MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several grassroots-based events are planned for July to help raise awareness for and to support the West Tennessee Veterans Home project. Events will include two motorcycle dice Freedom Runs on July 3 and 4 as part of the Riders and Rockabilly Rally & Blues Hog BBQ and Music Festival in Jackson and another run planned during Memphis Bike Fest July 22 through 26.
There are more than 71,000 veterans living in Fayette, Shelby and Tipton counties, the largest concentration in the state of Tennessee, yet the nearest rehabilitation and long-term care facility for veterans is in Humboldt, Tenn., more than 100 miles away.
Holly Swogger, president of WTVH, stressed the importance of events like these in raising the funding needed for the construction of this facility, “In order for us to receive 65 percentof our total funding from the federal government, state and local sources must provide 35 percent by July 2016.”
Swogger continued, “With commitments by the Shelby County government and the Plough Foundation, we must raise $11.5 million, and events like these not only help in our fundraising, but they help us spread our message to a wider audience.”
Along with several dice runs benefitting the WTVH and other local charities, the Riders and Rockabilly Rally & Blues Hog BBQ and Music Festival July 3 – 5 at the Jackson Fairgrounds Park will includes three days of live music, a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned professional barbeque competition, a classic car show and a 5k race.
In addition to the two dice runs benefitting the WTVH, three additional runs starting from Jackson will benefit several other charities. Performances include groups such as Saving Abel, Little Boys Blue, LOLO, Bryan Moffitt, Full Devil Jacket and many others.
The two Freedom Runs will originate from Memphis and will lead riders to featured locations in west Tennessee, such as the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville and the new Samuel T. Bryant Distillery near Jackson, ending in Jackson at the festival. The dice run on Friday, July 3 will start from Robillio’s Sidecar Café on Whitten Road, and the July 4 run will begin at TJ Mulligan’s on N. Houston Levee Road. More details can be found at www.ridersandrockabilly.com or at Facebook.com/RockabillyRally.
“With thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts who are veterans and thousands more who also enjoy traveling the open roads in west Tennessee and beyond, we want to offer a fun opportunity for them to enjoy scenic destinations between Memphis and Jackson,” said Jenci Spradlin, executive director of Riders and Rockabilly LLC. “We are honored to partner with this dedicated group of volunteers to support such a worthwhile cause.”
WTVH is a 501(c)(3) comprised entirely of volunteers who have initiated and advocated for the building of this facility. Once built, the facility will be self-supporting, administered by the Tennessee State Veterans Homes Board and will be a positive contribution to the local economy while providing needed services to our deserving veterans. Anyone wishing to support this effort can contact WTVH online at www.veterans-home.com or on Facebook.com/WestTNVeteransHome, or they can contact Holly Swogger at (901) 410-0655.
The Riders and Rockabilly Rally & Blues Hog BBQ and Music Festival is part of the newly created International Riders and Rockabilly Music and Cultural Festivals that invite locals and tourists alike to discover west Tennessee throughout the month of July and to explore its music and cultural heritage. Every weekend in July will feature a one-of-a-kind celebration in Jackson, Ripley, Brownsville and Union City.
The Riders and Rockabilly Rally & Blues Hog BBQ and Music Festival is sponsored in part by The Bank of Ripley, West Tennessee Healthcare, Kellogg’s, DET Distributing, Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store, Forever Communications, Coca-Cola Bottling Works of Corinth (Miss.), First South Bank, Bumpus Harley Davidson of Jackson, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Jackson, Courtyard by Marriott Jackson and Sam Bryant Distillery, along with in-kind support by the City of Jackson and the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation.
Challenge grant announced for WTVH construction
Plough Foundation has announced the awarding of a $2 million challenge grant to WTVH for the construction of a local state veterans home. In announcing the grant, Diane Rudner, chair of the Plough Board Trustees, noted that local veterans have special needs when it comes to receiving the long-term care and rehabilitation therapy that this skilled nursing facility will provide.
“So many of our veterans have put their lives on the line in places around the world only to come home with few options for rehabilitation and high-quality long-term care,” Rudner said. “It is our hope that this challenge will urge others in the business and philanthropic community to join with local, state and federal governments to build a facility worthy of our veterans’ sacrifices.”
The 144 bed facility will be constructed in Arlington on a site chosen by the state.
Swogger expressed gratitude and appreciation for the funding challenge, saying, “It is a distinct honor and privilege for Plough Foundation to support our efforts to provide this facility for our local veterans.”
Swogger mentioned that with the Plough Foundation grant of $2 million and Shelby County Government’s commitment of $2 million, they are confident they can raise the remaining $11.5 million.
