2017 Banquet Recap
Each year, Operation HOPE holds an event to update all of our supporters on the progress being made in Haiti, Iraq, and right here in the US, and to provide them with even more opportunities to invest in these wonderful people. In years past, speakers have included our founder Dr. John Thomas, Pittsburgh Steeler Baron Batch, Former Atlanta Braves Pitcher John Smoltz, Actor/Director/Producer Kirk Cameron, & Dr. Ben Carson. This year, Operation HOPE welcomed LtCol Oliver North back for the second time since 2011. Below are the details for this year's event.
LtCol. Oliver North - Keynote Speaker for the Eleventh Annual Operation HOPE Banquet
The Eleventh Annual Operation HOPE Banquet was held on March 25, 2017 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. We welcomed LtCol Oliver North as our keynote speaker for this year’s event. Once again, the Operation HOPE Banquet was a huge success bringing in well over $100,000 of net profit so we can go out and reach the hurting of this world.
The banquet started with the presentation of colors by the TTU Army & Air Force Color Guard along with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem sung by Stacy Ward, Brian Duncan, & Braunshea Norris. Next, Reverend Elliott Powell, Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church offered the invocation. We were honored to have such a distinguished member of our community spend the evening with us, and pray over our event.
This year, we welcomed Bill Miller, CEO of Breedlove Foods INC to the Operation HOPE Banquet to share a little more about their organization. Operation HOPE partnered with Breedlove this year to provide over 400,000 meals to hungry people in Haiti through our #Hope2Haiti Campaign.
Once again, we held a live auction including a high powered rifle, sports memorabilia, a fantastic turkey hunt, a US Capitol Dome Tour with Congressman Jodey Arrington, and a set of braces from Wentz Orthodontics here in Lubbock. In addition to the live auction items, banquet attendees had the opportunity to bid on a number of silent auction items as well.
This year, for the first time, Dr. Thomas' son Andrew came up on stage to introduce his father. Dr. Thomas spoke of the importance that obedience has played in way that Operation HOPE functions. Countless lives have been changed for the better because of our committment to obeying the voice of God.
Oliver North is a combat decorated U.S. Marine, a #1 best-selling author, the founder of a small business, an inventor with three U.S. patents, a syndicated columnist, and the host of “War Stories” on Fox News Channel. It was an honor to spend the evening with LtCol North again and we're so thankful to everyone who came out.
To see all of the photos of the Operation HOPE Banquet shot by our good friend Mark Umstot, click on the image below:
We are truly thankful for everyone who was able to come spend the evening with us and we look forward to next year's event!
Below you will find a list of Sponsors for the Eleventh Annual Operation HOPE Banquet
