1965 Comet Caliente Restored by Craftsman to Pay College Tuition for Children of Fallen Military
(PRWEB) August 04, 2015 -- An original 1965 Comet headed for the auction block Aug. 7 at the 3rd Annual Hot August Nights Auction at the Barrett-Jackson auction house in Reno, Nev., will raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and its programs supporting the families of fallen and wounded special operations personnel.
“The Craftsman® brand and their Restoration Rollout program selected Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle’s Skunkworks Racing Division, to transform a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente, into the Craftsman Comet-R, a car designed for performance racing,” said Kevin Tully, owner of Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle in Addison, Ill.
The Comet was presented at numerous car shows over the past few months “with a goal of raising awareness of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation,” said Tully, who served in U.S. Air Force Special Operations for eight years.
“I wanted to help my fellow Air Commandos and the U.S. Special Operations community and their families,” Tully said, “and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation was a natural fit.”
Founded in 1980, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides funds for a post-secondary education to the surviving children of U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations troops killed in the line of duty.
It is ranked among the top 1% of the approximately 7,000 American nonprofits monitored by leading watchdog group Charity Navigator, in recognition of its fiscal accountability and the percentage of funds allocated to programs.
SOWF scholarships include tuition, books, fees, professional tutoring, as well as room and board at the school of the student’s choice.
This is the second year that Craftsman Tools has donated a restored car benefiting a charity, according to Brian Jochum, Senior Marketing Director for Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard brands at Sears Holdings Corp., based near Chicago.
“Our company and brand has a longstanding commitment to supporting the military through our Sears Heroes at Home program,” Jochum said. “In addition, the Craftsman brand has recently made a significant donation to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). So we’re pleased to also be supporting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, another worthy military cause.”
Barrett-Jackson hosts the world’s greatest collector car auctions, raising $84 million for charities over the years.
At this year’s 3rd Annual Hot August Nights Auction, four more great vehicles will cross the block for a cause. Every cent of the hammer price goes straight to the charitable organization as The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions® waives all fees on charity vehicles.
“We are incredibly honored and humbled to be part of the Barrett-Jackson auction,” says retired Vice Admiral and Navy SEAL Joe Maguire, president and CEO of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
“The combination of the donation by the Craftsman brand of this incredible car and the professionalism of Barrett-Jackson will not only raise awareness and funds of the foundation, but also pay tribute to our fallen military and their families.”
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is providing scholarships for 150 students enrolled in colleges and universities across the country, and has another 600 students in the pipeline who have yet to reach college age.
“Children’s dreams don’t change when they lose a parent, the path to reach those dreams becomes more difficult – often fraught with hardship and grief,” said Maguire.
“Thankfully there are people out there, like those at the Craftsman brand and Barrett-Jackson who believe that the least we can do for our fallen military is to make sure their families are never forgotten.”
About Craftsman
The Craftsman brand is America's most trusted tool brand. For 87 years, the Craftsman brand has developed innovative tools and products, earning a reputation for unsurpassed quality and durability, trusted for generations. The Craftsman brand offers a full range of hand and power tools that meet the needs of the DIY user to the demanding professional. In addition, the Craftsman brand also offers lawn and garden products and tool storage.
The Craftsman brand also has a free membership program called Craftsman Club which gives tool enthusiasts access to exclusive deals, members-only projects, expert tips and news on the latest tool innovations from the brand. Craftsman Club® is part of the Shop Your Way® network, so points can be redeemed for purchases at Sears and Kmart and online at Craftsman.com. For more information, visit http://www.CraftsmanClub.com.
Wendy Bourland, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, http://www.specialops.org, +1 (813) 805-9400, [email protected]
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