Our deepest thanks to
Presenting Sponsor, New Market Corporation
&
Contributing Sponsor, SouthState Bank
This was the 13th year of Stories of Courage and Grace, an event to benefit the residents of The Virginia Home, who live their lives with their own special courage and grace.
Our keynote speaker, former NFL Pro Bowler Jon Dorenbos, is best known for his 14-season career in the NFL (primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles, though he made two Pro Bowl appearances before a routine trade to the New Orleans Saints in 2017). That trade led to a life-changing discovery, as doctors diagnosed him with a life-threatening heart condition, forcing him into emergency open-heart surgery and an abrupt retirement from football.
But Jon’s story of resilience began long before the NFL. At just 12 years old, his world shattered when his father committed an unspeakable crime, leaving him to navigate the foster system alone. Searching for an escape, he turned to magic and sports, channeling his pain into passion. In 2016, he stunned audiences on America’s Got Talent, making it to the finals and placing third among tens of thousands of competitors. His mind-bending sleight-of-hand performances caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, who became one of his biggest supporters.
Jon’s bestselling book, Life Is Magic, shares his extraordinary journey from heartbreak to hope, offering a roadmap for overcoming adversity and choosing happiness. With over a decade of experience as a keynote speaker, he inspired our audience with his raw honesty, humor, and insight. Whether through storytelling, magic, or life lessons, Jon proves that even in life’s darkest moments, there is room for transformation — and a little bit of magic.