New Canaan resident Stephen Cannon, brother of Ridgefield resident Sarah Bouissou and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, has made headlines, but this time his accomplishments have nothing to do with luxury automobiles.
Cannon, a 1986 West Point grad and true patriot, is giving the gift of a college education to children whose parents died fighting for our county.
Cannon is the founder of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, inspired by Col. John M. McHugh, Cannon’s friend, West Point classmate, husband and father. Col McHugh served in the US Army for 24 years and was killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2010 leaving behind five children.
Johnny Mac's daughter explains, It was a complete shock to my family—he wasn't even deployed. My dad was supposed to spend two weeks in Afghanistan for a NATO peace conference meeting in the country's capitol building and then return to our military home in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, just like he always did.
“Through education, we will give back. Veterans who served honorably in any branch of our Armed Forces, and spouses and children of veterans in need of financial support to further their education, can look to us,” explains Cannon.
The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund is committed to providing support to those most affected by the Global War on Terror. Assistance includes:
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College scholarships and grants
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Financial aid for professional certification programs and non-degree programs
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Educational career counseling and mentorship
With the help of Cannon’s friends and West Point grads, Joe DePinto, CEO of 7-Eleven, and Anthony Guzzi, CEO of Emcor Group, the first Johnny Mac Memorial Golf Tournament took place on June 5 raising 1.4 million dollars for the fund.
More charity events in support of The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund are on the horizon.
On September 21, the Inaugural Mercedes-Benz hosted golf tournament will take place. the fundraising golf event will be played at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ, the home of the 2016 PGA Championship.
Learn more about The Johnny Mac Soldeers Fund here.
Read a moving and powerful testimony from Johnny Mac’s daughter, Kelly McHugh, here.