LHU alumni board member wins community service award

3/15/13

Ohio National, a financial company based in Cincinnati, announced this week that Christopher Raup, Lock Haven University Alumni Board member and 1990 Lock Haven University graduate, is the recipient of the organization’s prestigious 2012 Paul E. Martin Community Service Award.

Raup, an Ohio National builder general agent, is chairman and chief executive officer of the Wounded Warrior Patrol Inc., which he founded in 2011 to provide recreational therapy through snow sports to wounded veterans and their families throughout the country.

“As a combat veteran, his personal commitment to the Wounded Warrior Patrol comes from his promise to his fellow brothers and sisters in arms following his 2006 tour of duty in Ramadi, Iraq. Though he retired from active service in 2008 as Major, Chris believes he must honor the heroes he personally witnessed sacrifice themselves for their fellow combatants and their country. In this manner, he continues to actively serve. He truly believes in this cause and focuses an immense amount of time seeing to its success. He truly embodies the spirit of giving back to the community,” said his award nominator.  

“After returning from serving in Iraq in 2006, starting the Wounded Warrior Patrol was a way to pay it forward to my fellow servicemen and servicewomen,” Raup said.

The Wounded Warrior Patrol hosts an annual family ski week for wounded warriors and their families. Last year, events were held in Somerset, Pa. and in Breckinridge, Co., both of which involved at least 30 to 40 warrior family participants and 50 to 100 volunteers. In addition, the organization works with other wounded warrior programs like the Wounded Warrior Family Ski Week in Breckenridge, CO.  The goal is to achieve 100 wounded warrior skier days across the country.

Raup is also working with the National Ski Patrol to implement the Wounded Warrior Patrol regionally.

According to his nominator, Raup is personally responsible for raising a large portion of the organization’s annual operating budget, which is an entirely based on fundraising. He also dedicates at least 10 hours a week to the effort, more than 20 hours a week in the winter. He has rallied a dedicated board of 16 volunteers to commit a combined 1,000 hours of manpower annually and raise additional funds to support the mission of the Wounded Warrior Patrol.                         

In addition to this organization, Raup is a senior patroller and instructor for the National Ski Patrol, Level 2 Certified Professional Ski Instructors of America.  He is also a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, who provide escort missions and color guard for fallen military, police and firefighter heroes.

As part of his award, Raup designated a $1,000 donation to the Wounded Warrior Patrol on behalf of The Ohio National Foundation.

About the Paul E. Martin Community Service Award

The Paul E. Martin Community Service Award was established in 1979 to honor sales associates and home office associates who give unselfishly of their time and talent to aid their communities. Former Ohio National Chairman and CEO Paul E. Martin was a prime example of community involvement and corporate leadership. During his 33 years with Ohio National, his interests extended outward from the insurance industry to the community as a whole.

Tracing its corporate origins to 1909, Ohio National today markets a variety of insurance and financial products through more than 50,000 representatives in 47 states (all except Alaska, Hawaii and New York), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and through subsidiary operations in Santiago, Chile. As of Dec. 31, 2012, its affiliated companies have $34.7 billion total assets under management. Products are issued by The Ohio National Life Insurance Company and Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation. Named Cincinnati’s “#1 Top Workplace” (large category) by the Enquirer Media (June 2010 and 2012) and “25 Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work for in America” by the Great Place to Work Institute (June 2004),Ohio National has more than 965 associates. Visit www.ohionational.com for more information.