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Actor Patrick Wilson performs on stage Sunday evening during a special family band benefit concert at Ferg’s Sports Bar in St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n
Family members said the money raised during the event will keep their ongoing missions moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michele Carey, who co-founded Gold Star Fathers of Florida alongside her husband, emphasized the importance of remembrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“A person can die twice, once when they are actually killed or die, and the other time is when their names are forgotten,” Michele Carey said. “So, we don’t ever want the names to be forgotten.”<\/p>\n
Family legacy and history<\/p>\n
The backstory<\/p>\n
The co-founders started the benefit organization in 2012 to offer specialized support to grieving fathers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We founded our organization in 2012 originally to be an outreach for fathers of the fallen, because sometimes the dads get forgotten and we didn’t want that to happen,” Don Carey said.<\/p>\n
The inspiration for the group came after the loss of their son, Marine Corp. Cpl. Barton Russell Humlhanz, who died in 2004 while serving in Iraq. Despite facing separate health struggles years later, the founders remained committed to their cause. “We had some health issues in 2020 and, despite everything, we just reached deep, and we knew how hard Bart fought to live, and we keep fighting to honor his effort,” Don Carey said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The organization has since expanded to serve all members of the Gold Star community.<\/p>\n
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The concert benefited the Gold Star Fathers of Florida .<\/p>\n
Support for military families<\/p>\n
Local perspective<\/p>\n
Board member Dean Coleman shared how much the community support means after losing his own son. Justin Dean Coleman, an Army specialist in the 10th Mountain Division, died while serving in Afghanistan in 2009.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It means a lot. It helps keep his name alive,” Coleman said. “It helps a lot of his friends that still have bad problems and that helps people with PTSD. It does help a lot a people.”<\/p>\n
The Careys noted that having financial backing from a band like Wilson Van drastically expands their local outreach capabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The money is huge for us because we know that we’re going to be able to continue to help more,” Michele Carey said. “We’ve also helped with children’s Christmas presents for Gold Star children at Christmastime, so it means a lot to be able to keep going because it’s not always easy.”<\/p>\n
The event also raised funds for Tampa Homeless Outreach. The organization works to locate and identify homeless veterans, helping them find emergency shelter and securing necessities to improve their overall quality of life.<\/p>\n
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The Wilson Family Foundation Inc. and the Wilson Van donated $10,000 to Tampa Homeless Outreach.<\/p>\n
Fundraising results<\/p>\n
The concert raised Gold Star Fathers of Tampa Bay $10,000 and Tampa Homeless Outreach $10,000 and raised about $10k more for our foundation\u2019s college arts scholarships.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re honored to remember and honor all of our vets this weekend, especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice,” shared Mark Wilson, FOX13 anchor and lead guitarist and band leader. “We also deeply appreciate Ferg\u2019s owner Mark Ferguson for donating his venue and partnering with us.”<\/p>\n
What you can do<\/p>\n
Click here<\/a> to learn more about how to support Gold Star Fathers of Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n