Not every billionaire on the planet is racing to get to outer space.
Others are spending their hard earned money on other things, like new houses for wounded war veterans.
Beyond just being the clear-cut leader in the hunting and fishing industry, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris continues to go above and beyond when it comes to giving back to the community.
Bass Pro’s commitment to philanthropic endeavors was exemplified earlier this summer by the donation of 40,000 fishing rods and reels to kids across the country.
That commitment has now been further exemplified by a recent pledge from Johnny Morris to the Helping a Hero initiative, which crafts specially adapted residences to accommodate wounded military veterans.
Morris has reportedly agreed to cover 25% of the costs for the next 100 donated homes, which equates to about $2 million.
To date, Helping a Hero has provided more than 100 homes to people in 23 different states.
The announcement was recently made at a ceremony held in front of Bass Pro’s flagship store and headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.
During the ceremony, Morris gave a speech and awarded a new home to amputee Joe Bartel, a Marine sergeant from Charlotte, North Carolina. He also announced he would be paying the mortgage for his fellow Missourian, Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes.
“It’s humbling, and a great honor to host the veterans we have here with us today.
We can never do enough to thank these families and all of our veterans who defend our freedoms. They mean everything to us and we’re very grateful. That’s not just from me, it’s everyone in our company and the outdoor community we serve. We’re all very proud to saulute our veterans.
We’re proud – everybody from Helping a Hero and from Bass Pro – to present Sergeant Bartel and his family with a new home and to support Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes, from right here in our home state of Missouri, by paying off the mortgage on his new home.
We would also like to pledge to chip in 25 percent for the next 100 homes and challenge people and encourage others to get involved with the Helping a Hero home program.”
Morris originally pledged to support the construction of 10 new homes for veterans back in May, but decided to take his commitment even further.
“Helping a Hero is an awesome organization.
When I hear the words to Helping a Hero’s national ambassador Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA,’ every word of that song hits home and reminds us how lucky we are to be able to call America our home.
We’re coming up on our 50th anniversary at Bass Pro Shops, and it wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for those who have defended our freedoms and those who support conservation.”
