What started out as the promise of a single $1,000 donation to one group by WC Challenger Charities (WCCC) has ended up being a $6,000 windfall shared by five Wise County non-profit organizations.
An invitational celebrity steer riding during intermission was an added attraction for the 11th annual JW Hart PBR Challenge on May 31, which was put on by WCCC.
“We challenged these six guys to raise $500 each for WC Challenger Charities,” explained WCCC co-founder Calvin Jackson, who organized the activity. “WCCC in turn would award $500 to the winning rider’s charity of choice.
“Given the success of this and the overall event, we surprised the riders by donating $1,000 each to all six of their charities.”
The local tenderfoot riders and their charities included:
- James Wood Motors’ Beau Bell (who actually has rodeo experience) for Wise County Meals on Wheels, $1,000 donation;
- County-judge candidate J.D. Clark for Wise County Domestic Violence Task Force, $1,000;
- Decatur High School trainer Fernando Escobar for Wise Regional Health Foundation, $1,000;
- Wise Wireless’ Joe Neil Henderson for Wise County Christian Counseling, $1,000;
- and PrimeWest Mortgage’s Jeff Sicking and Texas Custom Trailers’ Wade Watson for Decatur Cares, $2,000.
Henderson stayed on the longest to win the event. Clark suffered a dislocated shoulder raising money for what he considers an important cause.
DECATUR CARES – This year the JW Hart PBR Challenge added a local celebrity steer-riding contest as an intermission attraction, and WC Challenger Charities made donations to six fearless riders’ organizations of choice. Here, Wade Watson presents $2,000 to Ken May of Decatur Cares. With him are WCCC’s Wendell Berry Jr., Andrew Rottner, Calvin Jackson and Alan Sessions. Not pictured is Jeff Sicking, who also rode for Decatur Cares, a community effort to see that children who receive at least one meal a day at school do not go underfed during the summer. May is pastor of First Baptist Church in Decatur. Messenger photo by Ken Roselle
PROTECTING FAMILIES – The Wise County Domestic Violence Task Force receives $1,000 from WC Challenger Charities. From left are WCCC’s Wendell Berry Jr., the task force’s Beverly Ross and Pat Slayton, celebrity steer rider J.D. Clark and WCCC’s Alan Sessions and Andrew Rottner. Founded in 1999 with a United Way of Wise County donation, the task force operates the Wise Hope Shelter and Crisis Center. Messenger photo by Ken Roselle
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING – Joe Neil Henderson presents $1,000 to Beverly Ross, representing Wise County Christian Counseling. With them are WC Challenger Charities’ Calvin Jackson (left) and Alan Sessions. Henderson won the steer riding. Ross’ organization has an office at 2201 S. Farm Road 51 in Decatur. Messenger photo by Ken Roselle
MEALS ON WHEELS – Wendell Berry Jr. presents $1,000 to Beau Bell, who took part in the celebrity steer riding to raise money for Wise County Meals on Wheels. The Wise County Committee on Aging has operated the service since 1978. It provides hot meals to 80 senior citizens. Messenger photo by Ken Roselle