Vet News: Legendary Coaches Ditka And Reeves Announce "After The Impact Fund" To Facilitate Treatment For Military Veterans And Former NFL Players

CHICAGO, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary Coaches and Board Members, Mike Ditka and Dan Reeves announced the launch of After The Impact Fund (ATIF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, created to facilitate comprehensive treatment and provide a support network for military veterans, professional athletes and their families.

ATIF is a joint effort between The Independence Fund, a wounded veterans' charity, and Coach Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. These charities were introduced to each other through their mutual treatment partner, The Eisenhower Group, which has been providing neurocognitive and behavioral treatment for people suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury. Both communities share many of the same issues and challenges as they transition to regular life after leaving high intensity careers. The joint Veteran/Pro Athlete treatment model is based upon data derived from Eisenhower's 4 year-long pilot program that conducted combined, interactive treatment for both of these populations.

Eric Hipple, former quarterback for the Detroit Lions, originally took the concept of putting athletes and veterans together to Eisenhower. Hipple will serve as ATIF's Director of Outreach for Veterans and Athletes, a role he has been fulfilling for Eisenhower for the past four years. "As a former player, my family and I learned the hard way. Brain trauma can be experienced in many ways, whether it's from impact and injury or due to a traumatic event or life transition. The result can be cognitive and behavioral changes as well as physical symptoms like depression, sleep problems, anxiety and pain," says Hipple. "After the Impact program offers a proven model of treatment to restore quality of life. So many of our clients and their families have said, 'I wish I would have known about this sooner.''"

"After the Impact Fund will be a game-changer as we tackle the most pressing health issues for our veterans and players," said Ditka. "These young men and women deserve the very best and we need to do everything within our power to set them up for success for life after the military and life after football. It's simply the right thing to do." The Jacksonville facility will feature Eisenhower's core neurocognitive treatment and in Phase 2, ATIF will bring comprehensive treatment partners to treat the whole person while they are there.

While Coach Ditka will serve as a key advisor on the Board through his Emeritus status, Coach Reeves will be joined on the Board by NFL legend, Matt Birk as well as military representatives, Green Beret Arthur Pue and Brigadier General (ret.) Rich Gross. "Our veterans and our professional athletes will receive first-class treatment in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. Program participants will leave the center with a new support network, new communication styles, a renewed sense of camaraderie, and will receive follow-up from our staff to keep a personal connection going," adds Gross.Please watch this quick, but moving video on our home page: http://www.aftertheimpactfund.org  

ATIF has been chosen as one the "Charities of Choice" for the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational is the world's richest thoroughbred horse race with a record $12 million USD purse. The event will take place on January 28th, 2017 at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. ATIF is developing a partnership with The Stronach Group, host of The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, to facilitate an integrated pilot treatment program for jockeys.

About After The Impact Fund (ATIF)

After The Impact Fund's mission is to facilitate comprehensive treatment and provide a support network for military veterans, professional athletes and their families. ATIF is a Delaware nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information or to get involved please go to www.AfterTheImpactFund.org  

About Mike Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund

Gridiron Greats mission is to assist dire need retired NFL players who were pioneers of the game and have greatly contributed to the NFL's status as the most popular sport in America. The services include medical assistance, transportation costs for medical evaluations and surgeries, housing assistance, financial assistance for utilities, medication, and coordination of services for food and other day-to-day necessities. www.GridironGreats.org  

About The Independence Fund

The Independence Fund is a nonprofit organization that empowers our nation's severely wounded veterans and the caregivers who support them to take control of their lives. Through its dedicated mobility and treatment programs, the Fund assists veterans in transforming their lives toward a better future. The Independence Fund believes we owe it to our veterans to provide the resources they need to move forward and build a strong foundation toward lasting emotional and physical healing in order to reestablish their independence. To learn more, visit www.independencefund.org.

About The Eisenhower Group

The Eisenhower Center is a neurobehavioral treatment facility which focuses on specialized education and care for individuals with health/behavioral issues as a result of post-concussion syndrome, post- traumatic stress, TBI or other similar diagnosis. Eisenhower Center's After The Impact (ATI) Program is a 30-45 day, transitional, residential treatment program that pairs military veterans and professional athletes through treatment. The After The Impact Program is conducted at Eisenhower Center's ranch house on a 68 acre farm just outside of Ann Arbor, MI and is soon expanding to the TPC Village campus in Jacksonville, FL. www.eisenhowercenter.com    

About The Pegasus World Cup Invitational

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the world's richest thoroughbred race. The innovative Pegasus World Cup Invitational is the first event of its kind in horse racing. Twelve stakeholders have each put up $1 million USD for a spot at the starting gate and will compete with the best horses in the world. The winner will earn a world-record $7 million USD. The inaugural running of this industry-leading thoroughbred invitational exemplifies The Stronach Group's commitment to modernizing and elevating the sport of horse racing for the next generation of fans, while providing lucrative opportunities for thoroughbred owners. www.pegasusworldcup.com  

Eric Hipple, former quarterback for the Detroit Lions, originally took the concept of putting athletes and veterans together to Eisenhower. Hipple will serve as ATIF's Director of Outreach for Veterans and Athletes, a role he has been fulfilling for Eisenhower for the past four years. "As a former player, my family and I learned the hard way. Brain trauma can be experienced in many ways, whether it's from impact and injury or due to a traumatic event or life transition. The result can be cognitive and behavioral changes as well as physical symptoms like depression, sleep problems, anxiety and pain," says Hipple. "After the Impact program offers a proven model of treatment to restore quality of life. So many of our clients and their families have said, 'I wish I would have known about this sooner.''"

"After the Impact Fund will be a game-changer as we tackle the most pressing health issues for our veterans and players," said Ditka. "These young men and women deserve the very best and we need to do everything within our power to set them up for success for life after the military and life after football. It's simply the right thing to do." The Jacksonville facility will feature Eisenhower's core neurocognitive treatment and in Phase 2, ATIF will bring comprehensive treatment partners to treat the whole person while they are there.

While Coach Ditka will serve as a key advisor on the Board through his Emeritus status, Coach Reeves will be joined on the Board by NFL legend, Matt Birk as well as military representatives, Green Beret Arthur Pue and Brigadier General (ret.) Rich Gross. "Our veterans and our professional athletes will receive first-class treatment in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. Program participants will leave the center with a new support network, new communication styles, a renewed sense of camaraderie, and will receive follow-up from our staff to keep a personal connection going," adds Gross.Please watch this quick, but moving video on our home page: http://www.aftertheimpactfund.org  

ATIF has been chosen as one the "Charities of Choice" for the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational is the world's richest thoroughbred horse race with a record $12 million USD purse. The event will take place on January 28th, 2017 at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. ATIF is developing a partnership with The Stronach Group, host of The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, to facilitate an integrated pilot treatment program for jockeys.

About After The Impact Fund (ATIF)

After The Impact Fund's mission is to facilitate comprehensive treatment and provide a support network for military veterans, professional athletes and their families. ATIF is a Delaware nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information or to get involved please go to www.AfterTheImpactFund.org  

About Mike Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund

Gridiron Greats mission is to assist dire need retired NFL players who were pioneers of the game and have greatly contributed to the NFL's status as the most popular sport in America. The services include medical assistance, transportation costs for medical evaluations and surgeries, housing assistance, financial assistance for utilities, medication, and coordination of services for food and other day-to-day necessities. www.GridironGreats.org  

About The Independence Fund

The Independence Fund is a nonprofit organization that empowers our nation's severely wounded veterans and the caregivers who support them to take control of their lives. Through its dedicated mobility and treatment programs, the Fund assists veterans in transforming their lives toward a better future. The Independence Fund believes we owe it to our veterans to provide the resources they need to move forward and build a strong foundation toward lasting emotional and physical healing in order to reestablish their independence. To learn more, visit www.independencefund.org.

About The Eisenhower Group

The Eisenhower Center is a neurobehavioral treatment facility which focuses on specialized education and care for individuals with health/behavioral issues as a result of post-concussion syndrome, post- traumatic stress, TBI or other similar diagnosis. Eisenhower Center's After The Impact (ATI) Program is a 30-45 day, transitional, residential treatment program that pairs military veterans and professional athletes through treatment. The After The Impact Program is conducted at Eisenhower Center's ranch house on a 68 acre farm just outside of Ann Arbor, MI and is soon expanding to the TPC Village campus in Jacksonville, FL. www.eisenhowercenter.com    

About The Pegasus World Cup Invitational

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the world's richest thoroughbred race. The innovative Pegasus World Cup Invitational is the first event of its kind in horse racing. Twelve stakeholders have each put up $1 million USD for a spot at the starting gate and will compete with the best horses in the world. The winner will earn a world-record $7 million USD. The inaugural running of this industry-leading thoroughbred invitational exemplifies The Stronach Group's commitment to modernizing and elevating the sport of horse racing for the next generation of fans, while providing lucrative opportunities for thoroughbred owners. www.pegasusworldcup.com