He talks fast. He works fast. He’s ambitious in his efforts to give back. And once you learn more about his story you learn why. Lance Yearby understands everybody’s time on earth is precious. As a veteran, he’s lost brothers and sisters in combat and to suicide after returning home. He’s battled his own demons as well.
“Our company, the 163rd deployed to Iraq ’07 to ’09. During our tour in Northern Iraq, our company saw the most enemy engagement and suffered the most casualties of any company. After we got back, we’ve lost countless veterans to suicide and countless others attempted suicide including myself; that’s something that took a long time to talk about. So what we [Yearby and a fellow veteran] did was create Rally Point Events [in 2018]. The mission was to raise money for veteran organizations to help take care of ourselves, providing PTSD dogs, providing veteran counseling and health.”
Yearby says the beginning was rough. The organization and individuals lost big.
“You would think if you put on a music festival, people would show up. They don’t. So our first year, we lost $100,000. Personal money through friends and family.”
A partnership with the city of Jasper, IN and some perseverance helped pave the way for success however and by 2021 the Red, White, and Brauen Music Fest brought in an estimated 5,000 concert goers. That was followed by successes with rodeos in Carmi and Jasper. Those successes led to a partnership with the Professional Bull Riders. The first PBR event in Evansville resulted in 14,000 seats. That was followed by a sellout of then Rent One Ballpark in Marion. In conjunction with those triumphs came the naissance and incorporation of the Kicks for Kids program within Rally Point.
“Through these events last year alone we did 8,000 pairs of shoes for kids throughout the tri state area. In Evansville we partner with Cops Connecting with Kids. We did right at 3,200 pairs of shoes and that program is growing now. In Jasper, we did 1,800 pair. And in the Marion area, we did Cairo, Massac, Vienna, Union, Pulaski, Pope, Hardin, and Alexander County schools…we did 2,800 pairs of shoes for kids in those areas.”
It doesn’t stop at kids either. Yearby says they’re still committed to helping veterans.
“We do what we call Combat Boots to Work Boots in which we provide work boots for veterans going into the union halls. It’s been a great program as we try to get them on with the unions and take them straight from military to service. And we also partner to provide funds for veteran housing. Three veteran homes were built last year.”
The goal for 2023 is 20,000 pairs of shoes and to build 20 veteran homes. Yearby says Rally Point is planning eclipse festivals for 2024 in Marion, IL, Evansville, IN, and Carmi, IL. There are 12 events in total planned for this year.
Learn more at http://www.rallypointevents.org.
