Thanks to the generosity of UCLA fans and supporters, auctioning off five special navy blue, patriotically decorated helmets issued for the Bruins' Nov. 12 victory over Oregon State grossed $12,275 that will be donated to the cause of eliminating veteran homelessness in Los Angeles.
UCLA Athletics announced today that this year's total, accrued following a pair of two weeklong auctions last month, eclipses 2015's total by nearly $2,000.
Proceeds from the sale of the helmets, which were worn by the athletes as part of UCLA Football's special "Salute to Service" uniforms in honor of Military Appreciation Day, will be donated to Volunteers of America's Blue Butterfly Village, a local organization offering subsidized housing to homeless veterans and their children.
In fall 2015, the auction of five similarly decorated helmets issued for the Bruins' victory at Oregon State raised $10,368 for the 'Homes for Heroes' project — an initiative put forth by the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles to cover move-in costs for 5,000 homeless veterans in the Los Angeles area with federal housing vouchers.
Visit www.voa.org/housing_properties/blue-butterfly-village or http://mayorsfundla.org/homesforheroes for more information about these initiatives.
