SARASOTA, Fla. (SNN) – On Monday, Florida Power and Light and Wishes for Heroes joined forces to give special thanks to a Suncoast hero.
Volunteers with the organizations transformed into something reminiscent of elves as they went to work hanging lights, blowing up an inflatable Santa Clause, and dotting the driveway with candy canes.
Wishes for Heroes of the Dennis V. Cooper Foundation nominated Veteran Rob Kehs to have his house decorated for the holiday season.
“He was the first person who came to mind,” Founder of the Dennis V. Cooper Foundation Maverick Johnson said.
Johnson also presented Rob with a check for $3,500 to cover his electric bills for the next year, who did not see any of it coming.
“Rob is very unassuming,” Johnson said. “He doesn’t want to be the one to receive stuff like this; he wants to give
His wife and kids were in on it, too.
“He kept asking me, ‘When are we going to decorate?’” Rob’s wife, Danielle Kehs, said. “And I’m like, ‘Oh, let’s do the inside first, I don’t want to deal with the outside yet.’”
She said he does not seek out recognition, but after everything he has done for veterans and the community, he deserves it.
“I saw the eye roll when he pulled into the driveway,” Danielle said. “Because he definitely is not one of those that likes to be the center of attention.”
After his time in the Navy, Rob served as Vice President of SRQ Vets, a volunteer with Goodwill’s Veteran Services, and was recently named Community Ambassador of the Year.
“I got a little teary-eyed a little bit, you know, knowing that this was for me,” Rob said.
FPL has been putting on the holiday program for 16 years as a way to give back to those who have given so much.
“Obviously, a lot of emotions for me,” FPL Community Relations Specialist Jennifer Huber said. “It’s just so meaningful. It’s almost like a hallmark movie.”
This year, Rob was one of eight Veterans all across Florida to receive the festive surprise.