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Bengals Giovani Bernard's loved ones donate HBO-famous minivan to veteran Marine

992 views · Published 14 August 2018 · 0:40 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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FORT MITCHELL, Ky. (WKRC) - You may recall the story of then-Bengals rookie Giovani Bernard being in need of a reliable ride after being signed by Cincinnati's NFL team in 2013. 

He ended up driving a minivan to practice, owned by the mother of his then-girlfriend (now fiancee), Chloe. It was an act of familial kindness that was featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" series. 

Now, that famous minivan is continuing its journey of kindness to help a veteran.

Bernard's fiancee's mother, Anita, recently bought a new vehicle from the Mercedes Benz of Fort Mitchell, and decided to ask the dealership if they knew of anyone who would be in need of her minivan, as she would like to donate it if so.

The dealership's marketing director, Dan Bell, heard her offer and realized that it could not have come at a better time. He thought of United States Marine Veteran Corporal Dustin Hoog, who had been severely injured in an ambush in Iraq, and Bell had just heard that morning that the 33-year-old veteran was in needed of dependable transportation for himself, his wife, and his five children. 

The man who told Bell about the Hoogs, Dan Tilley, has been helping the family maintain food supplies for several years. Tilley's son plays youth football with one of Hoogs' daughters.

“Anita was all in, notified Chloe and Giovani, and the team went to work,” said Bell.

 The vehicle was safety checked, serviced, and repairs were performed in a team effort supported by MBFM’s General Manager Don Paparella, and now corporate partner dealership, Jeff Wyler Honda of Colerain’s General Manager, Matt Brady

Tilly reached out to Hoog and his family, who were thrilled by the act of kindness. Anita, Chloe, and Bernard all wanted to be there to cheer on the family when they were presented the gift. Bernard even signed and presented mementos.

"It was amazing, just that entire experience," Bernard said on Wednesday prior to the team's afternoon practice. "And honestly, it wasn't all me, it was Anita, that really kind of put it forward. She's the one that was donating the vehicle. She loaned it to me years back, so it was pretty cool to have that experience and to see it go to a family in need was an awesome experience."

While driving a minivan isn't what most single, NFL players drive, Bernard said he actually loved it, although he now says he drives a Mercedes.

"Not as much storage room, but a little cooler," Bernard said of the Mercedes. "It doesn't have the automatic doors, though. The automatic doors were a really cool thing. It was honestly really cool. I know it's corny, but it was fun to be able to drive it around."

It wasn't only him driving the minivan on "Hard Knocks" that brought him notoriety, but also several posts on Instagram and Twitter from teammates about him driving it.

"Every single guy on the team probably ended up putting it on social media at the time," said Bernard. "I think it was the first day I was here and I drove it out. I was at the gate (when linebacker Vontaze Burfict took a picture and put it on Instagram)."

Bernard said he will actually miss the minivan.

"I was in that thing for a while, man," said Bernard. "The crazy thing is when (his fiancee and family) comes to the games here, that's the car that we usually take. It just fits the most people. So it was awesome. It was obviously hard to see it go, but it was fun to see it go to a family that needs it."

Said Bell: "By paying it forward, Anita, Chloe and Giovani, are making required weekly transportation to and from Cincinnati Veteran’s Hospital possible for a grateful veteran and his loving family."

Richard Skinner contributed to this story

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