Project Healing Waters (PHW) was honored to be part of a remarkable weekend as NASCAR came to Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California for its inaugural race aboard a military installation.

Set against the backdrop of San Diego Bay, aircraft carriers, Navy and USMC aviation displays, and the Sailors and Marines who serve throughout the region, the June 20 race celebrated America’s racing tradition while highlighting the enduring connection between military service, community support, and Veteran healing.

PHW Board Chair Cindy Kuehner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Knowlton attended the historic event as invited guests through the generosity of recently appointed Trustee Skip Hanke, whose longstanding relationships created an extraordinary opportunity for Project Healing Waters to be represented during this landmark weekend.

PHW guests were hosted by the Golden Corral-sponsored No. 27 Chevrolet driven by Jeb Burton, a spectacular centerpiece of race weekend. In recognition of the military setting, the car featured striking tributes to the Navy and Marine Corps – an especially meaningful gesture aboard Naval Base Coronado – surrounded by the operational forces and families who continue to serve our Nation every day.

For those attending, seeing Project Healing Waters represented alongside fellow military and Veteran-serving organizations was both humbling and inspiring.

For decades, Golden Corral has been a steadfast supporter of Veterans and military families across the Nation. Project Healing Waters is honored to be among the organizations benefiting from that commitment. Through its sustained support, Golden Corral has helped create meaningful healing opportunities for thousands of Veterans while demonstrating a shared belief that healing happens not only on the water, but through connection, camaraderie, and community.

That spirit was especially evident throughout the NASCAR weekend. The Golden Corral sponsored No. 27 Chevrolet represented more than a race team to all who witnessed – it reflected a broader network of organizations and individuals committed to serving America’s Veterans. The connection was particularly meaningful given PHW’s longstanding relationship with NASCAR legend Ward Burton and the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, whose enduring generosity has connected Veterans with the restorative power of the outdoors for many years.

Seeing Jeb Burton carry Project Healing Waters and military tributes onto one of racing’s biggest stages served as a powerful reminder that support for Veterans transcends generations. From Ward Burton’s legacy in racing to his leadership in conservation and outdoor stewardship to Jeb Burton’s representation on the track in San Diego, the Burton family’s commitment – alongside that of Golden Corral – illustrates how enduring partnerships can amplify Veteran healing across the Nation.

As service endures, so too must the PHW mission. The same values that inspire the generosity of national supporters are reflected throughout Project Healing Waters at the regional and local levels, where Volunteers, community leaders, and loyal partners work together every day to expand opportunities for Veterans.

Among those attending the NASCAR weekend were longtime supporters Tom and Troy Nielsen of Nielsen- Beaumont Marine. For decades, their local business has enabled Navy and defense operations in San Diego and around the world while also investing generously in Veterans and Project Healing Waters programs. Tom Nielsen has been an unwavering friend of PHW, supporting Veterans and Volunteers alike, including last year’s Golden Trout Wilderness conservation experience in California’s High Sierra.

That extraordinary wilderness experience brought Veterans and Volunteers together in service to both healing and conservation, demonstrating once again that caring for our natural resources and caring for one another often go hand in hand.

Increasingly, Veterans across the PHW network are finding healing not only through fly fishing, but also through aligned conservation and stewardship projects that reconnect them with purpose, one another, and the natural resources they help protect. Conservation and habitat restoration are becoming important pathways to healing –creating opportunities for Veterans to serve once again while strengthening the waters and landscapes that sustain us.

These efforts are made possible through longstanding partnerships with organizations such as Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service, California Trout, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fly Fishers International, and generous industry partners such as R.L. Winston Rod Company, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops. Across PHW, similar collaborations continue to emerge through conservation initiatives and corporate volunteer efforts, including partnerships with Deloitte through community-focused Impact Days and J.M. Huber Corporation through its Huber Helps Impact Your Community program. Together, these relationships are helping Veterans heal while strengthening habitats and communities across the country.

Also attending the NASCAR weekend was longtime Volunteer leader Brian Miller, Program Lead for the Martinez, California Program. Brian’s leadership across Northern California has helped foster regional collaboration, strengthen community relationships, and expand opportunities for Veterans throughout the PHW network. Through partnerships and innovative programming – including the Golden Trout Wilderness experience, regional conservation initiatives, and PHW Sisters on the Rise efforts – in collaboration with Rising to the Fly – Brian and fellow Volunteer leaders are helping ensure hat more Veterans, including more women Veterans, have access to the connection, support, and empowerment that define the PHW experience.

While the NASCAR weekend marked a historic moment for the sport, it also reflected something Project Healing Waters sees every day across the country: meaningful Veteran healing is never accomplished alone.

It is made possible by Volunteers, donors, corporate partners, conservation organizations, and community leaders who believe those who have served deserve opportunities to reconnect, rediscover purpose, and heal.

From racetracks to rivers, from national sponsors to local businesses, and from conservation partners to Volunteer leaders, countless individuals and organizations contribute to the healing journeys of America’s Veterans.

The historic NASCAR weekend in San Diego brought many of those communities together in one place – and Project Healing Waters was proud to be part of it. Because whether on a racetrack, beside a river, or deep in the backcountry, every partnership creates another opportunity to advance our mission of Healing Those Who Serve.