Winter Park's Super Bowl couple launches 'Rally for the Heroes'

Operation American Dream will host a “Rally for the Heroes” Friday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. in Central Park. In a time of growing uncertainty for our public servants nationwide, this Rally will be a salute to all U.S. military, law enforcement, and fire-rescue personnel.

“Rally for the Heroes” will feature patriotic music, a 21-gun salute, speeches by Orlando Chief of Police John Mina, Winter Park Fire Chief Jim White, and Operation American Dream Founder Chuck Nadd. Static displays from local law enforcement and fire departments will provide a fitting backdrop for the event.

Central Florida native and Army officer Captain Chuck Nadd was inspired to found OAD with his then-girlfriend, now-wife Shannon in Feb. 2014. Both he and Shannon were featured in the Jan. 2014 tickertape parade in downtown Winter Park, which was turned into an Emmy-nominated Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.

Appreciating the support he received from his hometown community upon his return from serving in Afghanistan, Chuck felt called to rally the central Florida community around the family of the late Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Pine, who sacrificed his life in the line of duty Feb. 11, 2014, while pursuing a burglary suspect. Together, the Orlando community raised over $6,000 for Deputy Pine’s three young children.

Realizing the incredible impact of rallying a local community behind a hero’s family in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, Nadd and his wife founded OAD.

OAD seeks to fund education scholarships for the children of U.S. military, law enforcement, and fire-rescue personnel who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. OAD will begin its operations in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and hopes to expand its operations nationally over the next few years. For more information, please visit oad.us or OperationAmericanDream.org