INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI’s first-year partnership with the Veteran Tickets Foundation helped provide tickets to more than 40 military members and their families over the course of the 2015-16 season. The department plans to continue to the partnership going forward, making tickets available to current and former military members for every home game next basketball season.
IUPUI Athletics received an overwhelmingly positive response through the Vet Tix partnership, including some of the postings below from veterans who attended games this past season.
“(We) had a great time. The venue was spectacular and (we) met a father of one of the IUPUI basketball players,” said Ethan, a current member of the U.S. Army. “Me and my father never experienced an IUPUI home game before and are very thankful to IUPUI. Thank you for supporting veterans.”
“Thank you so very much IUPUI Athletics for the amazing tickets you gave us,” said Stefani, a current member of the U.S. Navy. “It was so wonderful to watch my alma mater play and to take my father and nephew to their first basketball game. We all had a wonderful time! We greatly appreciate your kindness.”
“It was fun to see so many different families and individuals take advantage of our partnership with Vet Tix,” IUPUI Senior Associate Director of Athletics John Rasmussen said. “Certainly, this was a small way we could say thank you to the service these individuals have given our country. I look forward to continuing our partnership next year and inviting more veterans and family members out to Indiana Farmers Coliseum to cheer on the Jags.”
Vet Tix serves immediate families of any troops killed in action, all current military members and their families and all honorably discharged veterans and their families. Vet Tix has more than 300,000 verified members and has distributed more than 1.8 million tickets, including more than 500,000 in 2015.
About Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix)
Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation supporting our military community. Vet Tix has provided over 1.6 million free event tickets to currently serving military, veterans and family members of those killed in action to sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities. Our military and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, communities, and eventually, into civilian life. Attending events improves morale, strengthens family bonds through shared interests and encourages service members to stay engaged with local communities and American life. In gratitude for their service and to support their reintegration, Vet Tix is dedicated to giving back to those who gave us so much. Donations are eligible for tax deductions. Please visit our web site at www.VetTix.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.