In the spirit of the holiday season, we’re thrilled to share a heartwarming story that unfolded this Thanksgiving weekend. As part of our ongoing commitment to community service through the MIL CARES initiative, MIL had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with Tickets for Kids Charities. On November 25th, MIL’s Capital One Arena suite became a stage for youthful exuberance as kids from the local DC community enjoyed the hometown Hoyas basketball victory over the Jackson State Tigers!
Through MIL CARES, we were proud to work with Tickets for Kids Charities, which has been serving vulnerable youth since its inception in 1994. The organization has donated 3.4 million unused event tickets, valued at over $77 million, with a mission to, “provide equitable access for our most vulnerable youth to experiences that inspire hope, dreams, and achievements for a lifetime.” Tickets for Kids has delivered experiences to youth in 24 states while helping to reduce the opportunity gap for children living in many disadvantaged communities.
The 480 Club, a community partner to Tickets for Kids, worked with MIL to make this event happen. This organization, established to train and mentor young student-athletes from the local community, believes in the psychological power of a bigger number—480 minutes of total training time per child—to empower the minds of youth to take pride and stride for excellence. Members from the club were in attendance for game and the joy captured in the photos reflects not only the excitement of the game but also the collective effort of MIL, Tickets for Kids Charities, and the 480 Club in reducing the opportunity gap for children living in disadvantaged communities.
At the heart of our community involvement is MIL CARES, an initiative that Celebrates, Acknowledges, Responds, Energizes, and Strengthens. This program, established to organize our engagement in various community service efforts, extends our belief in servicing the communities in which we live and work. From food drives to supporting disaster relief and volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, MIL CARES is our way of making a positive impact year-round.
As we reflect on the festivities of the season, let’s carry the spirit of giving into the future. Together, through initiatives like MIL CARES, we can continue making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most.