Our Vice President and Co-Founder had the amazing opportunity to share HicksStrong Inc.'s mission to save military lives and about the Broadalbin American Legion Post 337 Legion Riders annual charity ride this Saturday (Rain or Shine) Registration opens at 10AM Kickstands up at Noon.

Link to the interview:

https://www.news10.com/video/michael-hicks-founder-of-hicksstrong-joins-the-show-to-discuss-supporting-military-service-members/8658625/

Address: 19 North Main Street, Broadalbin, NY 12025

Come out and show your support for our troops as well as our mission to save military lives.

Proceeds will support mental health therapy for the nearly 70 service members in care.

Thank you WTEN !!

​

I had no idea what to expect this Veterans day weekend. All I knew was we had built a relationship with the NY Giants over this last year and we had secured a Hug Mug party with players and staff on Veterans day. We had 13 Volunteers of which 4 are veterans with us to help us set up and run the event. It was amazing to see the support in action. Everyone around us was getting the room set up it was like that scene in Fantasia where Mickey gets the whole room cleaning then it gets out of control... Well minus the out-of-control part.  We have built a very well-oiled team of supporters to help keep our mission moving forward and we are so grateful. 

Then out of the corner of my eye, I see Coach Brian Daboll and I realized ok this is happening.  Before I knew it we were in full HicksStrong Hug Mug swing. Players were asking questions about what we do while they took time to paint a Hug Mug for a service member to receive just two days away from game day. 

Shane Lemieux - OL, Daniel Jones - QB, Justin "Jelly" Ellis -DL, Ryder Anderson - DL, Stirling Shepard - WR and so many staff members painted HicksStrong Hug Mugs for our service members to remind them they are not alone. 

One of our Hug Muggers was recently spotlighted in a Skidmore article where she is an English Professor. We have been working with Brenda Pashley-Rabbitt for a couple years now and she and our other Hug Mugger Desire Drindak have help take the production to a new level.  

With the sense of community in mind we came up with a way to help Skidmore collage student during the earlier stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Students were able to take part in art therapy while being isolated providing them with much needed volunteer hours and heart warming effect of knowing what they have been painting is going to bring hope, joy and resources to struggling military members currently serving and veterans across the country. 

Hug Mugs are instrumental in reminding our service members they are not alone and that there are resources available to them.

To read more about the Skidmore article visit: https://www.skidmore.edu/civic-engagement/foc/brenda-pashley-rabbitt.php

Volunteers Needed

The Big G Classic is a few weeks away. July 30-Aug 1st

HicksStrong needs volunteers for the entrances and the HicksStrong tent. This includes set up and break down of the tents as well as handing out bracelets and taking temperatures. 

What: The Big G Classic Basketball Tournament

Where: Basketball Courts at Washington Park Albany, NY 12210

When:

• Day 1 – July 30, 2021  3:00pm- 7:30pm
• Day 2 – July 31, 2021 8:00am-12:00pm
• July 31, 2021 11:30-3:30pm
• July 31, 2021 3:00-8:00pm
• Day 3 – August 1, 2021 8:00am-12:00pm
• August 1, 2021 11:30-3:30pm
• August 1, 2021 3:00-8:00pm

Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society hosted a HicksStrong Hug Mug event for Mental Health Awareness Month.

Hudson Valley Community College Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Members
Seated, front row (right to left): Madison Austin, Sienna Hicks, Andrew Roberts, Lamyaa Hassib, Pravena Bhoge; standing, back row (right to left) Samantha Simmons, Jalen Davenport, Jolee Hicks, Justin Reynolds, Anne Moon, Antoine Johnson, Pravin Persaud

​Read more about the event at HVCC’s Campus Chronicle:
https://chronicle.hvcc.edu/wordpress/ptk-members-paint-hug-mugs-for-an-important-cause/