Arnold Fisher

Arnold Fisher is one of four senior partners at Fisher Brothers, a leader in New York City real estate, as well as a lifelong advocate for veterans. Arnold Fisher spearheaded the efforts of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provided contributions of $10,000 to each spouse and $5,000 to each child of military personnel who have paid the ultimate price: the loss of their life in defense of our country. The Fund recently changed direction and constructed a 65,000-square-foot building called “The Center for the Intrepid,” a state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, which opened in January, 2007. From 1999 until 2003, Mr. Fisher served as Chairman of the Fisher House Foundation and in 2003 turned the chairmanship over to his son Kenneth, which constructs comfort homes to house the families of hospitalized military personnel and veterans. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Foundation.

Mr. Fisher also became the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Intrepid Museum Foundation in May 2003 and served through December 2006. The Foundation is a leader in providing support for America’s Armed Forces and operates the world’s largest maritime museum. Centered around the historic aircraft carrier Intrepid, the Foundation educates 700,000 annual visitors about sea, air and space history and technology. The Foundation provides support to military and veterans’ families and serves as a monument for all who have served in our nation’s defense. Mr. Fisher remains a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee.

Scott Winkler

Scott Winkler was unloading an ammunition truck near Tikrit while under fire when he fell and became paralyzed from the chest down. He battled depression for the first year and went through a painful divorce. "I just kept feeling sorry for myself, asking why me." Scott said. "Then I was introduced to sports during a Paralympic Sports Clinic." At the clinic, he tried throwing the shot put for the first time, and less than a year later, he broke the world record. Strapped to a chair, Winkler uses his upper body strength to throw the shot put and discus. Winkler is also a hospital chairman at the Southeastern Paralyzed Veterans of America in Georgia, where he mentors other disabled veterans, encouraging them to use sports for rehabilitation. "If I can inspire one person out of a million who is disabled to try sports, that is my goal for the future." Winkler said. Since returning from Beijing, Winkler has visited recovering service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and trained other Paralympic hopefuls at the U.S. Olympic Committee's Paralympic Military Sports Camp.

Carlos Leon

Carlos Leon survived a deployment in Iraq as a Marine in the Sunni triangle, only to tragically break his neck in a swimming accident two weeks after returning. Like the other Paralympians, he discovered that he had an unknown talent in the Shotput and Discus as a wounded veteran. After returning home from the Paralympics and visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Leon looks to be a mentor. "Our visit is about what we can do as Paralympians to influence these men and women," Leon told his teammates. "We have to teach them that there are so many more doors that are available to them now. Anything they ask for can be given to them, but they don't even know how to ask. There's no reason why we can't teach them how to go through those doors.”