Helping Out Heroes Foundation and Event Co-chairs Mike Marasco and Travis Wilson are pleased to announce Corporal Brian Aft will be the honorary chair of its annual Dinner and Auction. The fundraiser will take place at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on September 11, 2016, which will mark the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
Corporal Brian Aft enlisted with the US Marine Corps in May 2007. On April 8, 2011, Aft struck an improvised explosive device while patrolling on duty in Afghanistan. Taking the brunt of the explosion, Aft suffered numerous injuries including the loss his lower extremities, a fractured wrist and a punctured eardrum. He spent two years with a wounded warrior battalion before retiring from the Marines in 2013.
Following his 6½ years of service, Aft returned to Dallas with his bomb dog “Buckshot” and the two reside in McKinney, Texas. Aft currently undergoes rehabilitation treatment at Adaptive Training Foundation, a nonprofit gym that trains athletes with physical impairment and restores hope through movement. He is also a proud member of the Frisco American Legion Post 178.
“Corporal Aft demonstrates great courage and is a true hero because of the sacrifice he made for us and for our freedom, said Event Co-chair Travis Wilson. “We are thankful for his service to our country, and it is a privilege to have him serve as Honorary Chair.”
In the past five years, Helping Our Heroes has given more than $735,000 from donations and matching funds to Semper Fi Fund, which offers immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to critically ill and injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and Folds of Honor, which provides annual educational scholarships to the families of those killed or disabled while in active duty. In 2016, the hope is to raise more than $200,000 to make a positive difference in the lives of veterans and their families through the programs they support.
This year’s fundraiser includes a dinner on September 11, 2016, at Frontiers of Flight Museum, which will coincide with the 15th anniversary of 9/11, followed by a golf tournament at Brookhaven Country Club on September 12, 2016. To purchase tickets to the dinner or register a foursome for the tournament, please visit www.helpingourheroes.us.
Helping Our Heroes Foundation is a local organization founded in 2011 with a vision to help those who serve so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms of living in the greatest country on earth. The heroes we honor may come from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or National Guard or may be local police, firemen or first responders. This support ensures these veterans have the resources they need during their recovery and transition back to their communities. For more information, visit www.helpingourheroes.us.