Travis Manion Foundation Veteran Mentors Hosting Back-to-School Character Days Nationwide

As students across the country prepare to start the new school year, Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), one of the nation's leading veteran nonprofit organizations, is hosting Back-to-School Character Days nationwide. In the program's second year, more than 100 trained veteran mentors will provide a day of character development, group activities and outreach to more than 2,700 students in over 50 communities across the country. 

Through the Back-to-School Character Day events, veteran mentors develop meaningful connections with the students by helping them bridge social divides and equipping them with character, optimism, and the confidence to succeed in school. The program also helps fill an economic gap as participating students will also receive a backpack full of school supplies to ensure students nationwide start the school year with confidence. 

TMF's military veterans serve as youth mentors as part of the Character Does Matter program, powered by UA Freedom, which positively impacts more than 50,000 youth across the country each year. It's estimated that more than 1-in-3 young people have never had a positive role model or mentor, and TMF's trained veteran mentors are on a mission to end this disparity. 

"Even after they take off the uniform, our nation's veterans continue to serve because they are natural leaders within the community," said Ryan Manion, President, Travis Manion Foundation. "I feel tremendous pride knowing that our veteran mentors will not only serve as role models to our next generation but will also lead an initiative to ensure thousands of students across the country have the proper tools to begin a successful school year."  

Donations to support this initiative and sponsor a backpack filled with school supplies for students in need can be made online at Travis Manion Foundation Back-To-School Character Days. 

About Travis Manion Foundation: Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) unites communities to strengthen America's national character by empowering veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop and lead future generations. In 2007, 1stLt Travis Manion (USMC) was killed in Iraq while saving his wounded teammates. Today, Travis' legacy lives on in the words he spoke before leaving for his final deployment, "If Not Me, Then Who..." Guided by this mantra, veterans continue their service, develop strong relationships with their communities, and thrive in their post-military lives by serving as character role models to youth. As a result, communities prosper and the character of our nation's heroes lives on in the next generation.

Media Contact: Ed Donovan, Director, Public Relations, edward.donovan@travismanion.org, 610-220-1441

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