Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, March 19, 2021

Virtual fundraiser hits its mark, and then some

by Alisha Semchuck Powell said he was grateful for the Homes4Families organization.
staff writer Ondrasik returned, this time performing the song “World.” He
said hopefully for next years’ event, everyone will be together in
Raising funds for housing construction was not a mission im- person. Reflecting on the song, he philosophically asked, “What
possible for the Homes4Families organization members who ar- kind of world do you want?” He thanked all the veterans and the
ranged a virtual Hearts for Heroes Builders’ Ball 2021 March 6, active military, the military families and the folks who support
with participants embracing the adage — the show must go on. them. “That’s the kind of world I want,” he said.
Homes4Families members saw the restraints mandated because Actor and songwriter Keith Carradine, who hails from a show
of the COVID-19 pandemic as a wrinkle to be ironed out, rather business family with an abundance of talent, performed his mel-
than a barrier to a successful fundraising event. Persistence kept low, Academy Award-winning tune “I’m Easy.” In that segment,
them determined to find a way to proceed with the annual event Carradine appeared with an enormous beard he grew while home-
so they could continue their construction projects in Palmdale and bound during the pandemic. He was asked to keep the beard for a
move forward with plans for another site in Los Angeles.
Their financial goal for the event was $100,000. By night’s movie role. At the end of the song, he thanked Homes4Families
end they received $267,800 in donations, as well as money from and also thanked veterans for their service to this country.
an auction of unique items such as a Tiki Boat Tour of Channel Courtesy screenshot Carradine appeared again, this time accompanied by his brother
Islands to observe wildlife in the area, on a vessel considered a Keith Carradine performs at the Homes4Families virtual Hearts Robert, to perform “Leaving On a Jet Plane,” written by John
floating bar, and a virtual cooking class for two with The French for Heroes Builder’s Ball. Denver in 1966, with a cover also recorded by the folk group
Laundry chef Thomas Keller, whose upscale restaurant sits in the our freedom. We are privileged to be a part of our local commu- Peter, Paul and Mary.
Napa Valley. nity.” Mahoney noted the many hours that company employees A clean-shaven Carradine visited one of 78 homes constructed
Other specialty auction items included a personally signed gui- contributed to the construction projects. in Santa Clarita to check out essential details provided for veter-
tar from singer Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, along with a Jeff Babione, vice president and general manager at Lockheed ans’ needs — everything from LED lighting to self-closing draw-
20-minute face-to-face Zoom call and lunch for four with Los Martin Skunk Works, has been with the company for 27 years. He ers that make no noise. A banging sound when a typical drawer
Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger at Athenaeum in the spoke about the future focus, described as Visionary Technolo- is shut can trigger a flashback for veterans who were in combat.
California Institute of Technology — just a sample of the various gies, intended to “make a lasting legacy in the communities that These homes are built with a double thickness of drywall in addi-
auction packages available to bidders. we serve.” tion to insulation, as a buffer to street sounds for the same reason
A preshow video featured endorsements from more than a Babione called Homes4Families “an enormous staple in our to minimize flashbacks of battle. Tubs in the bathrooms have a
dozen veterans and volunteer supporters who praised the efforts community.” He said Skunk Works employees are as passionate grab bar to assist permanently injured veterans in getting in and
of Homes4Families. about projects outside of work as they are on the job. With that out without slipping or falling.
“I’m very grateful this program exists,” said Navy veteran Kel- enthusiasm, they contributed time to building homes for veterans. Carradine spoke with Bridgett Mills, senior director of Urban
so Campoverde, who, like other low-income veterans, benefitted He pointed out that many veterans “live with physical and emo- Planning and Program Design at Homes4Families. Mills explained
from the project. Without the assistance from Homes4Families, tional wounds. Taking part in these events shapes who we are.” that veterans must attend financial literacy classes that focus on
Campoverde said, who knows if he “would ever have the chance Col. Randel “Laz” Gordon accepted the recognition for Ed- budgets and help them maintain a good credit score. Veterans are
to own a home.” wards on behalf of Brig. Gen. Matthew Higer and the 412th Test also required to commit a certain amount of time to volunteering
Army veteran Karen Burbank said she is “still struggling with Wing. Gordon said he was “honored to accept the Hammer of
PTSD and some other traumas.” After leaving the military, she Hope Award.” on home construction projects for other veterans.
moved back to Los Angeles and found herself jobless. She never Actor Tate Ellington, best known for his role in “Remember
considered owning a home at the time. Then Homes4Families Me,” a film about two young lovers who both suffered family
entered her world. tragedies involving death, served as auctioneer for the night. His
Lisa Guerrero, correspondant for the news show “Inside Edi- contagious energy, coupled with his friendly persuasion, helped
tion”, said 98 percent of the donated funds go directly toward garner dollars quickly for the organization.
helping low-income veterans. Ellington and Bowie acted like a tag team, with Bowie describ-
Actor Phillip P. Keene of the TV show “Major Crimes” said, ing the auction items and Ellington amassing the greenbacks.
“It’s part of what we do as Americans. We take care of each other, Ellington said he had participated in two celebrity builds. As
especially for our military families. At the very least they should he coaxed more and more money from bidders, he told them “you
have a home and some food and a good place to live.” are helping an amazing cause.”
The online event, honoring the aerospace industry, kicked off A video explained the cramped living conditions some veterans
at 6 p.m. with a warm welcome from radio legend/TV announcer and their families endured prior to their affiliation with Homes-
Shadoe Stevens. 4Families. One of those veterans even lived in his car for a while.
Then host John Ross Bowie of “The Big Bang Theory” took the Courtesy screenshot “Now that you met some veterans,” Bowie said, “you can get
podium, identifying the elected officials participating, a list that Col. Randel Gordon, 412th Test Wing vice commander. a sense of the profound change that can come about from some
included U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, R-CA 25th District; California of these programs.”
Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-36th District; Los Angeles County Donielle DeLeon, director of Corporate and Community En-
5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger; Los Angeles City Coun- Gordon also mentioned that it bothers him to know that indi- gagement, said. “Now, because of the pandemic” Homes4Families
cilmember Paul Krekorian; Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda; and viduals who served this country can return and find themselves is missing the Team Build component of construction projects,
Santa Clarita Councilmember Jason Gibbs. living below the poverty level and in some cases homeless. which relied on the work of volunteers to help build homes and
Bowie also applauded the event’s three aerospace honorees — The program through Homes4Families is “vets helping other
Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Edwards vets — one of the greatest things we can do for one another. We property fences as well as various other chores, saving the cost of
Air Force Base. really appreciate the partnership we have with the community,” paid labor — a financial benefit for the program.
Northrop Grumman has been a “great supporter of veterans and Gordon said. At the same time, DeLeon said, “Lumber prices are up. There
Homes4Families,” Bowie said. Lockheed Martin “volunteered This event offered participants more than speeches. A game are shortages of everything. It’s costing us a lot more, but we are
countless hours to Homes4Families.” Edwards also “devoted thou- and live entertainment helped fill three hours, in addition to the committed.”
sands of volunteer hours” for the construction projects. auction and testimonials. Bowie gave a shout out to the event committee, led by chair-
Bryan M. Mahoney, sector vice president of Operations, said, Bowie likened the game to a treasure hunt, but in this case the woman Maria Weintraub, for a job well done. About the money
“At Northrop Grumman we take great pride in our long history of objective centered on finding the answers to six questions. For raised, he said, “That’s a lot of houses we helped build tonight.”
supporting our veterans and those who currently serve to protect one question, game players had to name at least one feature of
the homes designed specifically to meet veterans’ needs. Bowie
said the first player to text six correct answers for those questions
would win a new barbecue. He joked that the winner could invite
him over because he loves barbecues.
First on the bill for the night’s entertainment was singer-song-
writer John Ondrasik, better known by the stage name Five for
Fighting. He performed his Grammy-nominated song “Superman.”
“’Superman’ was my first connection with our soldiers,” Ondra-
sik said. That song came out in 2001. Ondrasik said he received
emails from troops overseas deployed to the Gulf War telling him
that the song helped them through their struggles. He was drawn
to help at a veterans’ event on a weekend. There, he peered into
the eyes of veterans’ families. He saw their tears and their smiles.
Because the night was dedicated to aerospace honorees, actor
Courtesy screenshot Drew Powell, known for his role as Hoss Cartwright in a prequel Courtesy screenshot
Brian M. Mahoney of Northrop Grumman to “Bonanza,” chose to perform the Elton John hit “Rocket Man.” John Ondrasik sings the song “Superman.”

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