08/28/2025
🚨 Official Community Update from HERO (Humanitarian Emergency Response Organization) 🚨
It brings HERO no pleasure to publicly address this issue, but we are doing so to clarify false information circulating about the upcoming rodeo and to protect our community from being misled. Evidence of misappropriation and misconduct will be public record soon enough.
✅ The Facts:
HERO partnered with Broken G Rodeo, owned by Louie Garcia, to host a benefit rodeo with the agreement that 100% of proceeds would go directly to HERO for the purchase of building materials for new homes for families who lost everything in the Sandy Creek flood.
Lisa Ross misrepresented herself and her nonprofit: she claimed to be a board member of a nonprofit that existed prior to the flood. HERO later discovered this was false — the nonprofit was created during the flood, and Lisa Ross is not on its board of directors.
The nonprofit that Louie Garcia and Lisa Ross now intend to receive funds has no proof of its ability to manage donations accurately, as it has never been involved in fundraising or disbursement of disaster relief funds such as those HERO manages.
HERO has experienced misappropriation of property: Lisa Ross stole 7 generators (police have been involved to ensure recovery), and Gabrielle Cathy attempted to register HERO property in her name, knowing it belonged to HERO. Charges for attempted theft will be pursued.
Broken G Rodeo and Lisa Ross are redirecting donations for purposes other than building materials for new homes, and requested that guests bring cash for purchases, which cannot be accurately tracked, raising serious concerns of theft and misuse.
Louie Garcia has already charged HERO for contractors who had already offered to provide their services for free, which HERO considers a clear example of fraudulent behavior to extract funds from HERO.
Louie Garcia has already threatened not to return HERO property or funds invested in the rodeo unless HERO signs an agreement not to file suit, which HERO refuses to do.
Louie Garcia and Lisa Ross now claim that “the community” will responsibly collect funds. This is misleading — it is not the community at large, but the same individuals HERO questioned for dishonesty and lack of transparency, who are attempting to control the money.
Reports indicate that the community center has already received large financial donations, yet no one can provide information on how those donations have been dispersed, further raising concerns about accountability.
The stated purpose for the rodeo has been changed from HERO’s original focus of building materials for new homes to vague “funds to purchase supplies needed,” stripping away transparency and accountability.
Because HERO refused to compromise on these core principles, Broken G Rodeo terminated its contract with HERO.
❌ What This Means:
HERO is not involved with this rodeo.
Any claim that HERO endorses, manages, or controls the event is false and unauthorized.
HERO is pursuing all available civil and criminal remedies for fraud, misappropriation, theft, and misrepresentation.
📢 HERO’s Commitment:
Our mission is clear and unwavering: to rebuild Sandy Creek by using every donated dollar for building materials for new homes for families who lost theirs in the flood. HERO provides full transparency and accounting for all donations to ensure they directly benefit the community.
🙏 To support Sandy Creek flood victims directly, please donate only through HERO’s official channel:
👉 wearehero.org
Thank you to everyone standing with HERO and the whole Sandy Creek community. Together, we will rebuild stronger. 💙
— HERO Team
