COMM 3144 Module 3

Client Background: Wounded Warrior Project

Your team has been hired by Wounded Warrior Project to assist with the creation of
organizational communication pieces. WWP wants to promote the work of its
organization by reaching out specifically to high schools in order to (1) educate this
audience about the work being done by WWP and (2) persuade the high schools to get
involved with the organization, namely through donating supplies for the WWP
backpack project. For this module, you will create the following: (1) PSA (print and script
for video), (2) script for a speech, and (3) a brochure for the organization. Information on
WWP can be found below.
Background
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a nonprofit organization designed to help men and
women who have been injured during their service in the military. It is a national
organization with nine offices in the U.S., and an international office in Germany. Tens
of thousands of wounded service members and their caregivers receive support each
year through the programs offered by WWP. These programs help heal the mind and
body, and aid soldiers during the transition back to civilian life.
Its mission statement is: To honor and empower wounded warriors and their vision is
to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in
our nations history. WWP programs are serve three purposes: (1) to raise awareness
and enlist the publics aid for the needs of injured service members, (2) to help injured
service members aid and assist each other, and (3) to provide unique, direct programs
and services to meet the needs of injured service members.
WWP has several programs that are designed to fulfill its mission and meet
organizational goals of honoring and empowering wounded warriors. WWP programs
are designed to stimulate the mind and body, economic empowerment, and
engagement. These programs include: Combat Stress and Recovery, Family Support,
Combat Stress Recovery Program, Physical Health & Wellness Program and WWP
Backpacks.
Combat Stress Recovery Program and Family Support serves the mind or the mental
well-being of wounded warriors. The Combat Stress Recovery Program meets the

mental health needs of wounded warriors, and Family Support offers programs for the
families/caregivers/spouses to relax and take a break through a variety of weekend
retreats.
The Physical Health & Wellness and WWP Backpacks serves the physical needs of
wounded warriors. Physical Health & Wellness empowers wounded warriors by offering
recreational activities to help improve physical health. It serves all warriors including
those with amputations, spinal cord injuries, burns, visual impairments, traumatic brain
injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
WWP backpacks include necessary care and comfort items such as clothing toiletries
and calling cards. Backpacks are given to severely wounded soldiers upon entering the
military trauma center. Transitional Care Packs, which are a smaller version of these
backpacks, ship directly to Afghanistan and Iraq for immediate comfort for the wounded
warriors who are moving to a different U.S. military trauma center.
Client History
2002 Founded in Roanoke, Virginia. by injured veteran, John Melia, with the
assistance of family and friends. In 1992, Melia was severely injured in a
helicopter crash near Somalia. Other founders included Jim Melia, John F. Melia,
Al Giordano and Steven Nardizzi.
November 2003 United Spinal Association adopted the WWP as a program of
its own. In collaboration with the United Spinal Association, WWP helped
thousands of injured veterans.
June 2005 WWP transitioned to a stand-alone charity.
July 2006 WWP moves from Roanoke, Virginia to Jacksonville, Florida.
September 2007 More than 45 universities adopted the Wounded Warrior
Project Coin Toss Program, developed by the National Association of Collegiate
Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the WWP. According to NACDAs website,
the program honors injured veterans and allows them to participate in pre-game
ceremonies at athletics events.
2008 Melissa Stockwell, one of the directors of WWP, competed in the 2008
Beijing Paralympics.
2009 A Wounded Warrior is highlighted at the Country Music Awards.
2011 Under Armour serves as title sponsor for WWPs Courage Awards and
Benefit Dinner.
March 2012 Wounded Warriors from U.S. compete with Battle Back, a U.K.
military group similar to WWP, in the Inaugural Courage Cup championship golf
event.
October 2012 WWP awards nearly $1.1 million to organizations striving to help
injured members of the military.
2013 WWP hosted an 8K in Jacksonville, Florida, Franklin, Tennessee, and
San Antonio, Texas.

Operating Environment
Since its foundation in 2002, there has been much speculation on the stance of WWP
and its policy on war. WWP claims to have no stance on war and believe that it is about
the warrior not the war. The majority of politicians supports WWP and sees it as a
worthy cause. WWP has worked internationally with Battle Back, an organization in the
U.K. that helps veterans in finding enterprising rehabilitation programs.
The main external factors affecting WWP are government affairs and policies. Through
its engagement initiative, the organization advocates and lobbies for better the lives for
veterans.
Goodwill/Corporate Social Responsibility
The Wounded Warrior Project hosts an 8K race to help raise awareness and funds to
support the wounded warriors. The run takes place in various cities throughout the
country. Right now, registration is available on their website for San Antonio, Texas;
Franklin, Tennessee; and Jacksonville, Florida.
WWP sponsors a grant program to honor and empower the lives of post 9-11 veterans.
This grant helps to improve the mental and physical health of veterans. WWP helps
fund organizations that focus on their same areas of concern: mind, body, economic
empowerment and engagement. Through the grant program, WWP has funded 45
different organizations, totaling more than $3 million in donations.
Assignment
For this module, you will work as a team to complete the following:
(1) PSA
a. Create a print and write a script for a video PSA. The print PSA will be
distributed to high schools across the country. The video PSA will play on
closed-circuit television systems in high schools across the country.
b. Print PSA can be created using InDesign
c. Use template for formatting video PSA script
(2) Speech
a. Write a script for a standard speech that can be delivered to high school
assemblies by a WWP representative
(3) Brochure
a. Create a brochure that can be distributed to high schools during
assemblies related to WWP
Deadlines:
March 23 organizational writing lecture
March 28 April 4 in-class work on module
April 6 Module 3 AP Style Quiz (copyediting quiz)
April 11 Module 3 due via Canvas

April 11 Portfolio work day/class will not meet

This is a group project. Working in communication, especially PR, means being part of a
team. Rarely will you complete a project on your own. I expect all members of the group
to contribute equally to the success of the project. In order to hold all group members
accountable for their work, each group member will complete a peer evaluation of their
group at the end of the assignment. These peer evaluation scores will be factored into
the overall participation grade for the class.