Palmetto Freedom Fest Raises Over 500K For Folds of Honor

SC Chapter of Non Profit Organization Hosts Awesome Country Music Concert

By: Jeff Walker, Entertainment Writer

Similar to Tunnels to Towers which provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, the Folds of Honor organization provides scholarships to college bound children to ensure that families who’ve sacrificed so much for our country receive the education and opportunities they deserve.

Founded in 2007 by Oklahoma Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilot Lt. Col Dan Rooney, upon returning from duty in Iraq who saw a need to help educate young men and women who lost loved ones while serving our country. 15 years later the foundation boasts more than 30 regional chapters from New York state to southern California, and from Minnesota to southern Florida, recently including families of first responders as recipients.

Since its inception Folds of Honor has awarded over 44K scholarships including 41 percent benefitting minorities. What’s even more astounding is the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization donates 91 percent (you read that correctly) of all monies raised, whether through private donations or fundraising events going directly to scholarship recipients. In the non-profit world that is unheard of. Nine percent covers admin costs with no one in the organization receiving compensation for their volunteer efforts.

This past weekend the Palmetto State chapter based out of Greenville SC hosted their second annual Palmetto Freedom Fest at Credit One Stadium, offering up a private VIP invitation only gathering on the lawn Friday night. South Carolina’s own Edwin McCain performed for the 300 person event with rising local country singer Lauren Hall opening. The intimate concert was preceded by a cocktail hour and an amazing live auction, hosted by WCIV personality Tom Crawford.

Among the many sponsors were Allegiance Flag Supply who decorated the grounds with patriotic spirit, Southern Eagle (Budweiser), MES Fire (first responder materials supplier), Axon Homes, Choate Construction, and Summerville based coffee roasters One Nation whose founders have strong ties to the military and donate $10 back off every 12 oz. Folds of Honor Taste Like Freedom Medium Roast bag they sell.

Guitars 4 Vets a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to providing relief to struggling veterans through the healing power of music and community was represented by their Columbia SC representative Heather Smith. Studies have shown for years that music has healing properties, and Guitars 4 Vets gifts guitars to struggling service men and women, teaching them how to play, in hopes by doing so the veterans safely connect with their surroundings and other people. With over 100 local chapters from coast to coast, Guitars 4 Vets has five locations in the Palmetto state.

Other proud sponsors included Nautilus Home Management Company, Teijin, and the Daniel Island Community Fund, with local philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro owners of Credit One Stadium, and Bob Moran president of Charleston Tennis LLC providing the venue for the weekend.

While the music, auction, food and drink were phenomenal, the highlight from Friday evening was the compelling testimony from Jenn Stephens, a gold star widow of a proud military man she witnessed suffer from war related conditions. Through the Folds of Honor programs four of their children became scholarship recipients. Although her story is sad, it was extremely moving, heartfelt and conveyed the mission of Folds of Honor.

Just as moving were shorter speeches from Tulsa, OK police officer Luke Sherman who now works for Folds of Honor, and Charleston firefighter David Griffin who was an engineer during the Sofa Superstore fire in 2007 where the city of Charleston lost nine of its firefighting heroes.  Earning a Doctorate of Education degree Griffin is not only an assistant chief with the CFD, but an inspirational speaker. Retired firefighter Bob Key from New York City spoke briefly before introducing Edwin McCain.

However, it was Saturday night that got red-blooded patriotic country music lovers excited as Nashville heavyweights Lee Brice and Big & Rich performed inside Credit One Stadium. While either could have easily been the headliner, John Rich and Big Kenny aka Big & Rich opened the show getting fans including invited military, first responders, and Citadel cadets pumped up. Their signature song ‘Save a Horse ‘Ride a Cowboy’ has become their anthem since the duo skyrocketed on to the country music scene in the early 2000’s with their brand of rock, funk, and mainstream country.

Sumter SC native Lee Brice who has eight number ones to his credit over the past decade, and was the main attraction in the inaugural Palmetto Freedom Fest last year closed down the high energy concert. Country music radio friendly hits such as ‘Love Like Crazy’, ‘Hard to Love’, ‘A Woman Like You’, ‘I Drive Your Truck‘, and ‘I Don’t Dance’ had the crowd pumped throughout.

Lauren Hall got to experience the big stage at Credit One Stadium joining Brice for ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ a duet Brice recorded with Carly Pearce for her
2019 self-titled studio album. With Big & Rich setting the tone and fans eager for great country music from artists who care about patriotism and our fallen heroes, it was a tremendous concert under a perfect moonlit night.

Through pre-Palmetto Freedom Fest charitable donations, merchandise and ticket sales, as well as the Friday night auction the Palmetto chapter of Folds of Honor raised over 500 thousand dollars for the organization, with more than 90 percent of the money raised going directly to young men and women hoping to attend college. It’s unheard of in this day and age to come across a 501(c) foundation that targets almost all the funds they raise going to the cause they are championing.

While the Palmetto Freedom Fest weekend remains their biggest fundraiser in South Carolina, organizers of the event host smaller events on a continued basis, including several golf outings, with hopes to plan a similar concert in the spring whether in Charleston or the upstate. Stay tuned!

For more on Folds of Honor visit https://foldsofhonor.org/

For more on Guitars 4 Vets visit https://guitars4vets.org/why-guitars/

For more on One Nation visit their site at https://www.onenationcoffee.com/

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