èapp has been awarded a $5,000 MLB Military Grant from the Cleveland Guardians to support veteran students during the 2025-26 academic year. The university was one of only six organizations selected from a competitive pool of applicants. Other recipients included Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, Concerned Veterans of NorthEast Ohio, Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism (NEOPAT), Rid-All Green Partnership, and Frontline to Field Foundation.
All honorees were recognized during the Cleveland Guardians Memorial Day game on Monday, May 26, as the team faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
John Paul Robinson, Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at èapp, applied for the grant, which will fund a special event bringing Modern Warrior LIVE to campus on Friday, November 14, 2025. The production is an immersive, multimedia experience that blends live music and personal storytelling to explore the psychological challenges veterans face upon returning home.
Created by U.S. Army veteran and JCU alumnus Jaymes Poling ’18 and internationally acclaimed musician Dominick Farinacci, Modern Warrior LIVE has been performed more than 150 times across the country. The program has earned national acclaim and developed key partnerships with mental health organizations to provide resources and support to veterans and their communities.
The performance will be held on èapp’s campus and will be free and open to the public. The Cleveland Guardians will also serve as a sponsor of the event and are committed to amplifying awareness through their communication channels.
“We’re deeply grateful to the Cleveland Guardians for their generous support of our veteran students,” said Robinson. “This grant will allow us to bring a powerful and transformative experience to campus through Modern Warrior. It’s an opportunity not only to honor the stories of our veterans, but to connect our entire community through empathy, healing, and shared understanding.”
This support from the Guardians comes at a pivotal time for JCU, as the university expands its efforts to serve veteran and military-connected students. èapp recently earned an “Excellence in Programming” Award at the Military-Connected Student Symposium at the Ohio Statehouse in February 2025 and was designated a 2024 Collegiate Purple Star Campus by the Ohio Department of Education.
“Being selected as one of just six organizations—and the only university—to receive this grant is a tremendous honor,” said Naomi Sigg, Vice President for Student Experience and Campus Belonging. “The Cleveland Guardians’ support reinforces our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for veteran and military-connected students. We’re excited to partner on this impactful initiative and continue building momentum around this important work.”
Details and RSVP information for the November event will be announced in the coming months.