Last updated on September 8th, 2023
The H-E-B Tournament of Champions annually raises millions of dollars to support Texas nonprofits. This year’s event set a record, bringing in $13.5 million. In its 37 years, the organization has generated more than $159 million to support Texas families.
As part of its charitable giving this year, the tournament also will make a $1 million donation to support the building of a new elementary campus in Uvalde. Additionally, the trust will give three mortgage-free, fully furnished homes to severely wounded military veterans and their families.
This year’s tournament took place in San Antonio from June 7-9, bringing together H-E-B employees, vendors and suppliers. The event raises money to support nonprofits focused on the needs of children and families throughout the state, supporting more than 600 organizations since the program’s inception in 1986.
“We are thrilled to have set another record, raising the largest amount in this event’s history. Each year, we’re amazed at the enduring generosity from so many committed organizations, which allows us to provide much needed support to nonprofits across Texas,” Winell Herron, group VP of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs, said in a statement.
“Through this giving, we’re also proud to continue our support of the Uvalde community as it works to recover and rebuild.”
The trust’s $1 million gift will benefit the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, a nonprofit launched last year to support the building of a new elementary campus. The project is in the planning and design stage. The school district expects to begin construction on the school later this year. This recent gift from the tournament follows a gift of $10 million from Charles Butt, the Butt family and H-E-B to support the effort.
Last year, the tournament also committed $500,000 to support nonprofits and victim families in Uvalde. Since last year, H-E-B, the Butt family and the tournament along with donations from H-E-B customers, have raised more than $12 million to support the building of the new school and other community efforts in Uvalde.
Each year, the tournament works with H-E-B vendors and suppliers to raise funds that support nonprofits focused on the needs of children and families throughout the state. Launched in 1986, the event has supported hundreds of organizations across Texas with direct-impact program gifts and looks forward to continuing those efforts with this year’s success.
It also partnered with nonprofit Homes for Our Troops to gift three mortgage-free, fully-furnished homes to three wounded military veterans and their families. The homes, which also were stocked with food and home supplies, are customized to make them more accessible with finishes, such as wider hallways, lower countertops, automatic doors and roll-in showers.
This year’s home recipients are:
- Army Sergeant Juan Arredondo, who sustained multiple injuries to his arms and legs when his vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device during his deployment to Iraq in 2005.
- Army Staff Sergeant Brian Boone, who sustained severe damage to his left leg when the vehicle carrying him struck an improvised explosive device during his service in Afghanistan in 2011.
- Army National Guard Sergeant Alejandro “Alex” Seguritan Jr., who sustained injuries after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while he was on a route escort mission in Iraq in 2009.
The military veterans and their families were presented with the keys to their new homes during a special dedication ceremony. Twenty-one homes have been donated over the years through the H-E-B Tournament of Champions.
This year, the tournament and H-E-B, through its Operation Appreciation Home for Heroes program, will hit the milestone of gifting 50 mortgage-free homes to severely wounded veterans, an effort that began in 2013.
