Ex 4 Vets V Post Release

Contact: Adie LeeBAM CommunicationsC: [email protected] IMMEDIATE RELEASEEmbrace raises $30,000 at fifth annual Ex 4 Vets eventHundreds of college students, active military and veterans came together to fundraise at San Diego State UniversitySAN DIEGO (Wednesday, May 20, 2015) For the fifth straight year, San Diego college students, military veterans, active military personnel and the general public exercised to raise money for Embrace programs that serve disabled and homeless veterans at Ex 4 Vets V on Saturday, May 2, 2015. As opposed to past years where the event took place on the U.S.S. Midway, Ex 4 Vets 5 occurred at San Diego State University at the Conrad Prebys Student Union. Ex 4 Vets V was hosted by Embrace, a nationally recognized non-profit organization focused on bringing diverse groups of people together to serve veterans and civilians in need. The event featured an hour-long kickboxing workout lead by San Diego fitness guru Cindy Whitmarsh and her fitness team. Rebecca Jade sang an unforgettable rendition of the National Anthem while all in attendance saluted the flag presented by the SDSU Air Force ROTC Honor Guard.

View from atop the Conrad Prebys Student Union"Its always a bit concerning when you change venues, especially a venue like the U.S.S. Midway that has treated us like family, but the event couldnt have gone any better at San Diego State," said Sean Sheppard, Founder of Embrace. "We saw an unprecedented number of student organizations register and participate and the Conrad Prebys Student Union staff provided great support services as did the SDSU police department it was a great day to be an Aztec supporting our veterans.

This year, more than 300 college students, veterans, civilians and active military attended and helped raise $30,000. A total of eighteen student organizations from SDSU, Grossmont College and UCSD had registered participants. Greeks competed to win the Ex 4 Vets Cup, a trophy that is awarded to the sorority and fraternity that raises the most pledge money. SDSU Pi Beta Phi won the sorority cup and a $400 Walmart Gift Card for a second time with $1,329 raised. Delta Gamma had the most registered sorority participants, earning their house a 43 flat screen television. SDSU Kappa Sigma won the fraternity cup and a $400 Walmart Gift card with $5,010 raised. They also had most registered fraternity participants. Pi Beta Phis Samara Batoog was the top individual fundraiser and winner of a 43 flat screen television with $1,304 raised. 910.5 volunteer hours were accrued during the event.

To donate to Embrace click here. More than $6,000 was donated back to work out teams representing student organizations, religious organizations and veteran groups as part of the event's format that allows such groups to keep 50 percent of net funds raised. The other 50 percent supports Embrace programs that mobilizes college student volunteers to serve disabled veterans (Healing Our Heroes' Homes - remodels the homes of disabled veteran homeowners) and homeless veterans (Embrace The Streets - provides food, clothing, toiletries, social services and public health services to San Diego's homeless veterans and civilians in the streets of San Diego).

I can't say enough about the students, veterans and active military that came out to support the work Embrace does to assist disabled and homeless veterans, said Sheppard. Cindys team was electric, the weather was perfect, and the energy was sky high as usual. The awareness being raised about these special groups of veterans is significant, and as evidenced by the smiling faces and happy sponsors, we all had a great time doing it.

Greek Ex 4 Vets Cup Winners: SDSU Kappa Sigma and SDSU Pi Beta Phi

KUSI provided pre-event live coverage. The Omni San Diego Hotel donated food for all participants and the Jack In The Box Foundation donated beverages. Ex 4 Vets V sponsors and partners included: Military Home Loans, Jack In The Box Foundation, The Mike Whitmarsh Foundation, American Council on Exercise, Swinerton Builders, Pete Knows PB Realty, Motwani Lasik Institute, USE Credit Union, SDSU Associated Students, SDSU Student Veteran Organization, Six Flags, Disney Land and the University Club.

Ex 4 Vets VI is scheduled for spring 2016. For more information, visit www.ex4vets.org. About Embrace

Founded in 2000,Embrace uses community service to bring diverse groups of people together tobring about socialwellness in our society. The organization focuses on theutilization of college students and recent graduates to developtheirleadership qualities and remedy community problems such as health disparitiesand homelessness on a volunteerbasis. Founder Sean Sheppard's ultimate goal isto bring about legislation that makes community service mandatory forallcollege students that attend state funded institutions of higher education.

For more information onEmbrace, visitwww.embrace1.org.

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