Atlas Gives Back to NC Vet Through The Independence Fund

North Carolina is the home to many military personnel, and many who have served in the War on Terror. With this being the 20^th anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attack it is most fitting that companies give back to our wounded veterans.

Last month NEMRA donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation’s RISE program on behalf of its members.

North Carolina is also “home”, either corporate headquarters, some element of the business or the home base for regional managers.  One of those companies, Atlas American Lighting, recently gave back to a wounded veteran through The Independence Foundation.

According to a recent press release, “The Independence Fund and Atlas American Lighting presented an all-terrain trackchair to a seriously wounded veteran on Friday, September 10^th.  Arrue, his son Darius, and representatives from The Independence Fund, visited Atlas’ Burlington NC manufacturing facility for the trackchair presentation, took a tour and met Atlas employees.

Arrue Hopkins, a former US Army Specialist, served with the 151^st Field Artillery Regiment and was diagnosed with a spinal cord condition upon his return from a deployment to the Middle East in 2011. His injury have resulted in life-long mobility issues that confine him to a wheelchair. The gift of a trackchair will give him freedom to get back outside and enjoy things with his family and get back into fishing, hunting and his favorite activity of going to the beach which he is currently unable to do.

“This chair is amazing. I cannot wait to take it “off road” and do those things I haven’t been able to do for so long. I am going to put this chair to great use,” said Hopkins. “I am happy and grateful. I can’t wait to go on the beach.”

Atlas American Lighting, a U.S. manufacturer of high performing, quality lighting products is honored to partner with The Independence Fund. A portion of the proceeds from every Independence Series products (high bays, wall lights and floods) sold by Atlas will be donated to The Independence Fund.

“At Atlas, we are grateful for the service and sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, and we are proud that through the support of our distributors, and with the work of our employees, we are able to donate this trackchair to Specialist Hopkins. As a company that manufacturers in the U.S., working with, employing, supporting, and saluting our Veterans is a huge part of who we are,” said Seth Walters, Atlas President.

The Independence Fund serves Veterans of all combat eras in all areas of the country, Caregivers, and their families. Since 2007, The Independence Fund has provided 2,560 all-terrain, tracked wheelchairs to Veterans.

“We are grateful for a partnership with Atlas American Lighting,” said Rob Clapper, The Independence Fund Vice President of Development. “Partners like Atlas can help us better meet our mission of assisting our nation’s most catastrophically wounded Veterans and expanding our program.”

“We look forward to doing this year after year,” Ross Horton, Atlas Chief Commercial Officer said. “I know our customers and employees will continue with us in our mission to support the men and women who serve this country.”