"I never imagined the level of support we received from our members and professional partners when I began this project," says Steve Luckey, Manager of Construction Services at Hendricks Power.

Through RELITE, a rigorous two-year leadership program sponsored by Indiana Electric Cooperatives, Luckey was tasked with one last assignment before graduation - a capstone of his choosing to benefit his community. 

"Because my father and I are both veterans, I chose to focus my efforts on raising funds and awareness for for the Indy Honor Flight. It's a cause I've always been passionate about. I was able to visit the Vietnam War Memorial with my father through Indy Honor Flight, and it was a life-changing experience. I knew I wanted more veterans to have that opportunity," Luckey says, reflecting on the inspiration for his project. 

Indy Honor Flight is one of four state-wide hubs of the Honor Flight Network. The organization sponsors local veterans on a one-day flight to Washington, D.C., to visit veteran memorials. Participation in an Honor Flight allows veterans the chance to share the trip with other veterans, remember friends and comrades lost, and share their stories and experiences.

While Luckey's initiative was granted $2,500 from the Hendricks Power Cooperative Operation Round Up program, he thought there was more he could do. In addition to getting a digger truck wrapped with custom branding to honor veterans, he raised an additional $6,000 for his cause.

"I wanted to gain exposure for the organization and its great work, so I started asking around. In my role at Hendricks Power, I work directly with many contractors and vendors, and once I started talking about my project, folks were happy to support the cause and other veterans," says Luckey.

Luckey also had a banner made to coincide with the truck graphics, in which he asked community members to "sign" in support. Hendricks Power partners, including Altec, J&J Electric, Power Line Supply, Helebo (HTI), Brownstown Electric, and Fleece Performance, committed to donations. Some even agreed to donate one dollar for each signature Luckey could collect on banners at local events. 

"The timing really couldn't have been better. I knew our annual meeting was coming up at the Hendricks Co. 4-H Fair and that it would be the perfect place to connect with our members and let them know about Indy Honor Flight and its great work. We were even able to go out and collect signatures at the Putnam Co. 4-H Fair, too," says Luckey.

"Steve did a great job bringing our community together to benefit a cause near and dear to our hearts here at Hendricks Power. I'm proud of him and his dedication to the project," says Greg Ternet, CEO of Hendricks Power. "One of our Cooperative Principles is Concern for Community, and Steve has led by example by embodying that value and making a difference."