Carrington House Recipient and Stability Speaker U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Clingman and his wife Alexis.
Carrington Charitable Foundation [1] (CCF), the nonprofit organization of The Carrington Companies [2], hosted its second annual Gala on June 16, 2018, to raise funds to support CCF’s critical and innovative programs that provide “mobility, stability, purpose and prosperity” for veterans returning from post-September 11 battlefields. The event was held at the historic Belle Haven Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.
“We are deeply grateful to our donors for their continued generosity and support of our mission,” said Shelly Lawrence, Executive Director of Community Relations, Carrington Charitable Foundation. “Our commitment to supporting America’s military heroes is ongoing and unwavering. The proceeds from this year’s Gala will do much to support CCF’s mission and the wounded Veterans we serve.”
The evening’s events were emceed by Rick Sharga, Carrington Mortgage Holdings EVP, featured live and silent auctions, and wine cork pull. Guests bid on items including an exclusive vacation in Positano, Italy, and a wine tasting trip in Napa Valley. Gala guest speakers included four U.S. Veterans who spoke about their personal experiences with CCF’s Signature Programs.
The CCF’s outlines its three mission points of mobility, stability, purpose and prosperity in the following statements:
- Mobility: CCF financially supports The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), which provides free private air transportation to wounded Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. Mobility Speaker, and VAC representative and beneficiary, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Adam Kisielewski, shared details about the ways in which the VAC has helped him after he was grievously injured while serving near Fallujah, Iraq.
- Stability: Carrington House provides custom, adaptive homes for catastrophically injured Veterans. Carrington House Recipient and Stability Speaker U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Clingman and his wife Alexis recounted how their newly renovated and fully furnished custom home has been life-changing for them and their five children.
- Purpose and Prosperity: CCF’s newest initiative, the Veteran Support Program, supports Veterans’ return to civilian life after their time of service. Purpose Speaker U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills detailed all he has been able to accomplish as a result of help from CCF. Travis has established the Travis Mills Foundation, and established a retreat in Maine for wounded Veterans and their families where they learn that, despite their injuries, they have a purpose and can find a “new normal” in life. Prosperity Speaker U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Johnnie Yellock shared details about The Honor Foundation, a nonprofit supported by CCF, which helps Special Operations personnel successfully transition back to civilian life.
Carrington CEO and Founder Bruce Rose closed the speaking program by reaffirming Carrington’s commitment to meeting the needs of Veterans and their families, and challenging donors to show their support for Veterans through CCF.
In addition to the annual Gala, CCF also hosts the Carrington Charitable Foundation Annual Golf Classic at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California. This year’s event will take place on Oct. 8, 2018. Since the first annual Golf Classic in 2011, CCF has raised more than $16.4 million to build homes for Veterans, as well as provided more than $6.3 million in grants to deserving nonprofit organizations in communities across the United States.