CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera will return to the Queen City in October to serve as the guest speaker for the Veterans Bridge Home Lunch and Lead.
The organization works to connect Veterans and their families in any state of transition, to the community. Through their network of partners, they help Veterans navigate employment, create social connections, and settle their families.
“Most importantly it serves our veteran community," Rivera said. "Veterans Bridge Homes connects veterans and their families with a new community in the state that they’re transitioning into, and it’s very difficult going someplace where we really don’t have a lot of connections and that’s what the Veterans Bridge Home is all about."
Rivera and his family currently reside in Virginia, where he last coached the Washington Commanders from 2020-2023, but returning to Charlotte to give back to the community is important for Rivera.
“It's very important for Stephanie and I and quite honestly our kids as well as because we really loved Charlotte. We really did,” Rivera explained. “I mean, we were treated so well, and the people respected us in terms of always being there to support us. You guys know about the fire we had in our home back in 2015 and just the way the community reached out to us. So it's really one of those things that we need to give back to you folks and that's because we really do love the Queen City of Charlotte.”
Rivera’s father, Eugenio, was drafted into the Army in 1952, served two tours in Vietnam, and dedicated 32 years of his life to serving our country. Growing up in a military upbringing shaped Rivera’s core values and taught him early on the importance of giving back to those who give the ultimate sacrifice.
“I think the big thing more than anything else is you see how the military community really takes care of themselves as much as they can. Their service is selfless. It’s all about the country. They did everything they could and unfortunately, some even had the ultimate sacrifice for our country. When you give of yourself so freely, you deserve to be taken care of eventually by the people that you serve,” Rivera said.
“That's what this is. It's an opportunity to give back to the veterans that did so much for us.”