The Havasu Youth Advisory Council has partnered with Sunland Asphalt and Construction, through Lake Havasu City native Greg Hughes, to help the Echo Group Band of Brothers Arizona organization with its initiative to start a veteran softball league in the area.

The Echo Group Band of Brothers Arizona, a 501c3 based in Lake Havasu City, operated by a local board and led by Co-President and Chapter President Stacy Lee.

Echo Group Band of Brothers Arizona is dedicated to its brothers and sisters in the veteran community. The organization works closely on initiatives that directly affect veterans through competitive veteran sports leagues like softball, bowling, and pool.

“The leagues offer our veterans accountability, peer-to-peer mentoring, camaraderie and purpose. It gives them a reason to leave isolation and connect with their brothers and sisters; lowering the suicide rate amongst our most vulnerable veterans,” Lee said.

Sunland Asphalt and Construction, based in Phoenix, has a program called Sunland Cares. Doing its part year-round, volunteering and giving back to local organizations across all their divisions nationwide connecting with nonprofits.

Project Engineer, Greg Hughes, born and raised in Lake Havasu City, heard about the need for the funds to help kick off the veteran softball leagues first season, and brought the request to the Sunland Cares Committee. Not only did the committee agree to pay for the first season, but instead offered to pay for the first two seasons and provided a check to the Echo Group in the amount of $5,000 at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

“We are excited to give to the Echo Group Band of Brothers Arizona. The Sunland Cares Program has three employees from Lake Havasu City on the committee including me, Jake Means, and Johnathan Garcia; and we have 44 employees that are veterans, so this cause is near and dear to us. We are glad that we can give back to the community,” Hughes said.

Havasu Youth Advisory Council is currently working with the Echo Group to raise more funds through merchandise sales, such as hats and T-shirts, and plans to promote and kick off the league’s Opening Day, scheduled for Sept. 30.

For more information about the Echo Group Band of Brothers Softball League, how to support them, purchase merch, or how to give to their cause, visit www.echovets.org, or contact Stacy Lee at 805-757-8223.