The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund hosted a sold out event Oct. 29 with 325 people attending, including military veterans and Birmingham corporate leaders. The gala was the debut event for the foundation, held at the new Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook.
The event raised $525,000 that will be used to fund college scholarships for children of fallen military service men and women. The funds were raised through event sponsorships, a live auction and a Fund-a-Scholarship paddle raise during the gala.
“We’re so grateful for Birmingham’s generosity this evening,” said MaryEllen Picciuto, the fund’s president and event emcee. “$525,000 will fund a lot of college scholarships and our pledge to you is that we’ll begin with the military children in Alabama who most need our help in attaining their college degree.”
Cadets from the UAB Army ROTC “Blazers” Battalion provided a color guard for the evening, presenting and retiring the colors at the beginning and end of the evening.
Nick Saban, head football coach at the University of Alabama, served as keynote speaker for the event and was accompanied by his wife, Terry. During his speech, he touched on several themes, including football, family and giving back.
The fund is inspired by Colonel John “Johnny Mac” McHugh, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010, leaving behind five children. The McHugh family attended the event, and McHugh’s daughter Kelly McHugh Stewart moderated the “Conversation with Coach Saban” portion of the evening program.
Special guests included Tim Tebow, ESPN college football analyst, and Brig. Gen. John Thomson, commandant of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
