For the second straight year Nexen Tire America Inc. is partnering with The Purple Heart Foundation to present a combat-wounded veteran and Purple Heart recipient a customized vehicle — a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S. It's part of the Nexen Hero Campaign. The Purple Heart Foundation will select the winning veteran, and the honoree will be announced Aug. 7, on National Purple Heart Day.
The 2020 Jeep rolls on 35-inch Nexen Roadian MTX Mud Terrain Xtreme tires. The Jeep Gladiator, which is being customized by Kenny Pfitzer of Zero to 60 Designs in Corona, Calif., will feature several Mopar aftermarket parts and other customizations, in addition to one-of-a-kind Nexen Tire and Purple Heart graphics. Pfitzer and his team also customized the 2018 Dodge Challenger R/T 392 Scat Pack that was given to retired Marine Cpl. Steven Diaz.
Diaz was severely wounded by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in 2005 in Iraq. The incident left him with the permanent effects of traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress, and a seizure disorder. Since medically retiring from the military, Diaz has dedicated himself to helping other veterans by co-founding Hidden Wounds, an organization that helps veterans who are fighting an "invisible war" at home. He is the chief operating officer and program manager of Hidden Wounds.
“Last year, Nexen Tire dedicated itself to bringing awareness to America’s combat wounded veterans, and after the amazing success of the ‘American Muscle for American Heroes’ campaign, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with the Purple Heart Foundation and kick off an all new program to give a Jeep Gladiator to a very deserving combat-wounded veteran,” says John Hagan, executive vice president of sales for Nexen. “Our heroes’ dedication to providing safety and security to the nation naturally aligns with Nexen Tire’s commitment to creating the safest and most reliable tires on the road, so was very important for us to continue this program and work to bring even more awareness to the sacrifice of these combat-wounded American heroes.”
Stephen Ruckman, CEO of The Purple Heart Foundation, says, "It is an absolute pleasure to be once again teamed up with Nexen Tire USA to select a very deserving combat-wounded veteran. Our organization is dedicated to serving these brave individuals who sacrificed so much for our nation's safety, and it's refreshing to be tied to an organization that shares that same vision. Our motto has always been to honor their sacrifice with our service, and we will continue to support the Nexen Tire’s Nexen Hero campaign in any way we can."
Click here for more information on the Purple Heart Foundation. For more information on Nexen, visit www.nexentireusa.com.
