Military Basketball Association 

Please support and share this important information:

May 22nd, Hall of Fame

May 25th, Town Hall

May 25th, CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES - 

N ew

Subject: Suicide Prevention is Key Focus of the Military Basketball Association (MBA)

Please share this widely with your members and audiences.

 

The Military Basketball Association (MBA) is a nonprofit formed by two US Army combat Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – Major Mike Meyers, III and First Sergeant Angel Acevedo – both men lost soldiers under their command and senior officers to suicide upon their return home.  Meyers contemplated suicide himself but began playing basketball to deal with his PTSD and mental health issues.  Partnering with Acevedo, the two formed the MBA and eight years later they have over 1000 players, both male and female, Veterans and Active-Duty service members spanning the globe.  More importantly, no player past or present has committed suicide – ZERO.

 

They are bringing their Men’s and Women’s World Championship Finals to Philadelphia on 25 May 2025. CBS Sports Network is televising both games, the women’s at 5:30pm and the men’s at 8pm.  The games are free and open to all.  Please encourage your members to come out and support their fellow Veterans and Active-Duty service members.

 

There will be a free Town Hall from 4-5pm before the games as well.  Some prominent attendees include:

Mayor Cherelle Parker

Brigadier General Yvonne Mays, Adjutant General New Jersey National Guard

Major James Dula, PhD – Director of Veteran Services for Prince Georges County MD

CSM Subretta Pompey of the 99th Readiness

CSM Thomas Campbell

RADM Karen Flaherty-Oxler, Medical Center Director Philadelphia VA

SGT Joe Griffies, host of the “Welcome Home Show”

Dr. Larence Kirby, US Army RET – Director of Delaware Office of Veterans Affairs

POC:

Rita Chappelle; Chief External Affairs, Outreach & Media

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Health Administration

Philadelphia VA Healthcare System

3900 Woodland Avenue, Suite A105

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Rita.Chappelle@va.gov

(484) 609-5530 (mobile)

(215) 823-5800, ext. 205916 (office)

 

Center for Women Veterans News and Updates

Center for Women Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The Center for Women Veterans has selected twenty-eight women Veterans for the 2025 Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Center for Women Veterans Trailblazers “Women Veterans Forging a Path” initiative and will honor Dr. Ivy Brooks and Ms. Lynda Van DeVanter with Posthumous Trailblazer awards.
The twenty-eight selected women Veterans Trailblazers are:
o Leonor Branch
o Jayme L. DeGooyer
o Diane Carlson Evans
o Caroline P. Fermin
o Joan A. Furey
o Dr. Iesiah M. Harris
o Octavia Harris
o Patricia A. Harris
o Laura R. Hatcher
o Elizabeth Herrera
o Sharon S. Hinde-Grimm
o Hattie M. Johnson
o Marilyn Kelly-Cavotta
o Angela A. McCullough
o Dr. Debbee A. Maraglio-Lynn
o Jackeline Perez-Martinez
o Danique N. Masingill
o Carrie D. Moore
o Dr. Sheena L. Moore
o Jo Ann Orr
o Staci L. Reidinger
o Dr. Patricia M. Ross
o Lori L. Trego
o Mona Pearl Treyball
o Dr. Linda Schwartz
o Latia Suttle
o Jessica L. Wherry
o Dianne M. Young

 

VA Updates

Please visit VA.Gov for updes on any relevant news and to obtain access to resources pertinent to your VA enrollment.

www.va.gov

The Philadelphia Trailblazer Initiative

The Philadelphia Trailblazer Initiative is Phase II or research forcusing on the intersectionality of post-transition barriers and challenges.

The objective is to establish a pilot model for assessing measurables for mitigating barriers and challenges.

Philadelphia Women Veterans Resource and Government Office

Philadelphia Veteran's Office:  215 686 3256

5th District Council Office:  Councilman Jeffery Young 215 685 2633, City Hall 215 686 3442

National Alliance of Women Veterans, Incorporated - we refer and recommend based on concern.

Office:  2678884728 or complete form below

 

Philadelphia VA Hospital 
3900 Woodland Avenue

www.va.gov

Women's Clinic - Call for Appointment - 215 823 5800

April 5th, 2025

9-2pm

Meetup 2500 Block North 30th Street - volunteer with us for a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Philly.

VETERANS IMPACT COMMUNITY

An economic development revitalization strategic planning initiative that utilizes the expertise of veterans of the Armed Forces to educate and motivate impactful change in at-risk communities