Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Dinner Raises Over $600K to Support US Veterans

The Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Dinner was held at Nashville's City Winery, raising over $600,000 to support programs for U.S. veterans, first responders, and their families. A historic moment occurred with the reunion of Annex Security Team members Kris "Tanto" Paronto, John "Tig" Tiegen, and Mark "Oz" Geist, who fought together in the Battle of Benghazi—marking their first gathering in 13 years.

The event, now in its 11th year, is organized by The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project (TCDJHP), founded in 2014 by the late country music star Charlie Daniels and his manager David Corlew. The nonprofit focuses on helping veterans transition back to civilian life through rehabilitation and reintegration resources.

Notable attendees included TCDJHP co-founder and president David Corlew, General Terry M. "Max" Haston, Mike Carado, Carolyn Corlew, as well as Hazel Daniels and Charlie Daniels Jr., the wife and son of the late Charlie Daniels.

Earlier in the year, the Grand Ole Opry received a Patriot Award during a July concert as part of the Opry 100 Honors series, recognizing the venue's cultural impact and alignment with TCDJHP's mission.

David Corlew emphasized that the awards and fundraising efforts continue Charlie Daniels' legacy of supporting those who have served the country. He highlighted that all funds raised go directly toward programs offering hope and healing for veterans.

TCDJHP has established partnerships with organizations like the Shepherd Center and Operation Song, and in 2019, a donation enabled the first CAR-T cancer treatment at a VA hospital. The Nashville VA remains the only VA hospital providing this treatment, with nearly 100 procedures performed on veterans to date.