EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
Jay Schramm
Co-Chariman
Jay Schramm introduced the WWAST
to Toledo in 2014, with all games and
activities taking place at the old Lucas
County Mud Hen Stadium, Maumee,
Ohio. A graduate of UT, with a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Criminal Justice,
he retired in 2009 from the Toledo Police
Force. The former auto-theft Detective
was raised in a Military family, his father
Harold served in the Korean War and
retired as a full Colonel. Thus, Jay’s
passion for the Wounded Warriors. He
and Vicki have three children and eight
grand-children. His son, Matt served in
Iraq with the US Army.
Vicki Schramm
Co-Chairman
Vicki was born in Toledo. Alter graduating
from Cardinal Stritch High School she
joined the United States Airforce where
she served in Greece and New Mexico.
She was a Sgt. when she retired from the
service. Vicki joined the Toledo Police Department where she worked the streets
for 18 years. She met her husband Jay
Schramm in the police academy and they
have been together ever since. Vicki and
Jay have 3 kids Matt, Angie, and Randi.
Matt served in lrao while in the Army.
Angie and Randi are both Nurses. Jay
and Vicki have 8 grandkids. Vicki lS a
paranormal investigator with Lake Erie
Paranormal.
Ed Blankenship
Joel Hansen
Jay Schramm &
Becky Diaz
Phil Richard
Linda Fox
Andrea Zolciak
Vicki Schramm
Roger Hernandez
Gabe Barrow
Jerry Keefe
Dave Bell
Katherine Withrow
Jay Schramm
Finances
Sponsorships
Parade
Transportation
Volunteers
Veterans Liaison
Player Hospitality
Home Run Derby
& Celebrity Exhibition
Marketing
Program Director
Computer Graphics
Lodging
Security
Acknowledgments:
Dave White Chevrolet • Buffalo Wild Wings • Phil Richard, Transportation Director and
Volunteers: Greg Ballmer, Tom Birie, Mike Bruss, Bob Collins. Jim Dandar, Jim Dunlavy,
Mark Goodremont, Mark Keeling, Frank Perry. Jim Schneider and Phil Richard
¢ Linda Fox, Volunteer Director • Frickers Restaurant • Jerry Keefe, Program Director • Metzgers Printing • Toledo Police Patrolmans Association • Lucas County Reserve
Sheriff Deputies • BCSN • Mike Keedy • Mud Hens • Marcy Orr-Berger, Sales • University of Toledo, ROTC • Hi-Society Baton & Dance Company • Off-Broadway
Dance Company • Sylvania Senior Softball League • Sylvania Parks & Recreation • Dennis Wince, WWAST Director • Joel Hansen, State Farm Insurance • Darren Axon
• Mike Macenko • Steve Cygan • Holiday inn French Quarter, Perrysburg, Ohio
Wounded Warriors Amputee team
brings winning ways to Toledo
By TAYLOR DUNGJEN | BLADE STAFF WRITER
Published on Aug. 22, 2016
photo: THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
Josh Wege of the Wounded Warrior Amputee softball team helps Sophia Howard, 9, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, tie her shoelaces.
Despite afternoon rain that disrupted several of the games that the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team was to have played Saturday afternoon against Toledo-area teams, an event organizer was satisfied with how it turned out.
About 3,000 people turned out at Fifth Third Field to watch the team, made up of both veterans and active-duty personnel who have lost limbs in military service, play three games, leading off with one against a combined team of Toledo police and firefighters. The Wounded Warriors won that game, 21-10.
"We were pretty pleased," organizer Jay Schramm said Sunday. "Unfortunately, the weather hurt us — we had to stop the home-run derby and the last game."
Thunderstorms interrupted the second game, described as an "exhbition" against local all-stars, in the fourth inning and canceled the third game against the Sylvania 60s. A home-run derby was to have been run between the second and third games.
Mr. Schramm said donation proceeds from the event would be tallied today, and donations still are being accepted.
This year’s was the second Toledo visit by the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team. The Warriors had won two of three games played in a similar event two years ago at the Lucas County Recreation Center.
"They're very good," he said. "They want you to play against them hard. They don't feel that their disability should hold them back or you should take it easy on them."
Mr. Schramm said the idea to bring the amputees team to Toledo started in 2012 when he was president of the Sylvania Seniors Softball League, which had some veterans playing as well as relatives of current or former members of the armed forces.
"We wanted to prove we were a more community-oriented group as opposed to people thinking of us as older guys trying to relive our youth or something," Mr. Schramm said.
In 2014, about 2,500 to 3,000 people attended at least one of the games and more than $40,000 was raised. The money donated helps fund Kids Camp, a camp for children who have had an amputation.
To get 15 members of the team to Toledo — along with necessary coaches and trainers — the Sylvania Senior Softball Team hosts several fund-raisers to pay for all travel and lodging expenses for the players.
Players’ airfare is the biggest expense, Mr. Schramm said.
"We're very thankful that we've got so many generous people in our community," he said.
While the Wounded Warrior Amputees were in Toledo, they also visited ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital.
"We just lift their spirits," Mr. Schramm said. "Once they see some of these warriors walking around, they kind of don’t feel so bad about what they have going on; it’s a real moving experience."
Donations may be made at any Fifth Third Bank branch or online at gofundme/n3c7fd5w.
Contact Taylor Dungjen at tdungjen@theblade.com, or 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.
2016 WWAST PHOTOGALLERY
PHOTOS/Joel Hansen
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