Tommy Clack, Project: Van
Donation protected
Hello all, and thank you for visiting this campaign page!!
My name is Erin Highum, and I am proud to say I am the daughter of my own hero, Vietnam Veteran- Tommy Clack. If you are reading this, it is because in my 25+ years of traveling with my Dad to many veterans engagements and efforts, you or aquaintances of yours have mentioned to me that my Father is not only also your hero, but has served you as an inspiration and you have appreciated his constant passion on behalf of all current and past veterans, who have made sacrifices even greater than he, in many cases. I ask that you read the following message understanding the hearts of the people behind this issue (myself, and board members serving alongside Tommy at the Walk of Heroes Memorial) and also understand we are doing this discretely as a surprise for Tommy Clack. Thank you.
***please consider who you pass this onto, and make sure it is KNOWN that Tommy must not know about this campaign ahead of time, it is very important to all of us that we surprise Tommy!!!!****
As you may or may not know, Tommy constantly has his van in the shop. For a Toyota issue, or, for an adaptive accessory issue it'll be at R&R in Conyers. This wouldn't be the case except my Dad is so incredibly mobile in his service to veterans, that he uses his adaptive equipment (driving systems, ramp etc) approximately 7 times more than expected per the design and installation through the VA. The trick there is, the VA won't fully replace/update his system until his van reaches x amount of miles, meanwhile his use as we said is so much more, that he's constantly in for repair, just to keep moving and serving as he so passionately does.
This past week (mid-November 2016), his engine block actually cracked, putting him out for 6 days (he gets it back 11/22!) and causing him to miss 4 Veterans Day engagements he's had booked all year, for which the congregations etc were so highly anticipating his arrival. Tommy put approx. $10-12k into the engine (more costly due to having to work around adaptive instruments) just to get his van back in working order, and be able to keep family obligations for the holidays (for which I am thankful he will make it up to see me and my family!).
Originally, Darin Riggs on the board of the Memorial and I were going to set up a go-fund-me just to put that amount back in his pocket, but after talking with very encouraging officials who have worked with Tommy and know the fruits of his constant labor well, we decided we are going to go for a full replacement, and give him some peace of mind the VA hasn't allowed cause he hasn't fully met their 'expected life/use' guidelines, though he is constantly losing time with his van in the shop for repairing this or that.
We are officially starting the efforts hard pressed via this Go-Fund-Me Campaign. The campaign is set up completely discretely and apart from Dad, and I ask that you be cautious in forwarding this making sure those parties also understand and respect the discretion at which we are doing this. We all know he would not allow or accept this in his honor, so we must do it this way, and finally give all who have loved and appreciated him over the years a chance to give back to a man, who has given so much.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
WE CAN DO THIS!!!!
*FOR SHARING A LINK ON FACEBOOK--- please do not tag Erin, or others who are friends with Tommy, please share in a private message or find a way to share ONLY with the intended recipient*
*PLEASE NOTE: Any funds received above and beyond the needed amount to purchase and install Tommy's new van will be donated to the Walk of Heroes Memorial, in Tommy's honor.*
My name is Erin Highum, and I am proud to say I am the daughter of my own hero, Vietnam Veteran- Tommy Clack. If you are reading this, it is because in my 25+ years of traveling with my Dad to many veterans engagements and efforts, you or aquaintances of yours have mentioned to me that my Father is not only also your hero, but has served you as an inspiration and you have appreciated his constant passion on behalf of all current and past veterans, who have made sacrifices even greater than he, in many cases. I ask that you read the following message understanding the hearts of the people behind this issue (myself, and board members serving alongside Tommy at the Walk of Heroes Memorial) and also understand we are doing this discretely as a surprise for Tommy Clack. Thank you.
***please consider who you pass this onto, and make sure it is KNOWN that Tommy must not know about this campaign ahead of time, it is very important to all of us that we surprise Tommy!!!!****
As you may or may not know, Tommy constantly has his van in the shop. For a Toyota issue, or, for an adaptive accessory issue it'll be at R&R in Conyers. This wouldn't be the case except my Dad is so incredibly mobile in his service to veterans, that he uses his adaptive equipment (driving systems, ramp etc) approximately 7 times more than expected per the design and installation through the VA. The trick there is, the VA won't fully replace/update his system until his van reaches x amount of miles, meanwhile his use as we said is so much more, that he's constantly in for repair, just to keep moving and serving as he so passionately does.
This past week (mid-November 2016), his engine block actually cracked, putting him out for 6 days (he gets it back 11/22!) and causing him to miss 4 Veterans Day engagements he's had booked all year, for which the congregations etc were so highly anticipating his arrival. Tommy put approx. $10-12k into the engine (more costly due to having to work around adaptive instruments) just to get his van back in working order, and be able to keep family obligations for the holidays (for which I am thankful he will make it up to see me and my family!).
Originally, Darin Riggs on the board of the Memorial and I were going to set up a go-fund-me just to put that amount back in his pocket, but after talking with very encouraging officials who have worked with Tommy and know the fruits of his constant labor well, we decided we are going to go for a full replacement, and give him some peace of mind the VA hasn't allowed cause he hasn't fully met their 'expected life/use' guidelines, though he is constantly losing time with his van in the shop for repairing this or that.
We are officially starting the efforts hard pressed via this Go-Fund-Me Campaign. The campaign is set up completely discretely and apart from Dad, and I ask that you be cautious in forwarding this making sure those parties also understand and respect the discretion at which we are doing this. We all know he would not allow or accept this in his honor, so we must do it this way, and finally give all who have loved and appreciated him over the years a chance to give back to a man, who has given so much.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
WE CAN DO THIS!!!!
*FOR SHARING A LINK ON FACEBOOK--- please do not tag Erin, or others who are friends with Tommy, please share in a private message or find a way to share ONLY with the intended recipient*
*PLEASE NOTE: Any funds received above and beyond the needed amount to purchase and install Tommy's new van will be donated to the Walk of Heroes Memorial, in Tommy's honor.*
Organizer
Erin Michelle Highum
Organizer
Alpharetta, GA