As an amateur runner, I love races. I save all my race bibs and I write my time on the back of them. I have run 13 races, large and small, and each one has been special to me. Running is the most democratic of all sports; there is virtually no financial barrier for participation, there is little equipment and no special venue is needed. Weekend Warriors race alongside elite runners. Anyone can run, and anyone can watch. There are no ticket fees, no limits on spectators, and the runners race through the public space of a city.

This past weekend, I ran the one race that I have been looking forward to all year: Pat’s Run. I ran Pat’s Run for the first time last year after being selected as a Tillman Military Scholar. For me, this race is special because it has grown from a small run organized by Marie Tillman in Tempe, Arizona to a massive undertaking by the entire city of Phoenix. Pat’s Run embodies so many things: community, sacrifice, 10 years of war, loss, heroism, veterans, scholars, and courage.

Courage could be defined today as not knowing what evil lies on the other side of a decision, yet deciding to go anyway. When the Twin Towers fell on 9/11, Pat Tillman made a courageous decision. He placed one foot in front of the other and did not look back. He bravely left behind an exciting football career in Arizona, that was both comfortable and profitable, for a very different life as a U.S. Army Ranger. In his own words: “It doesn’t do me any good to be proud. It’s better to just force myself to be naïve about things, because otherwise I’ll start being happy with myself, and then I’ll stand still, and then I’m old news.” When Pat made his courageous decision, he became part of the 1 percent of Americans who serve our nation in uniform. Pat ultimately lost his life in the mountains of Afghanistan, placing him among the honored few who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom.

On April 15th, when the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon became a war zone, our nation was instantly propelled back to the emotions of 9/11. But this time there was one notable difference. After a decade of war, there are now thousands of veterans who live in our local communities. They live among us, they are organized, they are motivated to serve, they are young and smart, and they have not allowed themselves to be isolated.

On April 15th, several of these men and women – the one percent-  where on the ground at the Boston Marathon. Among them was First Lieutenant Steve Fiola, a Massachusetts native. Fiola had participated in the Boston Marathon three times, each time rucking it. This year, he organized a team of soldiers to ruck the Marathon as Team “Tough Ruck.” Fiola’s team had just finished the 26.2 mile Ruck, and they were sitting exhausted near the finish line when they heard the blast on Boylston Street. These one percenters, like Pat Tillman, understand courage. Without knowing what evil stood ahead, they quickly jumped into action. They did not run to safety, they ran toward danger and they rendered aid to the fallen. As the Officer in Charge, Fiola immediately organized his exhausted team and jumped into action. He and his fellow soldier, 1SG Bernard Madore ripped down a fence that was separating the wounded from medical personnel and transport. Madore assisted children and helped with tourniquets, while Fiola rendered aid to a man on fire, with a badly burned face.

After tragic events like Boston, often all people can do is just do – placing one foot in front of the other, doing, creating, participating, working and running. This action, big or small, is important. It begins the exponential cycle of others acting and doing in service to others. In the end, simply doing creates real energy, real momentum, real organizations, and real missions of help that are changing lives. And in some cases, saving them.

Marie Tillman, Pat Tillman’s widow, is also a doer. When faced with the unspeakable loss of her husband, she also bravely left comfort behind and journeyed to a place unknown to her. Marie could have mourned the death of her husband privately and simply moved on with her life, leaving the Army part of her life behind. What she did instead placed her in the category of one percenters. She placed one foot in front of the other, slowly doing, creating one small project at a time, refusing to let herself become isolated. All this doing has resulted in what is now a solid and reputable mission that bears the name of her late husband. The Pat Tillman Foundation, started by Marie, Pat’s family and friends, is the result of a lot of people taking action and it has brought about tangible opportunities like Pat’s Run to give back to and support Tillman Military Scholars on their next journey after service. These two very real things serve a great need in our nation; they are not abstract, they are measurable energy, and they change our reality. Pat’s Run is the result of doing. After the evil in Boston, this weekend warrior and veteran could not wait to get to doing in Tempe – racing and supporting my fellow scholars who are carrying forward such an incredible legacy of leadership and service to country.

Shelly Burgoyne, a former Army officer who served two tours in Iraq, just completed her Master’s in Public Policy as a Tillman Military Scholar at the University of Maryland. She resides in San Antonio where she is currently awaiting assignment for a U.S. Embassy abroad.

Tostitos Homecoming Party Bowl Video

Note: The Pat Tillman Foundation is a non-political, non-partisan organization. Recently, through our partnership with Got Your 6, several Tillman Military Scholars had the opportunity to attend both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Edward Woodward at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL

Through Got Your 6, I was fortunate to attend portions of the RNC along with fellow Tillman Military Scholars Dave Warden, Josiah Hill and Grey Leonard, along with our wives/girlfriends. We attended the Got Your 6 event Wednesday night, a concert that featured Sara Evans and a brief speech by Meghan McCain, daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain. Josiah and I were able to meet Senator McCain and get a photo. Sara Evans was outstanding and the event was a tribute to the success Got Your 6 is having in creating opportunities for veterans and civilians to join together to reinvigorate our community.

Arizona Senator John McCain and TMS Ed Woodward in Tampa.

We had a great experience in Tampa, having not had an opportunity to get together since the Pat Tillman Leadership Summit. It was refreshing to see everyone in the tremendous setting the Got Your 6 event provided. The entire experience reinforces the overwhelming feeling of gratitude I feel to be a part of the Tillman Community. These events provide tangible results to all the hard work that is being done to help and support our nation’s veterans as they come back and reintegrate into society.

TMS Josiah Hill with Brianna Venable at the RNC Got Your 6 event in Tampa.

John Larch at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC

My wife and I attended various Democratic National Convention activities in North Carolina.

On Monday, we visited Carolina Fest downtown, listened to live music and enjoyed the many vendors. My wife had the good fortune to meet Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a well-known civil rights leader.

Mary Ann Larch with Congressman Lewis at the DNC in Charlotte.

On Wednesday, we attended the Veterans & Military Families Council Caucus. Speakers included Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, a Medal of Honor recipient, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. By coincidence, Chris Marvin, Managing Director of Got Your 6, happened to sit next to me during this caucus meeting. Talk about a small world! While I was talking with Chris, my wife slipped away and managed to cross paths with Dr. Biden!

TMS John Larch and his wife Mary Ann at the DNC Got Your 6 event in Charlotte.

That evening, we attended the Flo Rida concert, watching from VIP seating a great show and upbeat crowd. The entire experience was eye opening and enlightening.

On July 24, the Pat Tillman Foundation, Student Veterans of America and Operation College Promise will formally launch the Education Pillar of the Got Your 6 campaign with hundreds of student veterans, participating universities and colleges, members of Congress, celebrity partners and many others.

The evening will kickoff the Education Pillar’s collection of 500 pledges from Institutions of Higher Learning who commit to implementing or enhancing resources, programs and policies to support their student veteran population.

The Pillar partners also will showcase the student veterans and Tillman Military Scholars from across the nation who are achieving academic excellence due in large part to their own talents, but also because they have access to a peer-support network and attend institutions that have implemented programs that assist student veterans. Roughly 25 such schools have already signed the Education Pillar’s pledge and they will be revealed on July 24.

To conclude the launch event, student veterans from SVA and Tillman Military Scholars will share their personal stories of transition and will be accompanied on stage by a special celebrity guest.

The Pillar’s launch event will come on the heals of two major events for both Student Veterans of America and the Pat Tillman Foundation.

SVA is hosting its annual Leadership Institute from July 19-22 at Google’s Headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Fifty chapter leaders from across the nation will come together to receive one of the most unique training programs for student veterans that has been created to date. Purdue University’s Military Family Research Institute and SVA created a curriculum that teaches student veteran leaders how to “design, develop and deliver” a thriving student veteran organization. All 50 leaders will be empowered to create a business plan for their chapter that is focused on sustainability and changing the landscape of their institution to be more supportive of student veterans.

The third annual Pat Tillman Leadership Summit will take place July 22-24, 2012 at the University of Maryland in College Park. More than 100 Tillman Military Scholars, Foundation board members and staff and representatives of the Foundation’s 14 University Partners will take part in the three day annual Summit. Attendees will participate in leadership development and job skills workshops and volunteer to help with service projects throughout the area. In addition, Tillman Military Scholars will meet with key U.S. Congressional members to share their personal experiences and to bring awareness to the leadership roles filled by veterans and military spouses in today’s society.

Any individual interested in attending should email info@pattillmanfoundation.org to RSVP.

TMS Adam Potter conducts an interview with Lin Sue Cooney and Mark Curtis of 12 News after Pat's Run.

1. The value of a curated veteran’s benefit by quality staff.

Immediately following Pat’s Run, I was asked by another veteran at my school to assist him on a research project about veterans organizations. I was to give feedback on which organizations provided quality services in my experience as a veteran. While answering, I had in mind prior lectures in business school about social organizations and their key success factors: a) there is a dedicated staff that curates the organization; b) the staff is very in touch with their market seeking all chances to interact and get to know each other; and c) the staff emphasizes participation in attempts to create community (not necessarily revenues). Many veterans organizations are out there and they are backed by passionate people with great intentions, but as we reviewed all that were available, we could see room for improvements; it was hard to say any had appeal or had reached out to their intended audiences in a meaningful and sustainable way or comprehensively met the three criteria above. The model in my mind was the Pat Tillman Foundation and particularly Hunter I Riley and Cara Hammer. I remember the first time I attended an event, the Pat Tillman Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. – I entered a room of what seemed like over a hundred people, and having never met or seen each other before, I was greeted by name, by Hunter with a big smile and immediate immersion. That same connection exists and is fostered for everyone. It became even more intense at the Pat’s Run where I was eager to meet everyone again and anyone new. It was becoming community to me and I look forward to more.

2. The value of college in my social transition from military to civilian.

I served 10 years of active duty in the Marine Corps from 2001-2010 with some officer training prior to that and continued drilling reserve status afterwards. While I am very proud of my service, I sensed as my active time was coming to a close that Marine and military culture had truly embedded itself in who I was and as a result, I was growing less culturally adaptive and professionally dynamic as I once was when younger. I could feel work habits and my expectations of interpersonal dynamics becoming more rigid. I was starting to get worried that the flexibility in which I prided to solve complex problems and work among diverse teams was perishing

When I left active Marine service, I hoped to start my own business service private commercial entities. However, my skills were too easily translated back to military service and as a result, I soon became a contractor to the Department of Defense traveling the country and working long hours at various military bases. It was hard to accomplish my own professional goals to transition to a new skill set and work environment while paying the bills and maintaining the household I had built as a mid-thirty year old. So I continued serving the military, but as a civilian

I needed time to go to school and finances to pay for the costs of education which have soared in tuition and in my own personal living standards and family obligations I had achieved up to my mid-level executive career

The Pat Tillman Foundation and Post-9/11 GI Bill have been the fundamental enablers of my ability to re-invest in myself as well as augment the skills I developed in the military with skills directly valuable to companies I learned at business school. My business school took interpersonal relationships and executive communication seriously and I took full advantage of formal courses, workshops and coaches in an attempt to capture my social flexibility and confidence with ideas and personalities coming from any source

Pat’s Run was the first time I was able to experience the value of this education in a new environment away from school where I had been incubating them over the prior 6-7 months. I was even able to benchmark from the prior Pat Tillman Leadership Summit in summer 2011 prior to going to college. Being able to move about the various new people I was exposed to over the weekend and interact with ease was great for me. I can definitely navigate a financial statement after going to business school, but just as importantly, I can navigate diverse people and civilian organizations after having the time to enjoy a safe environment for exposure at school.

3. Phoenix loves Pat Tillman!!!!

Often times when I talk about being a Tillman Military Scholar in other parts of the country, I have to refresh people’s memories. Not in Phoenix! I arrived wearing Tillman Military Scholar clothing and locals asked about or honored Pat Tillman constantly. Even more so, to enter the Sun Devil Stadium area and have it PACKED with people, all wearing Pat’s Run paraphernalia was moving! After Pat’s Run, as I boarded my plane, I was stopped multiple times upon entering the airport all the way to my seat on the plane.

• The TSA security guard who examined my ID and boarding pass: “That man,” pointing to the Pat’s Run logo on my chest and taking a moment to compose herself, “he was a good one.”
• The Southwest attendant as I boarded the plane: “The run was today! I go every year! Except today’s…I had to work. I’ll make up for it on the run next year!”
• Passing a seated man in the front of the plane on the way to my seat: Both Thumbs Up in the Air!

I think it says a lot about a city when a certain personality comes to represent it and its people uniformly choose her or him to be their symbol. Coming from San Diego, Shamu the Whale comes to most people’s minds and it is a very accurate representation of how seriously we take ourselves there. Leaving Phoenix, I hold it in higher esteem now knowing who they overwhelmingly choose to be their symbol.

Pints for Pat drew an overflow crowd of attendees, including Pat’s Run sponsors, media, Tillman Military Scholars, Tillman Scholars-ASU, Pat’s former Sun Devil football teammates, Team Tillman members and Pat Tillman Foundation staff who gathered to pay tribute to Pat.

As has become tradition, Rula Bula is selling 1,442 commemorative Guinness pint glasses with Pat’s number 42 etched on one side and a word that exemplifies Pat’s character and values on the other side. This year’s edition features the word “Courage.” The glasses are available exclusively at Rula Bula for $10 each while they last. All proceeds benefit the Tillman Military Scholars program.

Ken Kobs, a member of Team Tillman New York, checks out a Guinness Beach Cruiser at last week's Pints for Pat silent auction.

“Pints for Pat” also featured a silent auction that raised approximately $4,000 for the Tillman Military Scholars program.

Rula Bula was an establishment frequented by Pat during his time in Tempe. Following his death in 2004, some of Pat’s friends would order a pint of Guinness whenever they visited the pub and leave the pint sitting untouched on the bar as a tribute to Pat – thus the “Pints for Pat” idea was born.

Tillman Military Scholar Rudy Rickner, Pat Tillman Foundation supporter Bill Murphy and PTF Board members Alex Garwood & Chris Hart (along with daughters Maya and Zoe Hart) took part in the 408K.

Among the participants in the 8K race were Tillman Military Scholar Rudy Rickner and Pat Tillman Foundation Board members Alex Garwood and Chris Hart.

The event started at HP Pavilion and ran alongside San Jose’s Municipal Rose Garden, the scene of Pat’s memorial service. The San Jose Mercury News featured this article on the 408K.

This past week I had the privilege of attending Inc. Magazine’s GrowCo event in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was quite an experience! As a Tillman Military Scholar, I was selected, along with fellow TMS Tim Smith, to attend as part of Inc.’s Military Entrepreneurs program (ME). The ME Program, in its first year, has provided access to this event as well as the Inc. 500/5000 conference, which was held in D.C. this past September.

Tillman Military Scholars Rick Schumacher and Tim Smith tour the Intralox factory in New Orleans at the start of Inc.'s GrowCo conference.

I started the week off with a very early flight out of Austin, arriving in NOLA at around 9:00 a.m. and meeting up with Tim for some obligatory brunch and a walk down Bourbon. Just in time, we met up with the delegation and were fortunate enough to go on a tour of Intralox, a company that manufactures plastic formed conveyor belts for every purpose imaginable. From there we met up with the GrowCo attendees and mingled. Finally, Hunter Riley took Tim and I to eat at a favorite local food spot called Mississippi River Bottom (MRB).

The next morning we were in for some great speakers and abundant learning opportunities. The speakers included some of the brightest minds in business like Dr. Alexander Osterwalder, Neil Blumenthal, Jay Lapeyre, Chef John Besh and the indescribable Norm Brodsky. Additionally, we had a personal meeting with Shark Tank personality, Daymond John, the creator of the FUBU brand. We also had the opportunity to listen to political powerhouses like New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Louisiana Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and, amazingly, President Bill Clinton. These speakers were each outstanding and having the opportunity to listen to them was really what being a Tillman Military Scholar is all about for me. The Foundation gives me opportunities that I would not otherwise have.

Pat Tillman Foundation Director of Programs Hunter I Riley (left) and Tillman Military Scholar Rick Schumacher (right) met with FUBU brand creator Daymond John at Inc. Magazine's GrowCo conference in New Orleans.

Most importantly, I had the opportunity to network with other veterans and military spouses as well as 500 other business owners. We had opportunities to be advised by successful business owners and exchange ideas with a mentor; mine who I’ve already exchanged emails with after leaving the conference. Thanks to the Pat Tillman Foundation, this has been one heck of an opportunity – one that will help shape the formation of my business for years to come.

NFL-Tillman Military Scholar D'Onior Felton on the field at FedEx Field.

In June 2010, the NFL and Pat Tillman Foundation established the NFL-Tillman Military Scholar award to annually honor an individual who exemplifies Pat’s enduring legacy of service. The scholarship is part of the Tillman Military Scholars program established by the Pat Tillman Foundation to support educational opportunities for veterans and active service members and their spouses by filling the financial gaps in the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The Tillman Military Scholars program covers direct study-related expenses such as tuition and books, as well as other basic needs such as housing and childcare.

D’Onior, who is currently a medical student at George Washington University, developed a passion for medicine while serving in the Navy as a surgical technologist. During that time, she gained the confidence to interact with physicians and set her sights on becoming a doctor one day. Felton earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland University College while serving on active duty. After discharging in 2005, she completed all the necessary pre-med prerequisites and applied to  medical school.

“D’Onior’s military experience and training opened her eyes to a career she had never really considered,” said Marie Tillman, Chair and President of the Pat Tillman Foundation. “As a doctor, she wants to provide health care to underserved communities in the southern U.S. and through her career in public health, carry on Pat’s legacy of leadership and service. It’s an honor to recognize her as this year’s NFL-Tillman Military Scholar.”

Felton plans to enter pediatric or emergency medicine for her residency, with a focus on infectious disease. Her aim is to eventually practice medicine in a medically underserved community of the U.S. while also working with a community health care center near to her home state of Mississippi.

“We are pleased to continue our work with the Tillman Foundation on the NFL-Tillman Military Scholar program,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Pat Tillman means so much to the NFL family, and we congratulate D’Onior on receiving this year’s honor.”

Since the Foundation’s inception, the NFL has recognized Tillman’s heroic sacrifice for his country in a variety of ways that celebrate his memory.

UPDATE: Inaugural NFL-Tillman Military Scholar, Patrick Nelson, completed his bachelor’s degree in sports management and history in May and started a master’s in sports management this semester. This past year, Nelson interned with the Minnesota Vikings.

Dear Pat Tillman Foundation Supporter,

Every November as communities throughout the country take time to celebrate Veterans Day, I am grateful that I have the privilege through the efforts of the Pat Tillman Foundation to honor military families and the sacrifices they make each and every day of the year. I am often asked what I enjoy most about the work that we do at the Foundation and the answer is simple – spending time and interacting with our amazing Tillman Military Scholars.

In June, the Pat Tillman Foundation welcomed the third class of Scholars into the Tillman Community by investing over $916,000 in educational scholarships. It was a highly competitive application process that saw over 1200 applications narrowed down to the 60 outstanding individuals that were selected. This summer, I had the pleasure of spending several days in Maryland at our annual Pat Tillman Legacy Summit with 90 of our 171 Tillman Military Scholars and was honored to see and hear first-hand the impact that Pat’s life, the Foundation and our supporters have made in their lives.

As I listened to the Scholars share their very personal stories with me, explaining why they chose to serve, what their experience was like and the challenges they face upon their return, it is clear that there is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be accomplished. In addition to a lack of understanding by the general population, servicemembers are returning at unprecedented rates to an unstable economy and highly competitive job market resulting from high unemployment rates. Obtaining a degree is no longer an ambitious goal, but rather a required step to ensure economic stability. Through the Tillman Military Scholars program our goal is to bridge the gaps left by the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. By removing obstacles that would prohibit a servicemember or spouse from achieving academic success, the program aims to provide the financial and educational resources needed to prevent undeserved debt and establish a foundation for greater career opportunities.

Today, we invite you to join us as we fulfill our mission of investing in military veterans and their spouses through educational scholarships; building a diverse community of leaders committed to service to others.

Below are just a few of the many ways you can get involved:

Run, Walk, Honor
Join 35,000 participants, volunteers and spectators from throughout the U.S. at the 8th Annual Pat’s Run. Registration is now open and space is limited. Register today to participate in the 4.2 mile run/walk or .42 mile Kids Run or donate your time and talents as a volunteer at the event.

Commit. Challenge. Support.
Become a member of Team Tillman. The Pat Tillman Foundation is honored to be recognized as an Official Charity Partner with guaranteed entries to participate in some of the most prestigious marathons in the world including the ING New York City Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. Individuals can also earn gear and raise funds to support the Pat Tillman Foundation in conjunction with any race or athletic event nationwide.

Give. Donate. Invest.
Invest in veterans and military families by making your secure tax-deductible credit card donation online now.

Stay Informed
The Pat Tillman Foundation is upgrading our e-communications tool and respectfully request that you confirm your preferred e-mail address to stay up to date on Scholar achievements, news and upcoming events by completing this form. We also invite you to Become a Fan on Facebook – Pat Tillman Foundation (Official) and Follow us on Twitter @pattillmanfnd.

Since the Foundation was established in 2004, through the generous support of individuals and organizations nationwide, over $4 million has been invested in men and women committed to a life of service, both in and out of uniform. In recognition of Veterans Day we invite you to take a moment to view the interactive Scholar map online to learn more about the Tillman Military Scholars who are making a difference in your community.

Thank you for helping us honor Pat’s legacy by inspiring others to create their own.

Warm regards,

Marie Tillman
Co-Founder & President