On Monday, September 28, a group of local Camp Hometown Heroes kids walked into Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee as invited guests of WWE.
The arena was filling up for Monday Night RAW, streaming live on Netflix to fans around the world. But before the lights went down and the first entrance music hit, our campers got something most fans never do: a personal meet and greet with some of WWE's biggest Superstars.
More than a night out
Camp Hometown Heroes serves children and siblings of fallen U.S. military service members. Every child in our program carries a loss that most kids their age can't imagine, and many of them carry it quietly.
That's why nights like this matter. Summer camp gives our kids a place to heal alongside others who truly understand. But healing doesn't stop when camp ends. It continues in the moments throughout the year when a child feels seen, celebrated, and reminded that their community hasn't forgotten them or the sacrifice their family made.
For a few hours on Monday, our campers weren't defined by what they've lost. They were just kids, grinning ear to ear, getting a front-row look at the action.
Meeting the Superstars
When the doors opened, WWE's team welcomed our families and brought them behind the scenes for the meet and greet. The kids met Penta, Stephanie Vaquer, Maxxine, and Je'Von Evans, along with Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable, who posed with our campers for photos they'll treasure for years.
There was even a surprise appearance from Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins, a reminder that Milwaukee shows up for its own.
Then came the main event. Our campers took their seats as RAW went live at 6:30 PM, cheering alongside thousands of fans in one of the most electric atmospheres in sports entertainment.
With gratitude
Nights like this don't happen without people who choose to show up for kids who deserve it.
Thank you to WWE, and especially to Nicholas Fustor, Director of Impact and Fan Services, for extending this invitation and to John Cone and Aggie Dent for welcoming our families at the venue. Your generosity turned an ordinary Monday into a memory our campers will carry with them.
Thank you to Deb Paschke, Camp Hometown Heroes Director of Outreach, for coordinating with every family so the night went off without a hitch.
And thank you to our families, for trusting us and for sharing these photos so the rest of our community could be part of the moment.
The power of showing up
At Power of Humans, we believe healing happens through connection. Sometimes that looks like a week at camp with counselors who understand. Sometimes it looks like a few hours at Fiserv Forum, high-fiving a champion.
Every one of these moments tells a child the same thing: you matter, and you're not alone.
If you'd like to help create more moments like this, consider supporting Camp Hometown Heroes. Whether you donate, volunteer, or share our story, you're helping make sure the children of our fallen heroes know their community stands behind them.