A Night of Inspiration CU FOUNDATION WELCOMES J.R. MARTINEZ TO THIS YEAR’S BECKLEY DINNER
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burn survivor, Army veteran, actor, New York Times best-selling author, and winner of Dancing with the Stars is this year’s Concord University Foundation Beckley Dinner keynote speaker—you do not want to miss the opportunity to hear J.R. Martinez’s story of triumph over adversity. J.R. Martinez has traveled the world speaking with troops, as well as non-profits, universities, and a number of Fortune 500 companies—Wells Fargo, General Motors, and Red Cross, to name a few. Concord University is proud to be among his virtual stops this year, and we know his message will inspire you. A desire to inspire others began long before his book Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit hit the best sellers list, before his 2011 victory on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and before his three year full-time acting career playing a veteran on the television show All My Children. J.R. Martinez gave his first inspirational talk in a recovery ward to a fellow burn patient. Nearly a year after he enlisted in the United States Army, this 11-B Infantryman from Hope, Arkansas was on a routine patrol in Iraq when the Humvee he was driving hit a roadside bomb. Three other soldiers in the vehicle were ejected, leaving Martinez trapped. But he survived. Martinez underwent 34 different surgeries and multiple skin grafts over the next few years, and it was during his time in the hospital recovering that a nurse asked him to speak to another burn patient who had just seen his body for the first time. “After a brief visit with the young man, I realized I had made a positive impact and helped him in some way,” Martinez writes on his website. He continued to help other wounded survivors in the weeks that followed that first visit, learning that “inspiration is often a two-way street.”
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Martinez continued to travel the world as a motivational speaker, sharing his story with others. He says that while his story may be unique, his message is universal: “Change isn’t bad if you are willing to adapt.” He is passionate about giving back, dedicating much of his time to the non-profit world. He is a spokesperson for Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, Glasswing International, No Barriers, and Debra of America. In 2008, All My Children was holding an open casting call, looking for a veteran to join their cast. Encouraged by a friend, Martinez auditioned and got the part. What was SUMMER 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE
