For two decades, the Pat Tillman Foundation has organized Pat’s Run, an event that has spanned into a series of runs held around the country to help raise funds for the Tillman Scholars, established in 2008, which provides service members and their spouses with tools and resources to become leaders in their communities.
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Pat Tillman left the life of an NFL star to join the Army as a ranger after the events of September 11th and was killed by friendly fire. Pat’s Run serves as a vibrant reminder of the impact one individual can have on the world.
Pat’s Run is the signature fundraiser for the foundation’s Tillman Scholars program. The program’s impact has generated over $34 million to support education and leadership development for the scholars with over $1 million raised through the event annually.
Tillman Scholars are chosen based on their dedication to service, intellectual growth, leadership and determination to unite communities and change the world. Since it’s first class with 49 in 2009 the community has grown to over 850 scholars with it’s most recent class in 2023 with 60.
Adam Wallace, an Air Force servicemember and 2023 Tillman Scholar, is pursuing his medical degree at the University of Washington and aspires to be part of the Air Force’s Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST).
Wallace was interviewed over the phone to share his experience of being a scholar. Wallace said it was “valuable having a chance to network and work and be around other veterans, like-minded people from different backgrounds, as a group of Tillman Scholars, we’ve got 40 different lenses and some very motivated people to look at whatever the problem might be.”
Tillman scholars are supported to excel academically, with high success rates, such as an average 3.6 GPA, a 98% graduation rate and a 96% employment rate. Scholars come from diverse academic disciplines, including STEM, education and humanities, and over 150 universities.
Erin Edwards, a US Navy veteran and 2023 Tillman Scholar, is pursing her Masters in journalism at Stanford and will report on the stories that will create long lasting impact focusing on minorities.
In a LinkedIn interview, Edwards said, “I served as a Navy pilot and now I’m pursuing journalism. This is an unusual path. Being recognized as a Pat Tillman Scholar not only provides me with a tribe who believe in me, push me, but also inspire me to follow my heart even when it goes against the grain.”
Tillman scholars are not only given opportunities to succeed academically, but scholars also provide leadership training to others in the flagship program of the Tillman Leadership Institute.
Wallace said the scholars “have a Facebook page and group chats” and “during the Afghanistan withdrawal. We’re posting like, Hey, I’m trying to get this translator hooked up and trying to do citizenship and this and this and this for them.”
“It’s pretty interesting that somebody can put out one little request for help and 40 people will step up and start pulling strings and calling in favors and trying to make that happen for the group, which to me is like the invaluable,” said Wallace.
Tillman scholars also meet annually at the Leadership Summit in partnership with the NFL. At the summit, scholars connect with leaders around the world to discuss and develop solutions to issues facing our different communities.
Wallace also said, “the real lifelong impact is now I’ve got this group of kind of like-minded veterans, that no matter the situation I know, will always pick up the phone and there will be an army of Tillman Scholars ready to back me up and do whatever we’re trying to get done.”
“The Pat Tillman Foundation has given me so much more than a scholarship — it has given me a family of active-duty service members, veterans, and veteran spouses who embody Pat’s qualities,” said Edwards.
For those interested in applying to become a Tillman Scholar, Wallace said, “the first is to apply because I didn’t think I would get it. I got it on my first attempt. It’s just being authentic.”
Wallace said, “The foundation’s mission is to support us so we can go on and do bigger and better things and ultimately give back to the veteran community…don’t think just about school because there’s more to that in life and it tells the story when you volunteer and do things in your community or wherever because that’s what the foundation is looking to foster.”
Pat’s Run encourages many prominent figures to support the event. Last year, former NFL superstar J.J. Watt and this year Tillman teammates from the ‘96 and ‘97 Arizona State University football team, including Jake Plummer.
Plummer told the media that Tillman “sacrificed a lot to go fight for our country but before he did that we were all pretty impressed with him as a human.”
Plummer said about the 20th anniversary that “it’s cool to see people carry on that legacy to challenge themselves that’s what Pat really epitomizes he didn’t talk about it, but if he did talk about it. You’re damn well sure he was gonna be doing it.”
“A lot of [our teammates] will tell you he reached out to check in and see what’s up how you doing, what are you up to and meanwhile he’s ready to go fight the war and he’s calling me to check on me you know that’s just kind of friend he was,” said Plummer about Tillman’s character.
Pat’s Run has grown from 2005, with over 5,000 participants in Tempe, to over 30,000 participants nationwide in 2024.
Katherine Steele, CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, told the media that the event is “a testament to who Pat was, the kind of human he was and people come together around goodness.”
“We have 30,000 people that are just trying to do good things in the world by committing to the foundation $42 to register, giving that back to the foundation to the Tillman scholar community. And again, it’s a sense of we’re all here for a purpose together,” said Steele.
The foundation provides opportunities to get involved through setting up fundraisers, their regional councils, run for Team Tillman, raise a pint for Pat, or just donate to the foundation.
Pat’s Run has inspired individuals to overcome extraordinary challenges, such as a man completing the run with an artificial heart.
And year after year, participants from various backgrounds come together to run as a testament of the foundation’s mission of building a cohesive community committed to service.
Trystan McAdow, a Navy veteran preparing for his third run at Tempe Towne Lake, said in an interview the event reminds him that service doesn’t end when enlistment does,
“Participating in Pat’s Run is my way of honoring that legacy and helping those who are dedicating their lives to help others,” said McAdow.
Kelsey Anne, a first-time run participant, shared in an interview that she “volunteered at Pat’s run with my grandparents as a kid.”
“It was very nerve racking but there were supporters & volunteers cheering for us the entire way motivating us and really keeping spirits high. I haven’t felt such a strong sense of community before and I’m already eager to come back next year,” said Anne.
Steven McCormack, ASU alumni and honor run participant in Boston, said in a interview the reason he runs is, “Pat Tillman epitomized grit and valor.”
The event also hosts an expo before, during and after the run. The expo serves as an avenue to provide organizations like the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement(OVMAE) the opportunity to connect with veterans.
(Ret.) Col. Wanda Wright, director of OVMAE said in a zoom interview their “purpose is not only to collaborate, but really it’s community engagement.”
Wright said the OVMAE mission is to be a one-stop resource for the military community at ASU “I want our office to be known as that resource. If you have some issue, even if it’s mental or physical health…we can drive you over to the VA and figure out what you know what it takes to get you right.”
Building off Tillman’s legacy of community, Wright said, “we have access to enough people in the community we can help you figure those things out and get you to the right people for whatever struggles you might be having.”
The expo also supports businesses with military connections like WheyUp.
Erik Rothchild, an Army veteran and small business owner of WheyUp, said, “ It’s an honor for my company, WheyUP, to be associated with Pat’s Run and the Pat Tillman foundation.”
“Being an Army vet and lifelong athlete, I really respected the choice that Pat made to leave the NFL and enlist in the Army and fight for what he felt was right. He was a man of convictions and actions,” said Rothchild.
This year’s 20th anniversary had over 20,000 participants in Tempe’s 4.2 mile, over 350 children in the Kid’s .42 mile run, 22 in the wheelchair 4.2 mile run and over 400 virtual participants clock their time. The event had 35 sponsors. It also hosted 90 Tillman Scholars who participated or volunteered and 1,500 additional volunteers.
“Whatever you are going to do, you should be passionate about it. Otherwise, why do it?” – Pat Tillman
