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Warriors Speak: Sal Gonzalez, Jr.

5/23/2014

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We are pleased to welcome Sal Gonzalez, Jr. to the upcoming 4th Annual 4 the Wounded 5k on Saturday, June 7. Sal will join us the morning of the race to say a few words about Wounded Warrior Project, and pump up our runners and walkers!
Sal Gonzalez
Music plays such an important role in Sal Gonzalez’s life. He seems to have a song for every occasion.
On any given day, you could find him strumming along to Eric Church’s Love Your Love the Most, Lee Brice’s A Woman Like You, or Garth Brooks’ More Than a Memory.
That love of music has helped Sal persevere through some tough trials, like his parents’ divorce and his emotional reaction to the events of 9/11.
“That tragedy inspired me to join the military,” says Sal. “The fact that I come from a family of immigrants propelled me to want to join. I wanted to give back for all this country has given us.”
Sal joined the Marines on October 21, 2003 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines as a machine gunner. A year later, he found himself in Ramadi, Iraq, asked to “give back” much more for his country than he anticipated.
“I was hit by an IED and was in a coma for about a week,” says Sal. “I woke up at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Months later my left leg was amputated below the knee.”

Sal now utilizes a prosthetic leg, which he says hasn’t impacted his daily life too much. He tries to exercise
every day to keep his weight down. And nothing will stop him from making music.
“I work on writing songs every afternoon. Playing and writing music has always been my passion, and luckily my injury has not affected that at all. I’m always striving to improve and earn that next standing ovation – which I’ve been lucky to have had many in my career.”
His next goal: a record deal.
“That would be the icing on the cake. But you can never forget that life has inspiration all around us.
Just look at all the Wounded Warriors who are such good role models. Those are the men and women I admire most.”
“I was hit by an IED and was in a coma for about a week. I woke up at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Months later my left leg was amputated below the knee.”
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Fundraising for 4 the Wounded 5k Begins!

12/18/2013

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Check Presentation
SRC President Paul Tremont presents a check to the UVA Foundation for $2,500, kicking off fundraising for the 2014 race.
Charlottesville, VA, December 17, 2013 - Fundraising for the 4th Annual 4 the Wounded 5k kicked off with a platinum level sponsorship from SRC at the UVA Research Park.

SRC’s president, Paul Tremont, presented a check for $2,500 to the UVA Foundation at the company’s office in the UVA Research Park following a Veteran’s Day party.

SRC supports a large number of local, regional and national organizations, and acknowledges the important role philanthropy plays in fostering the growth and development of its employees and the communities where they live and work. The company’s donations primarily focus on education and efforts that support the U.S. military. The Charlottesville office has participated in supporting the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) for several years, joining forces with the UVA Research Park as a sponsor and with a team in the 5k.

The 4th Annual 4 the Wounded 5k, hosted by the University of Virginia Foundation, will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Over the past three years, the 5k has raised over $274,500 for Wounded Warrior Project, and become one of the five largest footraces in the area - last year’s race welcomed over 1,400 runners. Registration will open in early 2014 and sponsors can pledge to support the race at 4thewounded5k.com.

The University of Virginia Foundation helps to promote and accommodate the University of Virginia’s future academic and research related activities through the acquisition, development and management of real property.  For more information about the UVA Foundation and the University of Virginia Research Parks, visit the Foundation’s website at UVAFoundation.com. 

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Katie Murphy at (434) 982-4848 or email at km9ua@virginia.edu.

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