WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the pits prior to Sunday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross race in Washington D.C., driver Tanner Foust hosted United States military veteran guests – a special opportunity made possible by Foust, his sponsor NAPA Chassis, and The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF). Federal-Mogul Chassis, manufacturer of the NAPA Precision Engineered Chassis Line exclusively distributed by NAPA Auto Parts stores, asked Foust to present a donation of $5,000 to IFHF President Dave Winters — as part of the kickoff for NAPA’s upcoming July Get Back and Give Back fundraising campaign supporting the not-for-profit organization.
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Begun in 2000 and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided close to $150 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. Through NAPA’s previous “Get Back and Give Back” campaigns in 2012 & 2013, NAPA employees, customers and suppliers have joined forces to raise $1.35 million for the IFHF.
Not far from the racetrack in Washington, D.C., sits the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), a medical center specializing in treatment of veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).
The IFHF completed construction of the 72,000-square-foot, two-story facility in 2010, and it is located on the Navy campus at Bethesda, Md., adjacent to the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with close access to the Uniformed Services University, the National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Health Administration.
NICoE provides the most advanced services for advanced diagnostics, initial treatment plan and family education, introduction to therapeutic modalities, referral and reintegration support for military personnel and veterans with TBI and PTS. Further, NICoE conducts research, tests new protocols and provides comprehensive training and education to patients, providers and families while maintaining ongoing telehealth follow-up care with patients across the country and throughout the world. The current focus of the IFHF is a series of “Intrepid Spirit” centers, each acting as a satellite of the central NICoE facility, to further enhance TBI and PTS research and treatment. The Fund will design and build nine of these new centers located at some of the largest military deployment bases around the country.
About the donation, Foust said, “I’m honored to represent both NAPA Chassis and The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund this weekend here in Washington D.C. I’m very proud that NAPA has stepped up over the past few years to support the IFHF, and the great work they do on behalf of our wounded American veterans and their families. I encourage all of our Global Rallycross fans to learn more about the IFHF, and find out what they can do to get involved.”
About the donation, IFHF President Dave Winters said, “All of us at the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund are extremely grateful to Tanner and to NAPA and NAPA Chassis for their wonderful support of our military heroes in uniform and their families. The generous donation provided today, and the support from NAPA’s upcoming Get Back and Give Back program, will go a long way in supporting our program for service members suffering the effects of traumatic brain injury, and their families. These men and women have sacrificed a great deal for our nation and it is wonderful that Tanner and NAPA have stepped forward to join our campaign to help them.”
Nicholas Jacquez, representing NAPA Chassis, said, “We’re thrilled to have Tanner Foust and NAPA Chassis help kick off NAPA’s Get Back and Give Back campaign for 2014, benefitting The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. It’s been truly memorable spending time with our veterans and guests from the National Intrepid Center of Excellence today at the racetrack.”
About The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund serves United States military personnel wounded or injured in service to our nation, and their families. Supporting these heroes helps repay the debt all Americans owe them for the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation. They are, in the words of our founder, the late Zachary Fisher, “our nation’s greatest national resource,” and they deserve all the help that our nation can provide. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in meeting this important national mission.
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Begun in 2000 and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided close to $150 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. These efforts are funded entirely with donations from the public, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have contributed to the Fund. For more information, please visit www.fallenheroesfund.org.
