Local car show raises funds for Hunter Lopez Scholarship and Save a Warrior Foundation
Southwest Church in Indian Wells hosted a car show to raise money for the Hunter Lopez Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Save a Warrior Foundation.
Corporal Hunter Lopez was one of 13 service members killed in an attack outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan back in August. He was a local Coachella Valley resident and attended La Quinta High School.
At the car show, every kind of car from street rods to classics rolled up on the lawn at Southwest Church. But no car could steal the show from the main event: supporting service members and their families.
The parents of Hunter Lopez started a scholarship fund in their son’s name. They were surprised with $10,000 from the organization American Friends of Armed Forces.
“Means a lot to us. It just enables us to carry on the mission that we set forth a day after we heard of Hunter's passing," said Hunter Lopez's father Herman Lopez. "We knew that all the support that we're getting from the community and from family and friends- that we needed to pay it forward”
The scholarship will support post-secondary options for students at La Quinta High School who are pursuing careers in public service.
“Although he's not with us anymore, in a way he is carrying on with his mission of helping others through this scholarship," said Herman.
The founders of the AFAF felt compelled by their mission and wanted to help.
“When you find a family that has lost a young person, it's just like one of our own," said Co-Founder of AFAF Judy Van Benthuysen.
The funds from the car show also went on to benefit the Save a Warrior Foundation: an organization dedicated to helping service members suffering from PTSD.
Ultimately, the money raised will impact countless service members and families like the Lopez's.
“Although we can't reach all of you, we just want you all to know that we're very grateful and we surely felt the love and the prayers that we received since [Hunter's] passing," said Hunter's mother Alicia Lopez.
If you want to contribute to the Hunter Lopez Memorial Scholarship Fund, you can donate here. You can also support the mission of Save a Warrior by donating on their website.
