USOC and The Royal Foundation Host Brunch to Support Wounded Warriors and Persons with Physical Disabilities in U.S. and UK

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 15, 2013 /3BL Media/ - As a prelude to the 2013 Warrior Games presented by Deloitte, the United States Olympic Committee along with The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry hosted the "For a Noble Cause" brunch at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.  Approximately 150 donors and patrons gathered with Prince Harry and U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, a three-time Paralympic Games medalist, to celebrate the importance sport programming in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and injured service members returning from combat.

Remarks from Prince Harry, who is on an official tour of the United States to highlight the extraordinary sacrifices of servicemen and women, highlighted the brunch along with an address from Lt. Snyder, a 2012 Warrior Games competitor who will act as the honorary torch bearer today for the Warrior Games Opening Ceremony.  Other speakers included  "For a Noble Cause" host committee chairman Peter Ackerman, USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun and USOC Chief of Paralympics Charlie Huebner.

The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the USOC formed a partnership in 2012 focused on providing physical activity for wounded warriors and persons with physical disabilities in the United Kingdom and the United States. 

The organizations kicked off the partnership last April at a British Embassy event in in Washington, D.C., that coincided with the 2012 Warrior Games, hosted by Prince Harry, Dr. Jill Biden and British Ambassador to the U.S. Sir Peter Westmacott. The organizations also hosted a Legacy Event at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

The "For a Noble Cause" brunch is a continuation of the partnership, with all proceeds supporting The Endeavour Fund of The Royal Foundation and USOC Paralympic Community Programs. The proceeds from this event, combined with 2012's Legacy Event total more than $500,000 for programs in both countries.

The Endeavor Fund of The Royal Foundation is focused on inspiring wounded servicemen and women to explore new physical challenges as part of their recovery; rebuilding their confidence and looking forward with optimism to the next chapter of their lives. It is a mission also shared by the USOC.

USOC Paralympic Community Programs manage extensive outreach initiatives, connecting with youth and adults with physical and visual disabilities directly while also supporting Paralympic organizations across the country with the development of local programming.  Increasing the availability of Paralympic sport programming for Americans with physical and visual disabilities, with an emphasis on youth and veterans, is a key goal of the USOC, which is a privately funded non-profit organization.

For more information or to request photos, please contact Nora Schober, U.S. Paralympics, at nora.schober@usoc.org or (719) 208-9907.