HAGERSTOWN – The United Way of Washington County has received a $20,000 contribution from Hagerstown native and World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar, L.A. Knight, whose real name is Shaun Ricker. Ricker recently was given a key to the city of Hagerstown.
This donation will immediately help the United Way support the community’s most vulnerable members, particularly the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed).
Additionally, this funding will help United Way’s partner organizations that provide food security programs for children and support a local pet food bank program, United Way officials said.
“I was truly honored to receive the key to the city. Now, it’s my turn to give back to the community that has given me so much,” Ricker said. “I decided to make this investment because I trust United Way to allocate these funds where they are most needed. I hope that this contribution inspires others to consider how they can support our local neighbors in their own unique ways.”
The $20,000 investment in Washington County will be distributed among several key impact areas, including an ALICE urgent needs fund, a weekend food security program serving over 1,200 children and a pet food program ensuring owners do not have to surrender their pets due to an inability to feed them. Washington County’s ALICE population fluctuates between 41% and 43% annually.
“We are truly touched by Shaun’s remarkable generosity, his dedication to the community and the trust he has placed in us to allocate his donations to the most urgent needs affecting his hometown,” said Heather H. Guessford, president and CEO of the United Way of Washington County.
While in Washington County, Ricker presented United Way with a generous donation of WWE L.A. Knight licensed action figure toys to the organization’s annual Holiday Giving Tree program, which supports local ALICE families. That donation helped six families during the holidays.
