Wizards raise funds for veterans

“Imagine a wizard buying a rusty old car and telling his wife all he wanted to do with it was take it apart to see how it worked, while really he was enchanting it to make it fly.” - Molly Weasley, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

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Photo by Brittany Kelley
Lisa Adams, Hats Off For Veterans Executive Director, dressed up as a Gryffindor student for the nonprofits fundraiser at Buck’s Backyard.[/caption]

BUDA — Perhaps you thought the flying Ford Anglia was truly lost in the Forbidden Forest after Ron and Harry scarcely made it to Hogwarts. Nevertheless, Hats Off For Veterans put this theory to rest by revealing the very same car at its fundraiser this past weekend. For one day, from 1-9 p.m. on Oct. 8, community members — wizards and muggles alike — were able to visit and take photos with the iconic blue 1966 Ford Anglia.

Hats Off For Veterans began in 2005 when Executive Director Lisa Adams, who then worked in hospice, read a magazine article on Sandra Bullock and her ill mother. Bullock ended it stating, “Hats off to all nurses.” Inspired, she talked to her manager about hosting a Hats Off for Hospice event to raise money to improve the care they provided. It was here that the event spiraled into something more: Salt Lick donated its building for the event, people brought their own alcohol and donated and in two years, the event had grown to 400 people, eventually outgrowing its original venue. The owner of Texas Old Town has been sponsoring the events ever since.

Adams eventually left the hospital and the event went with her, this time, with a name chosen by her sister, Rose Holloway, in 2016 — Operation Hats Off For Veterans.

“Our father did not have the opportunity, back in 1967, to have scholarships and grants and all that to go to college, so he joined the army,” said Adams. “We are helping veterans with their first higher education degree. We’re giving them a scholarship towards that, but not all veterans want to go to college. Some want to be a welder or an electrician … Our program also offers a grant for helping to pay for those certifications and licenses.”

Holloway now works as a special education teacher at Live Oak Academy and serves as the vice president of Hats Off For Veterans, which became a nonprofit almost a decade after the organization began. The event was its first after obtaining the title, with hopes that it would be memorable for community members.

Holloway noted that she proposed the idea of a “Harry Potter” themed event after realizing that 2023 was the 25th anniversary of the book being published in the United States. She also happens to own one of the 16 Ford Anglias used in the production of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and donated it to be used for the event.

“[We were] not asking for a certain amount [to be donated to take a photo]. We put our faith into people and just hope that they [gave] us what they feel is appropriate,” said Adams.

Community members fulfilled the sisters’ wish and were in immense support of the event, raising $1,540. The event also held both a children and adult costume contest, a silent auction and live music.

Photo by Brittany Kelley
Hats Off For Veterans Vice President Rose Holloway owns the infamous car and has recently restored the car to its driving ability.[/caption]

“I was thrilled at the turnout and the amount of money we raised ... For all the veterans out there, who are working on their first college degree, I know that the GI Bill does help, but the thing about the GI Bill, [is that] it doesn’t help 100%,” said Adams. “The goal of this $1,000 is to really alleviate stresses on the veteran trying to go to school.”

“Our main focus is the veterans,” said Holloway. “You can get a scholarship for having your tuition paid, but if you don’t have a place to live or money for groceries, what good does that do? We’re hoping that [these grants] will help with that aspect of going to school.”

The nonprofit hopes to become more involved in the community by attending military career fairs and local events. The sisters also have a podcast titled “Punk Brats,” dedicated to the military brat community, which community members can find on podcast applications and sites.

“I just hope our organization is recognized as a company that really cares about our veterans,” Adams said.

The nonprofit will be awarding two higher education scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. Applications will open on Feb. 1, 2024, but there are year-round grants for $250. Currently, there are still two to be awarded for 2023. For more information and to apply for grants, visit https://ohofv.org.