Six Flags Friends Partners With 'Beyond Tribute' to Support War Veterans This Memorial Day Weekend
May 12 2009 - 10:47AM
PR Newswire (US)
Special Offer Supports Veterans Suffering from PTSD and Related
Ailments Through First-Ever Nationwide Grassroots Initiative NEW
YORK, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags theme parks across the
country will honor America's military veterans this Memorial Day
weekend by partnering with Beyond Tribute to raise awareness and
funds for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Traumatic Brain Injury and related afflictions. Beyond Tribute, a
501c3 non-profit, is the first nationwide grassroots initiative
specifically designed to leverage the Memorial Day and Veterans Day
holidays to support veterans affected by these neurological
problems. Over 300,000 veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, as well as countless thousands of veterans of other
wars suffer from PTSD, TBI and other neurological problems. As a
result, their rates of unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness,
family conflict, and suicide are alarmingly high. Through this new
partnership, consumers will be offered an online "Everyone Pays
Kids Price" coupon for admission to all domestic Six Flags
properties from May 22 through May 25. One dollar of each ticket
redeemed will go directly to "Beyond Tribute" to support research,
treatment, and services for those veterans. "Everyone Pays Kids
Price" offers a savings of up to $30 per ticket off the regular
adult admission price, making fun more affordable for families.
Participating parks include Six Flags America in Bowie, MD; Six
Flags Texas in San Antonio, TX; Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington,
TX; Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ; Six Flags St. Louis
in Eureka, MO; Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL; Six Flags
Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA; Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in
Louisville, KY; Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, GA; Six Flags
New England in Agawam, MA; Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia,
CA; and The Great Escape in Lake George, NY. In addition,
designated Beyond Tribute volunteers will be on site, encouraging
park guests to log onto the Beyond Tribute or Six Flags websites
(http://www.beyondtribute.org/ and http://www.sixflags.com/tribute)
and signing a pledge demonstrating their support of the men and
women of America's Armed Services. The pledge reads: "Memorial Day
and Veterans' Day need to be more than holidays that merely pay
tribute to veterans; they should be meaningful days that truly
benefit the men and women who have risked their lives and
sacrificed their health and well-being in the line of duty. I
pledge to seek out and support businesses and events that
participate in Beyond Tribute over the Memorial Day and Veterans'
Day holidays, because I know my support will help provide vital
services for veterans who are suffering the wounds of war." Park
guests will also be able to view a video public service
announcement hosted by "Sex and The City" star Kim Cattrall, the
national spokesperson for "Beyond Tribute." The PSA will be played
on Six Flags TV throughout the summer. "Memorial Day is an exciting
time at Six Flags as families head to our parks to officially kick
off the summer season," said Jessica King, Director of Six Flags
Friends. "Our partnership with Beyond Tribute is a great way to
engage people of all ages across the country to do their part in
helping our servicemen and women in a very tangible way." Matthew
Boulay, the former Marine who served in the Iraq war and who helped
establish Beyond Tribute, echoed these sentiments, adding that,
"Memorial Day was established to honor the sacrifices made by the
courageous men and women who have fought for this country in
defense of the freedoms and ideals we enjoy and cherish. By using
the special Six Flags-Beyond Tribute coupon for admission, visitors
to the parks are saying, "yes, we honor these sacrifices and
support our veterans." "Beyond Tribute" has identified three
organizations that are engaged in providing vital services for
veterans who are suffering from the wounds of war: U.S. Vets, the
largest non-profit organization in the country dedicated to helping
homeless and at-risk veterans and a nationally recognized leader in
the field of service delivery to veterans; Wounded Warrior Project,
which provides programs and services to severely injured service
members during the time between active duty and transition to
civilian life; and Bob Woodruff Foundation, which raises awareness
and funds for service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and
their families to assist in their successful reintegration into
their communities. For more information on the "Beyond Tribute" and
the Six Flags Friends initiative, and to download the special Six
Flags admission coupon, visit sixflags.com/tribute or
beyondtribute.org. About Six Flags Friends: Six Flags Friends is a
series of programs throughout the Six Flags family of parks that
make a difference in communities by encouraging local involvement,
supporting the mission of various non-profit organizations, and
bringing the thrill of Six Flags to children and families across
North America. About Six Flags, Inc.: Six Flags, Inc., is a
publicly-traded corporation (OTC: SIXF) (BULLETIN BOARD: SIXF)
headquartered in New York City and is the world's largest regional
theme park company with 20 parks across the United States, Mexico
and Canada. DATASOURCE: Beyond Tribute CONTACT: Bruce Bobbins,
+1-212-981-5190, Liz Burke, +1-212-981-5263, or Danielle Kimiatek,
+1-212-981-5116, all of Dan Klores Communications Web Site:
http://www.beyondtribute.org/
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