H1 Collaborates with Community Organizations at Seafair
Dave Villwock with Chief of Navy Chaplains, RADM Gregory Todd and his wife Mrs. Teresa Todd
Seattle, WA – July 30, 2025 – H1 Unlimited is proud to take part in this weekend’s Seattle Seafair festivities through meaningful collaborations with Behind the Badge Foundation, Rise Up Academy, and the U.S. military and public safety agencies, in a collective effort to recognize service, engage youth, and celebrate the values that bind communities together.
Honoring Those Who Serve
This Friday at Seafair, 277 uniformed personnel—including members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs—will be recognized as honored guests during a tribute to public service. This large-scale recognition was made possible in part thanks to the remarkable efforts of Chief James A. Delissio, whose decades of service and ongoing commitment to honoring first responders and military personnel helped bring this initiative to life in coordination with Seafair and H1 Unlimited.
This tribute would also not have been possible without the generosity of Mr. William Cahill, owner of Beacon Plumbing, whose commitment to community made the Beacon Pavilion and the very first First Responder’s Day at Seafair a reality. His support continues to ensure that those who protect and serve receive the recognition they deserve.
Dave Villwock with members of fallen officer Brian Orchard’s family in Tri-Cities
Working Alongside Behind the Badge Foundation
As part of a moving tribute coordinated with Behind the Badge Foundation, each H1 Unlimited race team will be paired with a family connected to a fallen law enforcement officer. Through this collaboration, the names and legacies of those who made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored on the boats themselves, offering fans and teams a chance to connect more personally with these stories of service and heroism.
Behind the Badge Foundation provides comprehensive, compassionate support to families and agencies impacted by line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries across Washington State.
Spirit of America: Racing With Purpose
The U-21 Spirit of America brings profound meaning to this weekend’s races, proudly honoring law enforcement officers, first responders, military personnel, and community heroes, while also racing in support of Rise Up Academy, a nonprofit early learning school in Everett, WA, dedicated to closing the educational achievement gap for underserved youth.
On Saturday, nearly 30 children from Rise Up Academy will attend the races as special guests of the U-21 team. Their names will be displayed on small heart-shaped decals affixed to the boat—a powerful and personal symbol of visibility, encouragement, and hope.
“This is more than a name change,” said driver Gunnar O’Farrell. “Spirit of America is our way of giving back and honoring those who stand for something greater than themselves—whether they wear a uniform or carry the dreams of the next generation. We want to bring that energy to the water and inspire pride in the stands.”
Supporting Young Warriors: Forever Fighters & Isola’s Story
This Saturday, Forever Fighters, nonprofit based in Washington, will be on-site at Seafair to support Isola, a brave 7‑year‑old fighter who has been battling anaplastic large cell lymphoma since February 2022 and endured a relapse in January 2023. Forever Fighters is dedicated to making life more joyful and supportive for children and teen cancer patients and survivors by delivering personalized care packages, uplifting experiences, and ongoing emotional support.
Isola and her family will visit the Strong Racing team and VIP section on Saturday, where Forever Fighters will help coordinate a special tribute to her courage. Their presence adds yet another layer to Seafair’s spirit of community, resilience, and heartfelt solidarity.
A Unified Effort on and off the Water
These initiatives reflect H1 Unlimited’s broader commitment to using its platform to amplify messages of unity, gratitude, and community investment. The coordination of these efforts also benefited from the behind-the-scenes support of Stephen Lamson, who assisted the H1 team in logistics and outreach throughout race week.
“Seafair has always been about more than racing,” said Mike Denslow, H1 chairman. “This weekend, we race with names on our boats, with families in our thoughts, and with kids watching their names fly across the water. That’s what makes this special.”
H1 Collaborates with Community Organizations at Seafair
Dave Villwock with Chief of Navy Chaplains, RADM Gregory Todd and his wife Mrs. Teresa Todd
Seattle, WA – July 30, 2025 – H1 Unlimited is proud to take part in this weekend’s Seattle Seafair festivities through meaningful collaborations with Behind the Badge Foundation, Rise Up Academy, and the U.S. military and public safety agencies, in a collective effort to recognize service, engage youth, and celebrate the values that bind communities together.
Honoring Those Who Serve
This Friday at Seafair, 277 uniformed personnel—including members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs—will be recognized as honored guests during a tribute to public service. This large-scale recognition was made possible in part thanks to the remarkable efforts of Chief James A. Delissio, whose decades of service and ongoing commitment to honoring first responders and military personnel helped bring this initiative to life in coordination with Seafair and H1 Unlimited.
This tribute would also not have been possible without the generosity of Mr. William Cahill, owner of Beacon Plumbing, whose commitment to community made the Beacon Pavilion and the very first First Responder’s Day at Seafair a reality. His support continues to ensure that those who protect and serve receive the recognition they deserve.
Dave Villwock with members of fallen officer Brian Orchard’s family in Tri-Cities
Working Alongside Behind the Badge Foundation
As part of a moving tribute coordinated with Behind the Badge Foundation, each H1 Unlimited race team will be paired with a family connected to a fallen law enforcement officer. Through this collaboration, the names and legacies of those who made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored on the boats themselves, offering fans and teams a chance to connect more personally with these stories of service and heroism.
Behind the Badge Foundation provides comprehensive, compassionate support to families and agencies impacted by line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries across Washington State.
Spirit of America: Racing With Purpose
The U-21 Spirit of America brings profound meaning to this weekend’s races, proudly honoring law enforcement officers, first responders, military personnel, and community heroes, while also racing in support of Rise Up Academy, a nonprofit early learning school in Everett, WA, dedicated to closing the educational achievement gap for underserved youth.
On Saturday, nearly 30 children from Rise Up Academy will attend the races as special guests of the U-21 team. Their names will be displayed on small heart-shaped decals affixed to the boat—a powerful and personal symbol of visibility, encouragement, and hope.
“This is more than a name change,” said driver Gunnar O’Farrell. “Spirit of America is our way of giving back and honoring those who stand for something greater than themselves—whether they wear a uniform or carry the dreams of the next generation. We want to bring that energy to the water and inspire pride in the stands.”
Supporting Young Warriors: Forever Fighters & Isola’s Story
This Saturday, Forever Fighters, nonprofit based in Washington, will be on-site at Seafair to support Isola, a brave 7‑year‑old fighter who has been battling anaplastic large cell lymphoma since February 2022 and endured a relapse in January 2023. Forever Fighters is dedicated to making life more joyful and supportive for children and teen cancer patients and survivors by delivering personalized care packages, uplifting experiences, and ongoing emotional support.
Isola and her family will visit the Strong Racing team and VIP section on Saturday, where Forever Fighters will help coordinate a special tribute to her courage. Their presence adds yet another layer to Seafair’s spirit of community, resilience, and heartfelt solidarity.
A Unified Effort on and off the Water
These initiatives reflect H1 Unlimited’s broader commitment to using its platform to amplify messages of unity, gratitude, and community investment. The coordination of these efforts also benefited from the behind-the-scenes support of Stephen Lamson, who assisted the H1 team in logistics and outreach throughout race week.
“Seafair has always been about more than racing,” said Mike Denslow, H1 chairman. “This weekend, we race with names on our boats, with families in our thoughts, and with kids watching their names fly across the water. That’s what makes this special.”