U.S. Air Force veteran and UC Blue Ash College student Zach Betsch was the recipient of a 2022 Hyundai Tucson, courtesy of Operation Homefront, a Texas-based nonprofit that helps veterans reach their goals.

Betsch never asked for the help he received, but he was overwhelmed with the generosity.

“The whole experience was surreal. It’s something that has never happened to me before,” he said.

Operation Homefront’s mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families. It works with business and community partners to provide support and resources for those in need. The organization collaborated with U.S. Bank and a local automobile dealership, Mike Castrucci Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, to secure the nearly brand-new Hyundai, then put out a request for nominees.

Jill Cochran, the veterans success on-campus counselor from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, began asking around for nominees at UC Blue Ash. Betsch’s name kept coming up. After serving eight years in the Air Force, Betsch is studying information technology at the college and frequently needed to get rides from family members for the 45-minute commute from southeast Indiana since his old car was constantly breaking down.

The donation marked the 60th vehicle that U.S. Bank has made to a military family through its Driven to Serve program.

Pete Gemmer contributed to this story.

Featured image at top: UC will recognize veterans on Thursday for its annual Veterans Day ceremony. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC