Coast Guard Foundation donates $50,000 to academy
The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that during halftime of the Coast Guard Academy’s 2015 season opening football game on Thursday September 3rd, senior leaders from the Coast Guard Foundation were joined by friends and family of the late Bob Flynn to present the Academy with a $50,000 check to support its inclusion and diversity initiatives.
Flynn, a cadet-athlete, member of the Academy’s Class of 1974, and former Chairman of the Coast Guard Foundation, passed away suddenly in February of this year. Flynn was devoted to helping the Academy recruit and retain a diverse cadet corp and since his passing friends and family have established a fund through the Coast Guard Foundation to help this endeavor – the Robert J. Flynn Pathway to Achievement Fund.
In recognition of Flynn’s life and dedication to all aspects of the United States Coast Guard, the Academy’s Bears have chosen to dedicate their 2015 football season in his memory. The team is wearing a commemorative decal on the back of their helmets which features Flynn’s initials and ribbon with his favorite symbol: the Coast Guard navy blue and red tartan print. Family members served as honorary captains during the pregame coin toss, and each received an authentic Academy Bears football helmet, which feature this commemorative decal as a gift from the Foundation.
“The Coast Guard Foundation is humbled by this honor for our late Chairman and friend, Bob Flynn,” said Brad Sisley, senior vice president, Coast Guard Foundation. “As a long-serving volunteer and later as our Board Chairman, Bob’s commitment and dedication to both the cadets at the Academy and the enlisted corps throughout the country was inspirational to us.”
“The continued impact his family and friends will have through this new fund in his name will only strengthen Bob’s legacy for future Coast Guard members,” continued Sisley. “Thank you to the Coast Guard Academy and its athletics department for recognizing such a special person in the Coast Guard family.”
To learn more about the Coast Guard Foundation or to help support its work, please visit www.coastguardfoundation.org or call (860) 535-0786.
For more information about the Robert J. Flynn Pathway to Achievement Fund, please visit http://www.coastguardfoundation.org/connect/news/498-robert-j-flynn-memorial-fund-established-
