American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. is Major Sponsor and Participant in CanAm Veterans Challenge

HOLBROOK, N.Y., June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, June 20 through July 4, 2014, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) will be participating in World T.E.A.M. Sports' (WTS) inaugural CanAm Veterans Challenge, a two-nation, 18-day journey starting in Ottawa, Ontario and traveling 766 miles to its finishing destination in Washington, D.C. on bicycles and hand cycles with wounded allied veterans from Canada, Denmark and the U.S.

APFS President and CEO Lon T. Dolber, COO Dean Bruno and affiliated colleagues Bob Clayton and Frank Ocello, will be among nine civilians riding alongside the 16 selected war and conflict veterans, who served in Vietnam, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq through one province, three states, and the District of Columbia. Participating veterans of CanAm live with injuries and disabilities ranging from loss of limbs to blindness to Post Traumatic Stress.  The meaning behind the ride goes beyond the finish line, but deep within the lives it will touch, the lifelong connections to be made, and inevitably the completion of an unforgettable two-and-a-half week-long journey.

U.S. Army veteran Christopher Levi will be riding with CanAm. During his time of service in Iraq Levi lost both his legs above the knee and suffered injuries in his dominant hand. However, in no way did this inhibit his physical activity or in forging a friendship with American Portfolios CEO, Lon Dolber. The two have been training together for a couple of years now, and have participated in multiple philanthropic bike rides together, including the FOA ride, which American Portfolios serves as a major sponsor in. Levi says, "I was given a hand bike, but I didn't really have any way of using it until I met Lon Dolber."

Additionally, affiliated colleague Bob Clayton, will be part of the team, tandem riding with retired air force serviceman Larry Gunter, who enlisted in 1986, but learned that he was going blind in 2004. "I want to show all people with disabilities they can accomplish anything they set their mind to and strive for," Larry said of his involvement with sports; while, Clayton explains "I have been great friends [with Larry] ever since. It is an honor for me to be his tandem pilot on the CanAm ride."

American Portfolios' involvement with World T.E.A.M. Sports looks to the "coalition of the riding" in the CanAm Veterans' Challenge to provide inspiration to other persons with disabilities and to the public. "The experience of riding next to these heroes and pushing through the challenge together is almost indescribable. To be part of something that is bigger than you, that also stretches the width of two countries, is extraordinary," said American Portfolios CEO and WTS board member Lon T. Dolber.

About American Portfolios 
Headquartered in Holbrook, N.Y., APFS is a full-service independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC registered investment advisor. Both entities, along with technology division American Outsources, LLC (AO), collectively reside under the legal entity of American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently serves more than 829 independent investment professionals located in 393 branch locations throughout the nation. For more information about American Portfolios, visit http://public.americanportfolios.com/.

About World T.E.A.M Sports 
World T.E.A.M. Sports uses sporting events to bring together athletes of all cultures, regardless of whether they have a disability or are able-bodied, to accomplish seemingly impossible goals. World T.E.A.M. Sports believes that its organization, through athletic events, can educate the public about true human ability while giving the disabled individual challenging opportunities that help them to realize their own abilities. Based in Arlington, Va., World T.E.A.M. Sports was founded in 1993 by James Benson and moves to change the way the world perceives those with disabilities. To learn more about World T.E.A.M. Sports, visit http://worldteamsports.org/.

Melissa Grappone, VP of Corp. Comm.
PHONE: 631.870.8208
E-MAIL: mgrappone@americanportfolios.com 

SOURCE American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.