we serve

Heroes Athletic Association supports community-based adult sports groups, teams, clubs and events. Our goal is to get the hero into the community through sports. The adult sport organizations we support must have a significant percentage of Heroes on the team. Hero is defined as a military member, Veteran, law enforcement professional, firefighter or their adult family members.

The Veterans Administration recently released a goal to reach out to all Veterans three times per year. By getting those heroes into the local adult community sports program, we establish a new network for the hero, a sports organization to be accountable to and a group that makes the hero feel needed and wanted. The Veterans, police professionals and firefighters in any HAA program are connecting with friends, coaches, and opponents multiple times per year.

“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan."

Veterans Administration adopted from President Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address

Victory Together

Support the Mission

Heroes Athletic Association (HAA) sponsors and facilitates Service Members, Law Enforcement professionals and Firefighters integration with their local community through adult recreational sports clubs and athletic events. Taking the Hero out of his or her professional environment through sports presents new networks and relationships. These local sports leagues offer a fun environment where the Hero is needed, wanted and accountable. Inclusivity fosters confidence and community trust; both are critical to reducing the emotional challenges associated with transition toward the Hero successfully moving into a new chapter of life.