December 29, 2022 – The Charlotte Hornets Foundation announced that it has provided its annual Military Grant to The Independence Fund – a Charlotte-based, national nonprofit committed to empowering wounded, injured, or ill veterans – to purchase an all-terrain trackchair for U.S. Army Veteran Anthony Bailey through its Mobility Program. Hornets Sports & Entertainment Executive Vice President & COO and Charlotte Hornets Foundation President James R. Jordan, Charlotte Hornets Foundation Executive Director Betsy Mack Rinke and The Independence Fund Board Chairman Arthur Pue presented the trackchair to Bailey at the end of the first quarter of the Hornets’ game tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“As a veteran myself, I am proud that our organization is working with The Independence Fund, which has helped thousands of wounded veterans overcome physical, mental and emotional wounds incurred in the line of duty,” said Jordan, who served 31 years in the U.S. Army. “The work that The Independence Fund is doing through its Mobility Program is truly amazing, enabling veterans to once again do the things they love.”
Bailey, who resides in Sumter, South Carolina, served in the U.S. Army from 1982-1986 as a light wheel vehicle mechanic. He spent time in Germany, at Fort Bragg and in overseas conflicts in Panama and Honduras. The trackchair will help him manage the symptoms of his ALS, which limit his mobility, and allow him to go into the woods, which he describes as his happy place.
“Since 2007, The Independence Fund has been empowering severely wounded Veterans and their Caregivers to find freedom from their injuries - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually,” said The Independence Fund CEO Sarah Verardo. “It's our honor and greatest joy to provide the resources and tools, such as this trackchair, that enable Veterans to regain their independence, and fight for their ability to sustain it.
“It is a privilege to work with community partners and leaders, like the Charlotte Hornets, who understand the breadth of need in the Veteran community. Their continuing support is making an immediate and meaningful impact.”