Riley fetes returning soldiers
MIAMI (AP) – Chance Evans has a story like many others these days. He was a specialist in the U.S. Army when he returned home from Operation Iraqi Freedom four years ago. With a wife and two children, very little money coming in and an arduous transition to civilian living, life has not been easy.
Pat Riley cringes when he hears stories like those.
Friday, the Miami Heat president surprised the Evans clan and five other families of those who recently returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan with a holiday party. They toured the Heat’s Championship Alley, had lunch and a meet-and-greet with players, then received presents and gift cards. A team marketing official said Riley personally spent more than $10,000 on the event, part of the Heat’s HomeStrong initiative that he started nearly three years ago.