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Virtual Event Helps Build Homes for Wounded Vets

The Carrington Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the Carrington Companies, has their own veteran-focused Signature programs aimed at creating mobility, stability, purpose, and prosperity for those returning from post-9/11 conflicts, according to its mission statement.

This year the charity's annual golf tournament, which benefits the aforementioned project, is going virtual, making it more accessible to all Carrington affiliates, the company said. Tickets for the event are available here.

The hour-long virtual fundraiser features both silent and live auctions, addresses from Veterans, and other entertainment: REACT: A CCF Virtual Fundraiser takes place Monday, October 12.

CCF representatives say that this year, like many nonprofits, it is "challenged by the environment created by the pandemic."

This event will be its primary fundraiser for 2020.

"The veterans we assist through Carrington House and our other signature programs are counting on us to make this event a success, so we can keep our promises to the veteran families we assist," said Shelly Lawrence, Executive Director, Carrington Charitable Foundation. 

"Since the program began, Carrington House has helped 24 veterans and their families find their forever homes through remodels, rebuilds, renovations and land purchases. CCF has raised more than $21 million since the foundation's inception. In 2019, the CCF Golf Classic event raised more than $1.8 million. More than 260 golfers participated; and the event culminated in a dinner and auction attended by more than 500 people—the largest attendance in the event’s nine-year history ... Right now, there are three more homes in progress."

Specifically, CCF has broken ground and "made significant progress on the home for U.S. Army Sergeant 1st Class Matthew Miles and his family. We have also started on the homes for U.S. Marine Corporal Michael Jernigan and U.S. Army Sergeant Matthew Melancon," Lawrence said.

According to the event page, Melancon, now a snowboarder and motivational speaker, was severely injured during his second deployment to the Middle East, when his truck was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). He was injured severely enough to be immediately evacuated out of the country. For the next two years, he underwent two dozen intense reconstructive surgeries ... That's just (the beginning of) one of several veterans' stories.

During Monday's virtual event, participants will hear from three vets who are recipients of Carrington House homes, as well as the CEO of The Honor Foundation, Matt Stevens, a beneficiary of CCF’s Veteran Support program.

Even though the full event will not be presented as usual this year, Lawrence says the charity still has important commitments to honor with our Veteran Heroes and their families. "Ongoing donations and support are critical to building our combat wounded veterans the homes they need to heal and return to life post military service."

Please visit this page to purchase (pay-what-you-can/$50) tickets to the event.

The silent auction is in progress here, and more general information about the effort is available here.

About Author: Christina Hughes Babb

Christina Hughes Babb is a reporter for DS News and MReport. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, she has been a reporter, editor, and publisher in the Dallas area for more than 15 years. During her 10 years at Advocate Media and Dallas Magazine, she published thousands of articles covering local politics, real estate, development, crime, the arts, entertainment, and human interest, among other topics. She has won two national Mayborn School of Journalism Ten Spurs awards for nonfiction, and has penned pieces for Texas Monthly, Salon.com, Dallas Observer, Edible, and the Dallas Morning News, among others. Contact Christina at [email protected].
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