Florence fundraiser raises more than $10,000 for veterans

A surprise $5,000 donation helped Florence residents push a veterans fundraiser past $10,000, turning a modest idea into a packed Saturday event at the Florence Events Center. The money went to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports Gold Star and fallen first responder families and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

Connie Tholen and Bernie Hill, both from military families, said they chose the cause because they wanted to give back to the people who have helped protect them and because Florence has a large veteran population. What began as a local art fundraiser grew into an evening of guest speakers, performances, first responder demonstrations and raffles, drawing more support than organizers first expected.

The final total jumped sharply after the Rhody Cruisers Club stepped in with the $5,000 gift. That single donation pushed the effort well beyond its original goal and gave the event the kind of hometown hook that tends to resonate in a city where veterans, retirees and longtime coastal residents are part of daily life.

Tunnel to Towers says it was founded after 9/11 and has committed more than $1 billion to its programs, with 93% of spending going directly to those efforts. Its smart homes can include automated doors and lighting, wider halls and doorways, special showers, automatic locks and smartphone or tablet controls, features designed to make life easier for severely injured veterans and first responders.

Florence’s demographics help explain why the fundraiser hit home. The Census Bureau estimates the city had 9,468 residents on July 1, 2025, with 43.3% age 65 and older and 987 veterans in the 2020-2024 period. Lane County also lists a veteran services office in Florence through the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and county property-tax exemption rules include disability relief for veterans and certain emergency personnel.

That mix of giving, information and public recognition made the event bigger than one night’s receipts. In a small coastal city where veteran service is visible and support systems are close to home, the fundraiser offered both immediate help and a reminder that Florence can mobilize fast when the cause feels personal.