Total Funds Raised at Inaugural “Veteran Impact Celebration” Exceed $170,000
Nashville, Tenn. — Thursday night’s (6/28) inaugural “Veteran Impact Celebration” benefiting MTSU‘s (Middle Tennessee State University) Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center (Daniels Center) exceeded all expectations, generating a grand total of $171,000.
The sold out fundraiser held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at The Grove at Williamson Place featured live performances by student veterans as well as several guest speakers including retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Keith M. Huber and MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, and Sidney A. McPhee, President of MTSU. Marine Corps veteran and singer-songwriter Scott Brown of the Scooter Brown Band also performed.
“It was so gratifying to see the level of public support for our veterans last night,” notes Daniels. “There was such a feeling of unabashed patriotism and coming together for a worthy cause. I want to thank all the good folks who came out and ask that you save a night for us next year when we do it again.”
Later in the evening, Daniels delivered remarks and performed two of his patriotic tunes, “My Beautiful America,” and “In America.” The Country Music Hall of Famer was then joined on stage by his manager, David Corlew, and Major General Terry “Max” Haston, where on behalf of The Journey Home Project, a $100,000 check was presented to MTSU’s Daniels Center.
“The partnership between MTSU and The Journey Home Project has created something larger than we ever imagined,” says Corlew. “Our veterans are finally receiving the respect, the support, and guidance they so deserve. The Journey Home Project couldn’t be more proud of the progress, the friendship, and the accomplishments that are evolving from our combined efforts.”
The Daniels Center is the largest and most comprehensive veterans center on any Tennessee higher education campus. It enables the campus’ 900-plus student-veteran population to have a one-stop shop to meet a variety of academic needs. The 3,200-square-foot center is located in the Keathley University Center, right in the heart of the MTSU campus. The center is a place for MTSU’s student veterans to study, to gather and to get help from fellow veterans, who serve as peer advisers and sponsors. The Transitioning Home Office assists student veterans — or any student — in making the transition from being a college student to getting their career underway.
Last night’s event was sponsored by The Journey Home Project, the Nashville Predators,Hiller, Dollar General, Mission BBQ, The Grove at Williamson Place, the Steel Barrel Brewing Company, and Stones River Total Beverages.
Next year’s “Veteran Impact Celebration” has been announced for Thursday, June 27,2019.