USA Cares receives $200K donation from Oldham County couple to help homeless veterans

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An Oldham County man's dream car will help prevent homelessness for military veterans and their families.

Bill Howard is a Vietnam War veteran and local business owner. Howard, who lives in Buckner, owns Fastline Media Group which covers agriculture in print and digitally. Howard donated $200,000, the proceeds are from the sale of his 2005 Ford GT.

"I've been blessed to have some success and this was a great way to pay it back," Howard said.

Timothy Johnson is a U.S. military veteran who recently shared with state lawmakers how his addiction took him to some dark places.

"As so many other veterans suffer, I have suffered with the disease of addiction my entire life," Johnson said. "After coming out of the service, it has been an uphill fight for a few years now and it seemed that a blessing showed up in the form of USA Cares."

USA Cares is a Louisville based national nonprofit committed to providing veterans, service members and their families with financial assistance and training. The organization raises funds that are used to help prevent homelessness, suicide, job loss and other problems facing U.S. military veterans.

On Wednesday, Howard and his wife Jill presented the nonprofit with a $200,000 check.

"We had no idea there's going to be anything like this," said Trace Chesser, president of USA Cares.

Howard has owned the 2005 Ford GT since 2008 after seeing it in a popular movie.

"I have to tell you when the Ford versus Ferrari movie came out, I got really psyched by it," Howard said.

The Howards admitted the had plenty of fun times in the car, but they recently sold the car at auction. Howard said the car sold for $361,000 and he donated all of it to charity.

"The timing could not be any better," Chesser said. "We help a lot of families all over the country every month. But I can tell you this time of year, it's a huge deal."

Chesser said the money will help veterans who are homeless or facing eviction.

"$200,000 will help approximately 50 families," Chesser said. "So that's going to help about 50 to 60 families stay together over the holidays, help kids stay in the home."

Johnson said he is living proof of USA Cares' impact.

"As far as keeping families together, they definitely do that and it hit my heart very deeply," Johnson said. "They were able to relieve all the everyday worry of paying rent."

USA Cares reports every day 22 veterans die by suicide.

USA Cares' mission is to provide post-9/11 military veterans, service members, and their families with emergency financial assistance and post-service skills training to create a foundation for long-term stability.

To learn more about USA Cares, click here.

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