On November 14, 2022, Carlos Cruz, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, received a payment-free vehicle in a surprise unveiling by Military Warriors Support Foundation’s (MWSF) Transportation4Heroes program, in collaboration Wells Fargo and the Helpful North Texas Honda Dealers at West Ridge Golf Course in McKinney, TX. It was a great day for a surprise rain or shine, we made sure we took care of one of our nation’s combat-wounded veterans.
Carlos Cruz joined the U.S. Army in 2002 to follow in his father’s footsteps and because he felt it was his duty to serve his country. Cruz served at Fort Hood, Fort Carson and deployed three times to Iraq through various Forward Operating Bases. After eight years of service to his country he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 2010. Carlos received several awards during his service including Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and others. He currently resides in Fort Worth, TX with his family.
Carlos was chosen to receive this life-changing gift after applying to MWSF’s Transportation4Heroes program in collaboration with Wells Fargo and the Helpful North Texas Honda Dealers. The application has a rigorous vetting process to ensure that the veteran chosen to receive a vehicle is the best recipient to participate in the program. MWSF works with the veteran to ensure that the gift of a payment-free vehicle assists them in their successful transition out of the military and into their new civilian life.
Since 2015, Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program has worked with companies across the country to award over 150 payment-free vehicles – 70 of those with Wells Fargo. In addition to providing vehicles, MWSF serves the heroes who served us through family and financial mentorship connected programs. These programs provide crucial transitional support that focus on housing, outdoor recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development. Through the mentorship program, those who have received vehicles from MWSF & Wells Fargo have been able to pay off over $1.2 million in pre-existing debt.
The North Texas Honda Dealers Association, made up of 17 local dealerships in the region, created its “Helpful” campaign to spread Random Acts of Helpfulness to residents and organizations across North Texas. Helping to donate a new vehicle to a deserving local veteran, is one more way they are lending a hand to recognize and support those who go above and beyond in the community.
About Wells Fargo Sponsored Vehicle Donation Program
Wells Fargo started its Sponsored Vehicle Donation Program in 2015 to support combat-wounded veterans, Gold Star families and military- and veteran-related nonprofit organizations. Since then, the company has worked with auto dealers across the country to donate over 65 vehicles, along with financial mentoring for veterans and their families valued at over $2 million.
About North Texas Honda Dealers
The North Texas Honda Dealers Association, made up of 17 local dealerships in the region, has dispatched its popular Helpful Honda people to surprise North Texas residents and businesses with Random Acts of Helpfulness every week for more than 5 years. Since 2017, the North Texas Honda Dealers have been demonstrating, firsthand, that they are truly Helpful… no strings attached. The Helpful Honda people surprise residents in unexpected and meaningful ways — including volunteering and donating to food banks; hosting complimentary pop-up spas for moms on Mother’s Day; providing kids with free books and supplies as they go back to school; pumping and paying for drivers’ gas as prices spike; rewarding outstanding teachers over Teacher Appreciation Week; helping our four-legged friends find forever homes; and much more.
For more information on Helpful Honda, please visit facebook.com/NTXHondaDealers and Twitter @NTXHondaDealers