George Strait raised $2.4 million dollars for wounded veterans during his 12th Annual Vaqueros Del Mar Golf Tournament and Benefit Concert at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort. Strait hosted the event with his long-time friend Tom Cusick, with the funds raised benefiting Feherty’s Troops First Foundation.
The benefit concert featured performances from Strait, Asleep at the Wheel, William Beckham, Jamey Johnson, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Randy Houser, and Keith Gattis. The funds raised at this year’s event brought the all-time total to $17 million.
In discussing the event, Cusick said it has been “one of the most fulfilling experiences” for both him and Strait.
“After George and I acquired Tapatio, we had our Grand Re-Opening on 11-11-11, which was Veterans Day,” Cusick explained. “We decided holding an event for our military heroes was perfect and then we met David Feherty with Troops First, and the rest is history. I believe we both would agree that this has been one of the most fulfilling experiences we have been involved in, and have grown so close to so many that have sacrificed for our country and all of us!,” he added.
According to its website, Feherty’s Troops First Foundation was “created to develop, operate and support wellness, quality of life and event-based initiatives for post-9/11 combat-injured Warriors.” The foundation provides houses to wounded veterans and their families, helps establish a network of connections to support veterans who may be suicidal, allows veterans to leave the battlefield on their own terms, and also pairs veterans with service dogs.
Besides partnering with Strait and Cusick’s Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, the foundation is also aligned with Smail Auto Group, Brightspot (a company that provides CMS solutions), the NBC Golf AM Tour, Military Tee Times, and Jessiffany Canine Services.
The partnership between Strait and Feherty’s Troops First Foundation is not the first time the country singer has stepped up to help veterans in need.
Back on Dec. 2, Strait presented former U.S. Army Sergeant and Purple Heart recipient Mike Hulsey, and his wife Meaghan with a mortgage-free home during his concert at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Strait invited Hulsey and his wife on stage for the special moment, which was made possible, thanks to his partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. The organization’s founder and CEO Retired Lt. General Leroy Sisco was on hand to help Strait with the big reveal.
Through his 10-year partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, Strait, who is a veteran himself, has been able to provide mortgage-free homes to 90 wounded veterans and Gold Star families across 32 states.
In describing the foundation’s partnership with Strait, founder and CEO Sisco said he was “so thankful.”
“We are so thankful for our partnership with George Strait and for him allowing us to honor our heroes in this way,” he shared.
Prior to becoming the “King of Country Music,” Strait served in the U.S. Army for four years beginning in 1971.
Aside from his work supporting veterans, Strait has his own Tequila with Código and is also preparing to embark on a seven-stop 2023 tour with fellow country artists Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
Additionally, Strait recently teased that he is working on a brand-new album and says he is currently “narrowing down my song choices.”
