Real Helmets / Real Heroes

I restore every single helmet, and hand deliver them to each Veteran who attends our workshop. It's my way of saying thank you to them for fighting for the freedoms we have - including our sports culture. I ask every Veteran to sign my helmets as they are the name sake of the program. Putting our cultural heroes on the same helmet as our military heroes, it's a concept that is moving hearts and mountains. Its about respect for our service members and their families.

- David Lionheart, Founder

Our Philosophy:

I started this program to create the mindset that although these helmets have scars and have been all but thrown out, they were taken, restored back to beauty and understood for what they have been through. Mirroring the issues we all go through that make us all different, beautiful and respected.

Symbols of Hope:

Every helmet is hand delivered to the Veterans who participate in our football programs. It's a reminder that we care for them, we spent the day with them and they can always reach us if they need anything at all. It's hard to look past a giant football helmet in your bedroom.

Visiting with Veterans

Not every Veteran that we visit with can join our group exercise and flag football game, but that doesn't stop us from having a fellowship with them. Having a lively conversation and listening to their stories is just the mental and emotional exercise some of our Veterans need. Visiting with our vets is a big part of the Real Helmets / Real Heroes program.

How Does It Work?

The Real Helmets / Real Heroes program uses donated helmets as symbols of hope for the Veterans that attend our workshops. No matter where they are on their journey working themselves back into the society that they have bravely fought for, they know that Play for Your Freedom is there for them, every step of the way. It's our way of saying thank you.

- David Lionheart, Founder

great partners

We are proud to be partnering up with Hillsdale Hawks Football Program in launching Real Helmets - Real Heroes.

They donated us football helmets no longer in use. We strip them down for display use only and repurpose them as gifts for Veterans in local hospitals as well as fundraising items.

Donate helmets

sponsor a helmet for a veteran

Donate $25.00 to have your business or family name hand painted on a helmet that will be given to a patient in one of our programs.

SPONSOR ONE NOW

donations & sponsorships make this program possible!

Blessed to have met the owners of Stadium System who made a generous donation of condemned helmets, facemasks and hardware to our program. Click below to check out all the services they offer.

visit their site

We created this program to present every Veteran with a real helmet after our football workshops.

On the helmet goes the signatures of our professional football heroes who equally share the space and respect with our United States military heroes. You cannot have culture without freedom.