Operation American Dream officially launched in Florida, Georgia, and
Alabama on December 11, 2015. The “Rally for the Heroes” was a salute
to military, law enforcement, and fire rescue personnel who have
sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The program featured
patriotic music, a 21-gun salute, speeches by Orlando Chief of Police
John Mina, Winter Park Fire Chief James White, and OAD Founder Chuck
Nadd. Displays from local law enforcement and fire departments provided
a backdrop for the event.
On February 11, 2014, Orange County Florida Sheriff’s Deputy
Jonathan Scott Pine sacrificed his life in the line of duty while
pursuing a burglary suspect. Deputy Pine is survived by his wife and
three young children. As a native of Orange County
himself, Operation American Dream Founder Chuck Nadd felt called to
support Deputy Pine’s young family and rallied the local community
together to raise over $6,000. Since then, Chuck has watched other
American heroes fall in the line of duty and has felt called to build
similar campaigns across the United States. This is how Operation
American Dream began.
Operation American Dream invests in children of America’s fallen heroes. Funds are used for scholarships for the children of U.S. military, law enforcement, and
fire rescue personnel who have sacrificed their lives in the line of
duty. The organization rallies local communities around the gold-star families, reminding them that the sacrifice they have made will never be forgotten.