Combat-wounded veteran honored with keys to new vehicle
Photo News Release | May 27, 2021
Wells Fargo and Lejeune Honda Cars donated a 2021 Honda CRV through Military Warriors Support Foundation
Jacksonville, N.C. – May 27, 2021 – For combat-wounded veterans, transitioning from the military back to civilian life can be a challenge. That, combined with the cost of a new vehicle, can put added burdens on our nation’s military service members and their families. To help, Wells Fargo teamed up with Lejeune Honda Cars and Military Warrior Support Foundation to present a payment-free 2021 Honda CRV to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Jesus Vasquez Jr. during a special key ceremony on Wednesday, May 26 at the dealership.
“My plans for the future are simple. I want to spend time with my kids and wife to make up for all the lost time that I spent in the military and in medical treatment. Eventually, my wife and I would love to travel more and potentially open our own business that provide us the flexibility to accommodate my mental and physical limitations,” shared retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Jesus Vasquez. “Currently, I am medically retired and unable to work due to my injuries, but I try to stay active physically and within the veteran community. I am in the process of setting up a Team River Runner chapter to support local veterans and help provide them with water related reactional activities. My wife is also a volunteer veteran advocate, so we spend our free time helping other veterans apply for their Veteran Affairs benefits.”
The donation was made through Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program, which awards payment-free vehicles and provides one year of family and financial mentorship to combat-wounded veterans and Gold Star families. According to the Foundation, the counseling has helped families in its program pay down, on average about $30,000 in debt.Jesus Vasquez joined the military in 2001, in hopes of finding a way to support his family after the loss of his father to cancer. After boot camp, Sergeant Vasquez became a Recon Marine and later served in the Marine Special Operations Battalion. Throughout his military career, he was stationed all around the world and deployed to countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other Special Operations humanitarian deployments. After 11 years of serving in the Marine Corps, Sergeant Vasquez was medically retired and received many awards for his bravery and service, including a Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and more. Now, he lives in Rocky Point, North Carolina with his wife and four daughters, and enjoys family time playing game and going to the beach.Wells Fargo Auto, a division of Wells Fargo Consumer Lending, started the Sponsored Vehicle Donation Program in 2015, and since then have worked with auto dealerships across the country to sponsor the donation of more than 50 payment-free vehicles and family and financial mentoring, valued at over $1.5 million, to combat-wounded veterans and Gold Star families through Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program.About Wells FargoWells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of all middle market companies and small businesses in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2020 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health and a low-carbon economy. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo.About Military Warriors Support FoundationMilitary Warriors Support Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, founded by LTG Leroy Sisco (Ret), in 2007. Their mission is to provide programs that facilitate a smooth and successful transition for our nation’s combat-wounded heroes and Gold Star families. Their programs focus on housing and homeownership, recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development. Through select programs, they have awarded nearly 900 mortgage-free homes and payment-free vehicles to combat-wounded heroes, Gold Star spouses, and their families in all 50 states. In addition to the home or vehicle, the families receive family and financial mentoring. For more information, visit MilitaryWarriors.org.About Lejeune Honda CarsLejeune Honda Cars is the premier leading dealership in the Jacksonville, NC and surrounding areas since 1984. Lejeune Honda is committed to exceptional customer service and a proud supporter of its community.Media Contact InformationWells FargoJosh Dunn, 704-957-7534josh.dunn@wellsfargo.com@WellsFargoMilitary Warriors Support FoundationJohn Hill, 210-204-6863 ext. 112Media@militarywarriors.org@WarriorsSupportLejeune Honda CarsAngi Israel, 910-769-1730angi@planaad.com@LejeuneHonda