Ganassi shares impact of ‘Be the One’ on him during fundraiser event in Indy

In April of 2021, The American Legion teamed with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) to announce the launch of “Be the One,” an initiative to reduce veteran suicides through destigmatizing asking for mental health support. The initiative is featured prominently via branding on Ganassi’s car’s in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including the No. 10 American Legion Honda that Alex Palou will drive in this weekend’s GMR Grand Prix and then later this month in the Indianapolis 500.

Team owner Chip Ganassi said at the launch of the initiative that speaking with American Legion representatives really raised his awareness of how high the number of veteran suicides is, a figure estimated at around 17 per day.

But nothing impacted Ganassi as much as when he received a phone all earlier this spring from Dean Kessel, the Legion’s Chief Marketing Officer. While at the first race of the 2023 INDYCAR season, American Legion representatives were approached by an active-duty servicemember who said he had contemplated suicide, at one time having a weapon in his hand to do so. He was immediately connected with an American Legion service officer, was able to get appointments scheduled that he needed and also was connected with some Legionnaires.

“When Dean told me that news, it caught me off-guard. And when it hit me, I have to tell you that I was speechless,” Ganassi said May 11 at a Bourbon at the Ballpark fundraiser for “Be the One” put on by local veteran-owned business Hotel Tango Distillery and Indianapolis Indians Charities. “I was really, really pleased, like I’ve never before felt, with that kind of statement that (Kessel) said. And I realized then that the platform that we have to expose ‘Be the One’ is what did it. Without that platform, who knows where that young man would be today. 

“It’s a different experience … to be associated with The American Legion and everything they’re doing. I’m very, very proud to represent the Legion and very proud to hopefully be the one to save someone.”

The event, which took place in the ballpark’s Elements Financial Club, included appearances by Palou and fellow CGR driver Marcus Ericsson, who joined with Ganassi for a Q&A session moderated by INDYCAR Vice President of Communication Dave Furst. It was the Legion’s second in-person event with Hotel Tango Distillery, which this year brought in the Indianapolis Indians Charities.

Hotel Tango Distillery CEO and founder Travis Barnes, who did three tours as a Recon Marine – seeing combat in the initial surge in Iraq in 2003, as well as in Fallujah, Ramadi and Nasiriyah – was on hand for the event and explained his business wants to help the Legion with its initiative.

“It’s about destigmatizing the ability for guys to come out and say they’re struggling,” Barnes said. “I’ve been there. I’ve dealt with it. I came home from three tours. I know how hard it can be to ask for help. I think this program is really what guys need. I really think it will save lives. It’s that first step, to say, ‘I’m struggling, and I need help.’

“Any awareness we can bring to this is an opportunity to save a life. The more that we can project this out into the world, to veterans, so that they know it’s OK (to ask for help), the better. And that The American Legion is doing it is a huge deal, and I can’t say enough how proud I am to be a part of this program.”

Hotel Tango Distillery also is raising funds for the Legion another way, through sales of its Red, White & Bourbon. It’s the second year in a row for the promotion, which this year benefits “Be the One.”

“I’ve lost more guys I served with to suicide than I did in combat,” Barnes said. “So to partner with The American Legion in the ‘Be the One’ campaign is a huge deal for us.”

Kessel addressed attendees prior to the Q&A and shared what the mission of “Be the One” is. “(The American Legion’s) DNA is about solving the big problems that face veterans,” he said. “The biggest issue facing this generation of veterans is suicide. You being here today, you purchasing the tickets for this event helps us do a couple things.

“The biggest issue facing veterans to get help is asking for help. What we want to do is destigmatize veterans asking for help. We want to make sure these folks are comfortable coming forward, and we do that with events like this and with our relationship with Chip Ganassi and his racing team.”