911 Veterans

[FoxTrot14]

Ronkonkoma Man Runs to Raise Funds for Veterans

Ross Titza to run Long Island Half Marathon on May 2nd in honor of his brother
and to benefit 9-1-1 Veterans

Ronkonkoma resident Ross Titza will run the 2010 RXR/TIAA-CREF Long Island Half Marathon on May 2, 2010 in honor of his brother - a disabled U.S. Marine and NYPD Police Officer – and will raise funds for 9-1-1 Veterans, a Shoreham-based nonprofit. Titza will run 13.1 miles and cap it all off by completing 1,000 push-ups. His goal is raise $20,000 to support Long Island’s veterans and their families in need of emergency financial assistance.

Titza is a personal trainer and certified holistic health coach at Equinox Fitness Club in Woodbury, where his passion for health and fitness is unmatched. He also co-founded Next Fitness Evolution – a health and wellness company focused on advancing health and wellness, while simultaneously smashing exercise myths and countering deceptive fitness advertising. Titza’s father and brother were both Marines and his father served in Vietnam. His brother – now 35 - suffered a massive stroke three years ago and is still recovering. Like most families, Titza’s brother isn’t poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, yet not rich enough to finance his own care. He served his country well, made significant personal sacrifices, yet struggles to access the rehabilitative services that will help him reclaim his life and ability to function independently. “We owe our veterans more and I’m stepping up to raise funds for a great organization,” says Titza. “It’s the least I can do for my brother and for the thousands of other veterans out there who are facing unexpected circumstances could use a helping hand. I hope others will agree and support my quest to pay a debt of gratitude.”

9-1-1 Veterans is dedicated to providing financial support to Long Island's veterans and their families. To date, the group has distributed more than $150,000 to help Long Island's active and retired service men and women. Since its incorporation in 2007, 9-1-1 Veterans has helped veterans with rent and mortgage payments, food and clothing, utility payments, vehicle repairs and car payments, prescription drugs and medical co-payments, airline tickets, and a variety of other needs. The group welcomes Titza’s support. “Requests for help from Long Island’s veterans outpace our current resources and we are fortunate that Ross has taken on this challenge,“ said 9-1-1 Veterans President Steve Clark, a Suffolk County police officer and Navy veteran himself.

SOLICITATION FOR DONATIONS REMOVED BY CITICOP

We are not here to help you collect money for a charity we know nothing about. You did not even have the common courtesy to introduce yourself here before you started asking us for donations.

If you intend to be a member of this forum, then introduce yourself and begin participating. Otherwise, this is just spam (no matter how noble the cause) and against the TOS.

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

What's the definition of a "9-11 Veteran"? I thought the federal government paid survivors quite a bit of money.

[Joeyd6]

Boy, this leaves a real bad taste in my mouth. Anything in the region that even mentions 9/11 better do with that day. And on that day, there are three categories of folks here in NY: 1) public servants & civilians who particiapted in resuce efforts that day; 2) civilans who had to be rescued/assisted that day; 3) And those who watched in horror. The fact the guy who started it is a Suffolk cop makes me even sicker. Especially since it started after 9/11. The money may be going to a good cause but I don't like anyone using dead cops/firemen to benefit their own organization, even soldiers.

[retdetsgt]

The money may be going to a good cause but I don't like anyone using dead cops/firemen to benefit their own organization, even soldiers.

That was exactly why I posed my question. A first post asking for money bothers me and using 9-11 to raise money for anyone not directly connected is worse.

[Rlong1985]

I think every American on this forum believes they were affected by September 11 2001, and can recall the moment when they hard, or saw the live news feeds of the towers falling although clearly the men on the ground clearly suffered more than our nation could have asked them too.

[Kimble]

I think every American on this forum believes they were affected by September 11 2001, and can recall the moment when they hard, or saw the live news feeds of the towers falling although clearly the men on the ground clearly suffered more than our nation could have asked them too.

Okay, but how does that relate to the responses in this thread?

[retdetsgt]

I think every American on this forum believes they were affected by September 11 2001, and can recall the moment when they hard, or saw the live news feeds of the towers falling although clearly the men on the ground clearly suffered more than our nation could have asked them too.

There were lots of people in the military at the time of 9-11, but I don't considered them 9-11 victims anymore that I was. That's like saying that injured police officers in Omaha should have a fundraiser because four officers in Tacoma were gunned down.

I can recall the moment I was told JFK was assassinated too and I was affected, but that doesn't put me in the category of victim. I was outraged by both, but that doesn't mean I'm in a special class of people because I watched the second tower get hit on television. As Joe said, the victims are the people in the tower, the fire fighters and police that tried to save them and the people who were standing there watching in real life.

I've been in police shootings, infantry combat and I've watched it on television. Not the same by any stretch. Sitting in my house in Oregon, I wasn't concerned that another airplane was going to crash into a building next to where I was located. That can't be said for New Yorkers.

I'm all for assisting military veterans where I can and I know the money is going to be well spent, but like Joe, I'm offended when people stretch a point like that.

Unfortunately, I suspect the OP was a hit and run and we'll never hear from them again.

[Rlong1985]

Good point, being affected and a victim of the actual event are two different things. I think you just changed my opinion on the matter.