2018 Community Heroes Week Honorees

Jon Johnson is the head baseball coach at Howard High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, one of the oldest high schools in the South. Jon was nominated by his co-worker, Chic Coleman.

Only a few short years ago, baseball was defunct at HHS. In 2016, a 32-year-old Spanish teacher and coach came to HHS with a vision to rebuild lives by rebuilding a baseball team and its field. Through freezing cold, rain, weekends, cleaning up trash, digging ditches and building pitching mounds, Jon took a group of young men living in dangerous and forgotten parts of the city and did what many called impossible. They turned that once dead field into a jewel within the community. Once word spread, strangers from across the community became donors and fans, giving time, money and supplies.

The school was severely underachieving, and the revitalization of the baseball program has helped to improve the overall standing and student performance. Jon Johnson is credited for this turnaround and today HHS and its baseball program are thriving.

Jon and the HHS baseball team arrived at Truist Park early Monday morning under the assumption that they were participating in a meeting with Braves executives regarding the HHS program and attending a Braves game.

During the tour of Truist Park, the team was led down to the field to take photos. While on the field, Braves players, Fox Sports South Broadcasters, Blooper and the entertainment team walked onto the field to surprise the entire group and to let Jon know that he was being honored as a 2018 Community Hero.

Braves players Sam Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr, Sean Newcomb, Jesse Biddle, Luke Jackson and Johan Camargo presented a $5k donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Fox Sports South. Mizuno representative, Jeff Krieger, presented the team with new baseball equipment. The Braves players took photos, signed autographs and spent time with the team on the field breaking in the new equipment.

Jon and the team attended both games, visited the Mizuno Experience Center and Punch Bowl Social, and returned for the 2nd game of the double-header where they were honored on the field and featured on that night's game telecast on FOX Sports Southeast.

Bronco Reese was born with four congenital heart defects and at age 9, received a heart transplant. Later that year, Bronco was then diagnosed with lymphoma and received chemo treatments for one year. In 2016, he went into remission. During his illness, Bronco's Benevolent Foundation was formed to raise the awareness of pediatric organ donation and to improve the journey of pediatric transplant patients and their families. Bronco's Benevolent Foundation raises fund by hosting motorcycle rides and they also support the cardiac and pediatric cancer units at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta by hosting pajama drives. Bronco was nominated by his father, Scott Reese.

Now a vibrant 12-year-old, Bronco and the entire 7th grade class attended a Braves pep rally at their school. Unbeknownst to Bronco, he was the guest of honor. The Fox Sports Fan Express arrived with Braves players, Fox Sports South broadcasters and the Braves entertainment team to surprise Bronco and tell him that he is a 2018 Community Hero.

Braves players Ryan Flaherty, Jonny Venters, Tyler Flowers, Mike Foltynewicz, Kurt Suzuki, Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman presented a $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Fox Sports South.

Following the presentation, the Braves players stayed to play a game of wiffle ball with Bronco and his classmates.

Later that evening, Bronco and his family were treated to a VIP Experience at Truist Park while they attended batting practice, met other Braves players and Bronco was honored on the field during the game.

In 2012, Lemuel "Life" LaRoche combined two of his passions, mentoring and chess, and founded the Chess and Community. He wanted to use chess not to foster competition, but to instill critical thinking skills into the at-risk youth in the area. "Think before you move" is his motto for chess and for life. With that in mind, he established many different programs for the youth of Athens including open chess meetings every Monday, financial literacy and chess every Wednesday, monthly chess and ice cream sessions and Chess and Climbing at Stone Mountain. He also created a summer book club to help students enhance their reading skills and he also awards scholarships to students entering college.

Clarke Central High School asked Life to meet with current and perspective students in an effort to promote Chess & Community throughout the school. During the meeting, the Braves alumni and Fox Sports South surprised Life while he was speaking to the students in a classroom.

Braves alumni Otis Nixon, Dwight Smith, Greg McMichael and Cristhian Martinez surprised Life with a $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Fox Sports South. The Braves caravan also donated chess sets for the students to take home, signed autographs and took pictures.

Following the presentation, the Braves alumni and broadcasters spent the rest of their time with the students honing their skills in the game of chess.

Life and his family attended Braves batting practice later that evening and met Braves players on the field. More than fifty of his students and supporters arrived at Truist Park courtesy of Fox Sports Fan Express to see Life honored on the field during the game which was also broadcast during the game telecast on FOX Sports Southeast.

In 2012, Holly and Pete Ranney founded Sunshine on a Ranney Day, a non-profit organization that renovates homes for children with special needs. Sunshine on a Ranney Day specializes in wheelchair accessible bathrooms, dream bedrooms, in-home therapy rooms and wheelchair ramps.

The Ranney's believe that every child deserves to have their own space to let their imagination soar and escape from their daily struggles. Their goal is to provide a place where a child can improve their health and progress inside the safety of their home on a daily basis.

The cost to complete these projects often range from $10k - $35k. Sunshine on a Ranney Day accepts nominations on their website for families who need home renovations and they have completed 8 home makeovers just this year with 5 in process.

The Ranney's were in the process of completing the home of a 15-year-old, wheelchair bound girl named Angel. While discussing plans to finalize the project, the Fox Sports Fan Express arrived at the home carrying the Braves players, Fox Sports South broadcasters and the Braves entertainment team to surprise Holly and Pete and to tell them that they had been named 2018 Community Heroes.

Braves players Charlie Culberson, Ender Inciarte, Peter Moylan, Dansby Swanson and Dan Winkler presented Holly and Pete with a $5K donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Fox Sports South.

Following the presentation, the Braves players and Fox Sports South broadcasters helped unload and move furniture, delivered by Atlanta Peach Movers, into Angel's bedroom.

Later that evening, Holly, Pete and their family received VIP treatment at Truist Park for the Braves game. They attended batting practice, met more Braves players and were honored on the field honored on the field during the game which was also broadcast during the game telecast on FOX Sports Southeast.

Angel's family along with other Sunshine on a Ranney Day recipients and supporters all attended the game to cheer on the Ranney's.

Every weekend, Jason Winter hooks his shiny aluminum 12-foot-long trailer to the back of his SUV and heads to downtown Atlanta, where he provides homeless people with a sanitary and private space to bathe through his non-profit organization, Hope Thru Soap. The unit is furnished with a shower, a toilet, hot water, heat and air conditioning. Hope Thru Soap offers an alternative to homeless shelters' jam-packed lavatories. His mission is to offer showers. love and hope to those in need. The experience is usually turns into a block party every weekend with food and music.

While Jason was setting up, the Fox Sports Fan Express arrived carrying Braves players, coaches and Fox Sports South broadcasters to deliver the news that Jason has been named a 2018 Atlanta Braves Community Hero

Braves players and coaches AJ Minter, Jesse Biddle, Luke Jackson, Brad Brach, Walt Weiss and Marty Reed presented Hope Thru Soap with a $5k donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Fox Sports South.

Following the presentation, the Braves players, coaches and Fox Sports South broadcasters served lunch to the homeless and distributed Braves items including caps, socks, toiletries, t-shirts and Braves tote bags.

Later that evening, Jason and his family received VIP treatment at Truist Park. He attended batting practice, met other Braves players and was honored on the field during the game. Jason's story was aired on that evenings Fox Sports Southeast telecast. More than fifty friends and volunteers came out to Truist Park, courtesy of Fox Sports Fan Express, to support Jason. Visit the Hope Thru Soap page on Facebook to learn how you can support the organization.