ARMOR DOWN
Tax deductible
On April 18th, the brothers of Sigma Alpha Mu - Delta Beta cancelled a highly anticipated philanthropy event due to conflicts with the American University administration. The event was intended to be a badminton tournament on April 22nd, 2017 with proceeds going towards our local philanthropic partner, Armor Down. Armor Down is an organization which seeks to assist veterans returning from war readjust mentally to civilian life. When overseas, soldiers often have to tune their mental state to a frequency much higher than that of a civilian. This can really wear on a soldier during their tour of duty and the transition back to a civilian state can be quite difficult. Armor Down helps soldiers transition home through promoting mindfulness practices that help soldiers tame their minds and reconnect to their bodies and they communities.
In 2006, US Army Psychological Operations Sergeant Benjamin H. King ran over an IED when out on patrol in Iraq. Thankfully, he survived the explosion. Coming home, Ben struggled with insomnia, chronic pain and trouble handling his thoughts and emotions. Ben first started reconnecting with his body through yoga, but it was really mindfulness meditation that helped him connect to his mind and his community.
Ben was not alone in his suffering. One in five veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One in five suicides in the United States is by a veteran.
To help others "Armor Down" with mindfulness, Ben created an event called Mindful Memorial Day. To build the event, Ben turned to his fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu in 2014. Year after year Delta Beta has helped their brother help others "Armor Down" from traumatic experiences with war.
Ben is not only an alumnus of our chapter, but currently serves as our chapter adviser. Our fraternity has been a huge part of his life, and he has been a huge part of the fraternity's life. We're distraught that we aren't able to provide him with a donation this year for an organization that does so much good with so little. We humbly ask for any donation you can manage.
In 2006, US Army Psychological Operations Sergeant Benjamin H. King ran over an IED when out on patrol in Iraq. Thankfully, he survived the explosion. Coming home, Ben struggled with insomnia, chronic pain and trouble handling his thoughts and emotions. Ben first started reconnecting with his body through yoga, but it was really mindfulness meditation that helped him connect to his mind and his community.
Ben was not alone in his suffering. One in five veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One in five suicides in the United States is by a veteran.
To help others "Armor Down" with mindfulness, Ben created an event called Mindful Memorial Day. To build the event, Ben turned to his fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu in 2014. Year after year Delta Beta has helped their brother help others "Armor Down" from traumatic experiences with war.
Ben is not only an alumnus of our chapter, but currently serves as our chapter adviser. Our fraternity has been a huge part of his life, and he has been a huge part of the fraternity's life. We're distraught that we aren't able to provide him with a donation this year for an organization that does so much good with so little. We humbly ask for any donation you can manage.
Organizer
Jasper Borrelli-Lewis
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
The Mindful Memorial Foundation
Beneficiary