Here’s How President Obama Helped Raise Awareness of the Invictus Games
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sparked a wave of attention after posting a video on Twitter (TWTR) - Get Report challenging Prince Harry to the Invictus Games, held earlier this month in Orlando, Fla.
"The Invictus Games was started two years ago by Prince Harry -- it's an international sports competition [for wounded veterans], and it's largely unknown in the U.S.," said Marc Scheipe, a veteran and president of Sage North America, an HR software company and official supporter of The Invictus Games.
"To have the first lady and the president engaged -- it really generated some nice momentum heading into the games."
The Obama video, posted on Twitter, was retweeted almost 6,000 times.
Canada's prime minster Justin Trudeau also posted a memorable video, promoting his nation's competitiveness in the games. His Twitter video garnered almost 5,000 retweets.
Scheipe expects more buzzworthy social media videos heading into next year's game, which will be held in Toronto.
Scheipe also said the Invictus Games helped boost awareness of veterans' issues.
"It was a great opportunity for a large audience to see veterans in action and not look at them as victims, but rather a group that is persevering and excelling," he added.
Some 500 competitors participated in the games. Veterans from 15 nations were invited.
For Scheipe, his company helps veterans create opportunities for themselves upon returning home from war.
"We serve small and medium-sized businesses," he said. "What people may not know is veterans are two times more likely to be a small-business owner."
For veterans looking to start their own business, Scheipe stressed the importance of action.
"Everything a veteran has learned in the military is about initiative and perseverance -- it won't happened overnight and that first step is the hardest, but when veterans go out and get access and opportunity, they are largely very successful.'
Action Alerts PLUS, which Jim Cramer co-manages as a charitable trust, is long TWTR.
