It may be the offseason for the Atlanta Falcons, but their owner is participating in a program that helps military veterans cope with civilian life, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Arthur Blank is allowing his ranch in Montana to be used by a program called Heroes and Horses, which is run by Micah Fink, a former Navy SEAL, the station reported.
“At Heroes and Horses, we don’t believe the veteran is sick, diseased or broken,” Fink said at Blank’s Atlanta office. “We believe they've had experiences in life that actually give them an opportunity to grow and learn about themselves and move forward in life.
“There's no program in the U.S. that is as challenging and as long as Heroes and Horses — no programs producing the types of results that we are getting.”
Using Blank’s wide-open spaces in Montana allows the veterans to become detached in the outdoors.
“They focus on identifying their own individual greatness,” Fink said.
According to the Heroes and Horses website, the organization “provides extreme expedition-style horse pack trips that teach self-reliance, teamwork and perseverance.”
“If you allow life to happen to you, it puts you in a position where you become victimized by the experiences,” Fink told Channel 2. “But if you realize that life is happening for you, it gives you a choice about what those experiences can be.”
Blank’s organization also announced a $60,000 donation to Heroes and Horses, Channel 2 reported.
It's not the first time the Falcons have rubbed elbows with former Navy SEALs. Before the 2016 season, Coach Dan Quinn used them to work with the team on conditioning. The goals were team building and resilience, according to USA Today.
Of course, the Falcons went on to win the NFC championship, earning a trip to the Super Bowl.
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