Published Jan. 23, 2010
By Sara Schilling, Tri-City Herald staff writer
PASCO — The Tri-Cities chapter of a veterans group has donated $15,000 to help combat veterans or their children with expenses at Columbia Basin College.
Combat Veterans International, Chapter 3, raised the money by raffling off a Victory Kingpin motorcycle.
Members announced the scholarships Friday during a news conference at the Pasco college.
“When we came home (from war), we had little help,” said J.D. Howard of Benton City, a Vietnam veteran and chapter member. “What we’re trying to do is make it easier for these (younger vets) to transition” back into civilian life.
Two scholarships will be awarded every quarter. Because most veterans qualify for government help with tuition, the scholarships will be used for expenses such as books, materials and fees, according to CBC.
The scholarships will go first to combat veterans or their children, and then will be opened up to all veterans if there aren’t enough applicants.
More than 400 veterans are enrolled at CBC, said college President Rich Cummins.
“We know there will be quite a number of new veterans coming into the community (in the next few years),” and CBC is committed to helping them, he said.
Members of the Tri-Cities Combat Veterans International chapter sold tickets for months to raise money for the scholarships.
The Victory Kingpin they gave away came from John and Jean Richardson’s Thunder Alley Victory motorcycle store in Kennewick.
The Richardsons paid for the bike’s custom paint job — honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action — out of their own pockets, said Gene Lamm, president of the chapter.
The raffle was held over Veterans Day 2008; nearly 8,000 tickets were sold and $25,000 was raised.
Money from the fundraiser also has been used to help struggling veterans with expenses such as groceries and pay for six college scholarships for veterans’ children. Those scholarships were awarded last summer.
“We take great pride in giving back to the community that’s given so much to us,” Lamm said.
Howard, who’s taken several classes at CBC since the 1970s, said his group chose CBC because it’s a local institution that goes above and beyond for its students.
The group will continue to raise money and find ways to help veterans returning from combat, members said.
“The (veterans of) World War II, Korea stretched out their hands to us,” Howard said. “Now we’re doing the same.”
The chapter also is working with the Yakama Indian Nation on a scholarship fund for Native American veterans.
For more information or to contribute, call 509-308-2482.
— On the net: www.combatveterans.com
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