Summer Fun Fest: Foundation connects Fort Hood families

FORT HOOD, Texas — More than 1,300 military families attended the Rick Herrema Foundation’s first Summer Fun Fest on July 19 an event aimed at building connections and providing community support.

The foundation, established more than a decade ago at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, expanded to Texas to support one of the Army’s largest active-duty populations. The event combined games, music and family-friendly activities with access to trusted providers and organizations focused on resilience, readiness and well-being.

Greta Buccellato, deputy to the garrison commander, said the event aligned closely with Fort Hood’s mission.

“Events like this, made possible through partnerships with organizations like the Rick Herrema Foundation, help bridge the gap between our on-post and off-post communities,” she said. “By coming together for family-centered activities, we strengthen relationships, foster mutual support and build a more connected, resilient Fort Hood.”

For Eric Ballester, executive director of the foundation and a retired Army veteran with 10 combat deployments, the work is deeply personal.

“A strong family builds a strong military, which builds a strong nation,” he said. “That’s what we’re here to support.”

Ballester said his work with the foundation isn’t just a new chapter — it is a personal mission rooted in two decades of military experience.

“After serving two decades in uniform, I’ve seen firsthand the stress military life puts on families,” he said. “This is my service after service, helping make sure no spouse or child is left feeling forgotten or isolated.”

For many who came out, the event was not just about fun. It was an opportunity to reconnect through a community-focused gathering.

“It definitely brings that sense of connection we don’t always get,” said Lashonda Moore, an Army veteran who attended with friends. “It’s good to see something that focuses not just on the Soldiers, but on the families too.”

Retired Army veteran Jonathan McMahon, who spent 13 years stationed at Fort Hood, said the event brought the kind of energy and community spirit the installation was once known for.

“There used to be a lot more events like this — free carnivals, festivals — but then it kind of stopped,” McMahon said. “To see it coming back now is amazing. Families need this.”

Even the youngest members of the Fort Hood community found ways to give back. Naomi Suzuki, 9, proudly volunteered alongside her mom, serving popcorn and sharing smiles with other families throughout the day.

“It felt great,” she said. “I never did this before. I got to help people and see them smile.”

The Rick Herrema Foundation is also constructing a permanent recreation center and park near the post’s main gate. Once completed, it will be available to units, chaplains and the broader community for events and connection.

Buccellato said the garrison is proud to partner with non-federal organizations that uplift service members and their families.

“Family-focused community events like Summer Fun Fest help build trust and connection amongst the Central Texas community, Fort Hood and the families we serve,” she expressed. “Whether it’s the high-energy fun of Nerf Wars or the calm of yoga, these shared experiences — made possible through partners like the Rick Herrema Foundation and our Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation team — build the kind of bonds that strengthen not just individual relationships, but the entire Fort Hood community.”

The Summer Fun Fest is just one example of how Fort Hood continues to build meaningful connections between the installation and the families who call it home.

For more information about the Rick Herrema Foundation, visit rhfnow.org/texas.