Following the devastation of Hurricane Florence to the military-centric Jacksonville, N.C., community and the greater eastern North Carolina region, Hope For The Warriors, in conjunction with Waltrip Brothers’ Charity Championship, Feed The Children and Motor Racing Outreach, sent two tractor trailers filled with pallets of non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies and hygiene products to victims in the area. With two hurricane relief distributions already occurring immediately following the storm in late September, the Champions’ Dinner raised funds to cover costs associated with those relief drives. “What meant the world to me when I distributed that food was the smiles on people’s faces, along with the military guys who were there to help us give out the packages to the families in need,” said Michael Waltrip, co-host of the Waltrip Brothers’ Charity Championship, and who attended the hurricane relief distribution effort in Jacksonville, N.C. “To stand on the stage looking out at the crowd, knowing that the folks sitting at the tables and attending the Champion’s Dinner were the reason that Darrell and I were able to give those trailers of food and supplies away; it means a lot. We’re Americans. We love this country. We appreciate so much the freedoms that we have, and we don’t take them for granted. Any time we can help any cause or initiative with the military, like Hope For The Warriors, we’re standing out there with our hands up saying let us help.”
The event also highlighted what a sense of restored self, family and hope can look like for a combat wounded veteran by showcasing the work of Corporal Christin Brown and his business, Hero Calls. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Cpl Brown’s life changed on December 13, 2011 when he stepped on an IED during normal combat patrol on his second deployment to Afghanistan. Brown found himself in a drug-induced coma after sustaining multiple traumas to his hands and arms, amputations of his right leg below the hip joint and left leg above the knee, internal injuries and blast wounds to his upper left thigh. Working with the Gary Sinise Foundation and Hope For The Warriors, Brown has a custom smart home designed to his needs, as well as a fully-functioning workshop where he is able to run Hero Calls, making custom duck calls for hunters and also continue his lifelong passion of hunting. 2018 marks the second year of involvement for Hope For The Warriors at the Waltrip Brothers’ Charity Championship. Last year, the group auctioned off a block of 200 backpacks filled with nonperishable food items and school supplies for families at Fort Campbell, as well as granting A Warriors Wish® and sending the family of Army Sergeant Jesse Jackson to Disneyland for an unforgettable family vacation. To learn more about Hope For The Warriors or find out how you can get involved, visit HopeForTheWarriors.org.
Hope for Warriors PR
- AM Racing | Hailie Deegan Richmond Raceway Xfinity Preview - March 29, 2024
- Young’s Motorsports Richmond Raceway Xfinity Team Preview - March 29, 2024
- Thomas Meseraull Makes History With First Xtreme Outlaw Midget Win - March 29, 2024