The Checkered Flag Run Foundation Announces Name Change and 8th Annual Honor Walk

Event to Honor More than 680,000 Arizona Veterans on the 100th Anniversary of Veterans Day

Formerly named the Checkered Flag Run Foundation, the nonprofit has officially changed its name to The HeroZona Foundation. The HeroZona Foundation was founded in 2011 by U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran, Alan “AP” Powell and his business partner, Aaron Bare; who is the proud grandson of a World War II navy veteran, who continued his service to veterans by working for the Department of Veterans Affairs until retirement.

“The HeroZona Foundation has a strong focus on veteran initiatives and honoring those who have served our country and their family members. We wanted our nonprofit’s name to reflect that messaging to focus on empowering and celebrating America’s veterans,” says Powell.

The HeroZona’s Foundation’s next event is a week-long engagement starting on Veteran’s Day, Sunday November 11. The kickoff event is the Honor Walk taking place at Arizona State University and ends with the HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit (NVBS) taking place November 14th through 16th at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Taking place at the HeroPreneur NVBS, the HeroPreneur Awards Luncheon will be hosted by CNN’s Military Analyst and U.S. Army Major General (Ret.), James A. “Spider” Marks. Last year, U.S. Arizona Senator John McCain accepted the Lifetime Service Award at the First Annual Awards Ceremony. This prestigious award has been renamed to the Senator John McCain Maverick Award in honor of the late, great, prisoner of war and American hero, Senator John McCain. Aside from the Maverick Award, there will be six other awards given out to corporations and individuals under HeroPreneur’s three pillars: Education, Entrepreneurship and Employment.

“Service to our nation is a calling. Service to community is a gift. Service to your buddies and family is an act of love. To choose entrepreneurship while serving is the rare province of a hero. I’m proud to recognize and embrace the heroes among us at the Awards Luncheon to continue the mission,” says General Marks.

The HeroZona Foundation is excited to announce the new location for the 8th Annual Honor Walk, which will take place at Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus. The year will be special as it will take place on the 100th Anniversary of Veteran’s Day on Sunday, November 11. The event will benefit the Arizona State University Veteran Education Fund, American Legion and the HeroZona Foundation. This event is an opportunity to honor America’s veterans, including Arizona’s 680,000+ veterans who have served the country in the armed services.

“Everybody says they support veterans and veterans’ issues. Here’s a chance to turn our words into actions,” says former Arizona Congressman for Arizona’s 5th District and Arizona State University’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Matt Salmon.

Family, friends and loved ones walk every year in recognition of America’s veterans. Events for the day will include a walk and Fun Run for participants of all ages and abilities. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. and the race will begin at 9 a.m. Veterans are able to participate for free. The event will take place on Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus, at the Sun Devils Fitness Complex Fields at 500 E Apache Blvd, Tempe, AZ 85281. For more information and to register please visit Honorwalk.com

“The American Legion has been helping veterans with education and entrepreneurship for a century, and helped write the original GI Bill. We will continue providing support from our grass roots all the way to the nation’s capital in Washington D.C. for the next 100 years by partnering with and supporting programs like Honor Walk,” says the Department of American Legion Washington D.C.’s Executive Director, Louis Celli.

For more information about the HeroZona Foundation, visit herozona.com.

About HeroZona Foundation
The HeroZona Foundation has a strong focus on veteran initiatives and honoring those who have served our country and their family members. The nonprofit’s name reflects that messaging to focus on empowering and celebrating America’s veterans. Their upcoming event, HeroPreneur is a week-long Veterans Day engagement that has three pillars which empower Arizona’s veterans through entrepreneurship, education and employment. HeroZona‘s Annual Heropreneur National Veteran Business Summit has created a multi-day networking experience to improve America’s support of veteran companies through workshops, networking, entrepreneurial connections, and seminars; culminated by various entertainment events including the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, HeroZona Honor Walk, Phoenix Sun’s NBA basketball game and other entertainment activities. For more information visit hnvbs.com, heropreneur.com or herozona.org.