Wish for Our Heroes Benefit Held at ML Motorsports Hangar
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Wish For Our Heroes is dedicated to assisting active-duty military families. The Noblesville-based organization helps military families with costs such as medical, food and transportation.
Silent auction items were available and $11,287 was raised Sunday that will go to the families of Indiana troops.
To date the organization has granted 1,088 wishes across 46 states and four countries. ML Motorsports has hosted numerous military personnel at NASCAR Nationwide Series races since April.
When basic needs are met, the organization also enjoys providing things like trips for troops to athletic events, vacations for families to get reacquainted after deployments and meetings with celebrities.
The benefit Sunday was organized by Mary Louise Miller, ML Motorsports owner, and Billy Hutchinson, ML Motorsports marketing director and Wish For Our Heroes board member.
Bobby Henline, an Iraq war veteran, served as master of ceremonies. Henline received third degree burns while in combat in 2007.
Scott Woods, executive chef and owner of Spikes Beach Grill and Noa Noa Wood Grill and Sushi Bar, prepared barbecue for attendees.
The benefit was attended by 300 people at the ML Motorsports Hangar at Warsaw Municipal Airport.
Country musician Collin Raye performed during the benefit.
Musical performances also were provided by Rodney Watts, The Sock Monkeys and Jared Rogers, nephew of Kenny Rogers.
Hutchinson said he learned about the Wish For Our Heroes organization in March after receiving an e-mail from Erich Orrick, Wish For Our Heroes vice president, asking if ML Motorsports would be interested in hosting soldiers at a race.
“We thought this was a great opportunity and the least we could do for the men and women fighting for our freedom,” Hutchinson said.
In April ML Motorsports had a race at the Texas Motor Speedway hosted by Wish For Our Heroes where Hutchinson met the organization’s officials.
After returning from Texas, Hutchinson said he approached Miller about raising funds for the organization through a benefit.
Miller said the Wish For Our Troops organization wanted to come to Warsaw to thank the ML Motorsports team for providing passes to NASCAR races.
Miller said it was a good opportunity to organize a fundraiser for the group.
“The members of Wish For Our Troops are the most gracious, kindest people I have ever met,” Miller said.
Jeff Wells, Wish For Our Heroes president, spoke about the organization that he founded three years ago.
Wells said the organization was launched to honor his father, a retired Marine Corp. sergeant who died in April 2009.
“There are a lot of military charities focused on the wounded and those killed in combat, but we saw a need to help the military personnel currently active and who stumbled on hard times,” Wells said.
Also during the benefit, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer provided remarks.
“You are awestruck and filled with pride when you meet people who defend your country and the courage they display and when they come back home to improve their communities,” Thallemer said.
For more information about the organization visit wish4ourheroes.org[[In-content Ad]]
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Wish For Our Heroes is dedicated to assisting active-duty military families. The Noblesville-based organization helps military families with costs such as medical, food and transportation.
Silent auction items were available and $11,287 was raised Sunday that will go to the families of Indiana troops.
To date the organization has granted 1,088 wishes across 46 states and four countries. ML Motorsports has hosted numerous military personnel at NASCAR Nationwide Series races since April.
When basic needs are met, the organization also enjoys providing things like trips for troops to athletic events, vacations for families to get reacquainted after deployments and meetings with celebrities.
The benefit Sunday was organized by Mary Louise Miller, ML Motorsports owner, and Billy Hutchinson, ML Motorsports marketing director and Wish For Our Heroes board member.
Bobby Henline, an Iraq war veteran, served as master of ceremonies. Henline received third degree burns while in combat in 2007.
Scott Woods, executive chef and owner of Spikes Beach Grill and Noa Noa Wood Grill and Sushi Bar, prepared barbecue for attendees.
The benefit was attended by 300 people at the ML Motorsports Hangar at Warsaw Municipal Airport.
Country musician Collin Raye performed during the benefit.
Musical performances also were provided by Rodney Watts, The Sock Monkeys and Jared Rogers, nephew of Kenny Rogers.
Hutchinson said he learned about the Wish For Our Heroes organization in March after receiving an e-mail from Erich Orrick, Wish For Our Heroes vice president, asking if ML Motorsports would be interested in hosting soldiers at a race.
“We thought this was a great opportunity and the least we could do for the men and women fighting for our freedom,” Hutchinson said.
In April ML Motorsports had a race at the Texas Motor Speedway hosted by Wish For Our Heroes where Hutchinson met the organization’s officials.
After returning from Texas, Hutchinson said he approached Miller about raising funds for the organization through a benefit.
Miller said the Wish For Our Troops organization wanted to come to Warsaw to thank the ML Motorsports team for providing passes to NASCAR races.
Miller said it was a good opportunity to organize a fundraiser for the group.
“The members of Wish For Our Troops are the most gracious, kindest people I have ever met,” Miller said.
Jeff Wells, Wish For Our Heroes president, spoke about the organization that he founded three years ago.
Wells said the organization was launched to honor his father, a retired Marine Corp. sergeant who died in April 2009.
“There are a lot of military charities focused on the wounded and those killed in combat, but we saw a need to help the military personnel currently active and who stumbled on hard times,” Wells said.
Also during the benefit, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer provided remarks.
“You are awestruck and filled with pride when you meet people who defend your country and the courage they display and when they come back home to improve their communities,” Thallemer said.
For more information about the organization visit wish4ourheroes.org[[In-content Ad]]
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