Relive the unforgettable moments from our 3rd Annual MVP Awards & Benefit Gala—an inspiring evening where guests from around the country came together to celebrate our nation’s heroes and athletes. Explore our honorees, award recipients, generous sponsors, and powerful photography that captured the heart of the night.
Marine Corps Veteran | Actor/Comedian
Rob Riggle is an actor, comedian, and former U.S. Marine Corps officer known for his dynamic career in both entertainment and service. After serving in the Marine Corps Reserve for over two decades, Riggle transitioned to comedy and acting, gaining recognition for his roles in films like 21 Jump Street, The Hangover, and Step Brothers, as well as his time as a correspondent on The Daily Show. Beyond his entertainment career, Riggle is deeply committed to supporting military veterans and first responders.
He has been involved with several charitable initiatives, including The USO and Fisher House Foundation, helping to improve the lives of service members and their families. Riggle’s unique blend of humor, charisma, and military experience makes him a perfect fit as the Emcee for our Gala, where he will bring both levity and heart to the evening while honoring those who serve.
UFC Hall of Fame Inductee | US Army Veteran
Randy Couture, a former U.S. Army Sergeant and accomplished mixed martial artist, served from 1982 to 1988 in the 101st Airborne Division, where he honed his skills in wrestling and boxing. Transitioning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Couture became a six-time UFC Champion, holding three Heavyweight and two Light Heavyweight titles. He is celebrated as one of MMA's greatest fighters and the first to secure two UFC championships in distinct divisions.
Randy is also a board member and friend of Merging Vets and Players, an organization he was introduced to by his friend Jay Glazer, who cofounded MVP. In addition to his professional achievements, Randy is active in many national and local charities, which has made him an admired figure in and outside of UFC. In 2006 Randy was inducted into the UFC hall of Fame, and in 2012 he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
This award honors those who have pioneered meaningful and lasting change through exceptional collaboration, innovation, and dedication. Their trailblazing efforts set a powerful example, inspiring others to push boundaries, uplift those around them, and drive progress in their communities and beyond. Through resilience and unwavering commitment, they leave a lasting impact, paving the way for future generations to follow.
UFC Hall of Fame Inductee | US Army Veteran
Randy Couture, a former U.S. Army Sergeant and accomplished mixed martial artist, served from 1982 to 1988 in the 101st Airborne Division, where he honed his skills in wrestling and boxing. Transitioning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Couture became a six-time UFC Champion, holding three Heavyweight and two Light Heavyweight titles. He is celebrated as one of MMA's greatest fighters and the first to secure two UFC championships in distinct divisions.
Randy is also a board member and friend of Merging Vets and Players, an organization he was introduced to by his friend Jay Glazer, who cofounded MVP. In addition to his professional achievements, Randy is active in many national and local charities, which has made him an admired figure in and outside of UFC. In 2006 Randy was inducted into the UFC hall of Fame, and in 2012 he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
This award recognizes individuals who have shown an unwavering commitment to innovation within the realms of sports and military associated communities. Whether through groundbreaking technology, unique training methodologies, or inventive strategies, these champions have pushed the boundaries of what is possible, shaping the future of their fields. Their dedication to transformative change continues to inspire progress and redefine excellence.
Senior Manager, Public Affairs - Walmart
The Catalyst Award honors Gerome and Ace Sapp for their dedication to fostering unity and strengthening community bonds. Gerome, an early MVP member and NFL veteran, has passionately championed inclusive environments, uplifting others to build a stronger community. His son, Ace, a dedicated athlete and MVP supporter, continues this mission. Through mentorship, influence, and guidance, they inspire others to embrace their journey, making a lasting impact on those around them.
NFL Alumni
Gerome Sapp, born and raised in Houston, TX, excelled at football at an early age. Gerome was a consensus Blue Chip All American and the #1 ranked player in the state of Texas and #4 ranked player nationally as a high school senior. Having received scholarship offers to every major D1 program in the country, Gerome decided to accept a scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame.
In addition to majoring in Finance, Gerome was an All American and team captain for the storied Fighting Irish Football team. After being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2003 NFL Draft, Gerome played 6 season in the NFL, 2 of those seasons also with the Indianapolis Colts. During Gerome’s NFL career he served as a team captain for both the Ravens and Colts.
During the offseason’s of Gerome’s NFL career he completed an MBA program at Harvard Business School that focused on Business Management/Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies. Gerome used that knowledge to found several award winning Fintech companies after he retired from the NFL.
Baseball Athlete
Ace Sapp who’s now 15, is the oldest son of Gerome & Tracy Sapp, was born in Houston, TX but has been raised in Las Vegas since the age of 4.
Ace has had a passion for athletics from a young age. In addition to playing flag football since the age of 5, Ace ran track for USA Track & Field and won the Nevada Junior Olympics 100 meter dash championship at the age of 9. Ace also started training and competing in grappling, which is a combination of wrestling and jiujitsu when he was 8 years old. Ace ended up becoming a two division champion multiple times while competing at some of the industry’s biggest grappling tournaments.
Ace accidentally started baseball when he was 10 years old and fell in love with it. Ace brought the same work ethic and discipline he learned in grappling from some of the best coaches in the world to the baseball field. Though relatively late to baseball, Ace has started to excel in the sport. He was named to the class of 2027 Perfect Game All-American team and has been ranked as one of the top 50 players at his position in the country. Ace plays for the 18u Milwaukee Brewers Scout team during the summer and fall and also was selected to play with the Major League Baseball sponsored ‘MLB Breakthrough Series National’ team.
More than anything, Ace loves being a big brother to his talented younger brother, Kai Sapp. Ace also has a deeply profound respect and appreciation for Merging Vets and Players and all the amazing men and women associated with the organization. Ace also enjoys school, especially Math, and wants to be an engineer one day. He holds a 3.5 GPA and is hoping to attend an SEC university prior to fulfilling his dream of playing in the MLB.
The MVP Staff voted for members who epitomized the essence of "TRUE GRIT". These members overcame challenges in their lives, acute and sustained, and showed PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE to drive on! Despite being confronted by significant obstacles and distractions, these members kept fighting, day by day, through the darkness to make a difference in their own life and in the lives of others! MVP is honored to be a part of their journey to a more enhanced and joyful life!
Denisse Montoya
Chicago Chapter
Denisse Montoya, a proud Peruvian American from Chicago’s Northwest Side, is a U.S. Air Force Veteran dedicated to advocacy and community engagement. Inspired by her brother’s military service and the events of 9/11, she enlisted in 2008, serving four years in Security Forces, including 3.5 years overseas. Experiencing firsthand the challenges of limited resources and high-stress environments, she developed a deep passion for supporting her peers—especially women and underrepresented groups.
During her transition to civilian life, Denisse found healing and growth through Merging Vets & Players (MVP), a community that helped her rediscover purpose and resilience. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, MVP became a pivotal part of her journey, reinforcing the importance of shared experiences, camaraderie, and the unwavering message: “I got your back.” This solidified Denisse’s commitment to ensuring military-affiliated individuals have access to the care, resources, and opportunities needed for success beyond service.
Currently, Denisse collaborates with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a VA Women’s Improvement Network Member and a contract panelist for the ACCENT Veteran and Caregiver Engagement Panel. Through her work in advocacy, outreach, and program development, she continues to strengthen partnerships and drive meaningful conversations that support veterans, caregivers, and military families.
With an unwavering commitment to service, Denisse strives to create lasting change, ensuring that no veteran, caregiver, or military family is left without the support they deserve.
Pictured is Ryan Saldanha, Esq. accepting award on behalf of Tim, who was not able to attend.
Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Tim Hardin was born into a family as the 8th of 15 children. Serving in separate terms of service with both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, between the years of 1998 to 2022, Tim moved to Las Vegas after completing service with the Air Force.
During his years of military service, Tim also achieved various educational degrees and accolades. Growing up as a multi-sport athlete, Tim has also competed very successfully as an MMA fight competitor.
Always holding true to his passions, Tim held a delicate passion for raising his three beautiful children “Dori” Dorietta, Tim II, and Ocean, and always being a true friend to those whom he chooses to call a friend- and just striving to be being the best person he can be, in the life that he has. Tim is known to be a team player and always on the ready to socialize and have a great time.
In spite of experiencing horrific personal losses, Tim still stays in the fight and continuously to picks himself up to inspire others around him who face their own challenges in life- he does this by lifting others up with his own vulnerability and his personal story of strength, perseverance, and extreme resiliency.
We are proud and honored to have Tim as a brother in our MVP community, and we know he always has our back.
MVP thrives because of the passion and dedication of our volunteers. In 2024, MVP was supported by 80 active volunteers who collectively donated over 1,600 hours of their time. These committed individuals helped lead programming, build community, and support our mission across chapters nationwide. We are excited to recognize some of our most dedicated team members who have earned or been presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award over the past year.
Bill Johnson stepped into the volunteer role of Program Manager for the MVP Dallas chapter in 2024, where he led weekly huddles and fostered strong connections within the veteran and athlete community. MVP is proud to honor Bill’s commitment to service and recognize him as a 2024 recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award - Gold level.
MVP is proud to honor Amy Tiemeyer with the President’s Volunteer Service Award – Gold Level, presented in 2024. A U.S. Army and Navy veteran, Amy has dedicated her life to service—both in and out of uniform. She has inspired countless others through her commitment to community, and her extensive volunteer work and peer-to-peer support training have made her a powerful advocate and voice for veterans nationwide.
Nathan joined the MVP Chicago chapter as a member before stepping into the role of National Volunteer Coordinator. In addition to volunteering alongside this year’s True Grit Awardee, Denisse Montoya, in the Chicago chapter, MVP proudly recognizes his contributions to the organization with the 2024 President’s Volunteer Service Award.
