Advance Auto Parts Inc. has donated $2.1 million to Building Homes for Heroes, an organization that builds and/or modifies homes that will be gifted, mortgage-free, to veterans who were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Advance Auto raised funds for the donation during its 2016 Vendor Golf Classic in August. Vendor partners, BBB Industries, manufacturer of CARQUEST starters and alternators, and Johnson Controls (JCI), manufacturer of Autocraft Batteries, were major sponsors of Advance’s 2016 Vendor Golf Classic.
“Advance Auto Parts is one of our nation’s most generous sponsors for many of our severely injured veterans,” said Andy Pujol, Founder and CEO of Building Homes for Heroes. “I want to thank their team, as well as their vendor partners for this year’s gift, which will help us achieve our goal to gift as many as one mortgage-free home every 10 days in 2016 and 2017. Together, we are building homes and rebuilding lives.”
During the event, Advance Auto also hosted United States Marine Corps Sergeant Kirstie Ennis, who spoke at the event on behalf of Building Homes for Heroes and will be gifted a home. Army Specialist Hugo Gonzalez and Army Sergeant Joel Tavera, who both received homes from the organization, also attended the event.
Sgt. Ennis enlisted at age 17 in 2008 and nearly died when the helicopter she was flying in crash landed in 2012 in Afghanistan. The accident left her severely injured and required Ennis to undergo nearly 40 surgeries, including the amputation of her left leg in December 2015.
Her home will be located in Glennwood Springs, Colo., where she can continue her snowboarding career and training for the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeonchang, South Korea. The International Paralympic Committee has ranked Ennis as high as fifth in the world in women’s snowboard cross.
“The donation from Advance Auto Parts is amazing and will help change the lives of so many injured veterans and their families,” said Ennis. “These homes will rekindle relationships, strengthen families, promote healing, and allow independence. We as warriors want nothing more than to push past adversity and continue living a healthy and productive life. Thank you for helping to provide us with that opportunity. Thank you for helping us regain our independence.”
