Our History
Paddle 4 Troops started as a high school senior project. Josh Torres, the son of a Marine and an avid surfer, imagined a water event that would bring together the men and women serving at nearby Camp Lejeune with the Surf City community to build and foster the connection between these communities. A standup paddle board (SUP) event was established and the first event had less than 20 participants and raised approximately $2000. In those early years, funds raised at the event were given to Hope for the Warriors to assist military personnel and veterans in need.
As local community members of Surf City saw lives and families of service men and women impacted, the connection and support of the generous local community grew . As a result, the P4T SUP Race broadened and the fund-raising grew providing more opportunity to assist those in need.
In 2018, with a desire to share specific details with the local community of those they have helped, P4T established a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, created a Board, and developed a process to identify and support those military that have served locally. They have continued to grow and evolve into the organization it is today.
Our Team
Meet the team of people making it happen. All P4T board members serve as volunteers and donate their time, energy, and knowledge.
Dwight Torres
CEO & Co-Founder
Dwight Torres, was born in Santa Isabel Puerto Rico. He has lived in his hometown of Surf City North Carolina since 2004. He was elected to the city council in 2019 where he served for two years. Mr. Torres received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from Grantham University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Information Technology Management from American Military University.Mr. Torres served 24 years as a Chief Warrant in the United States Marine Corps and 11 years as a Senior Force Readiness Analyst for the Department of Defense. He is married to his High School sweetheart Ligia M. Torres, has two amazing sons, Dwight and Joshua Torres, and enjoys spending quality time with their grandson, Preston Torres.
Joshua Torres
President & Co-Founder
Born at the Naval Hospital in 1993, he experienced the hardships and challenges facing many military families. Seeing a need to bridge the gap between the community and those who served, he organized a SUP fundraiser – the very first “Paddle 4 Troops” event.
Susan Griffin
Treasurer
Raised in Southport, NC, Susan left briefly to work in Charleston and Hilton Head, SC. She made her way back to her roots to raise her family in Wilmington, NC. She and her husband, Stanley have enjoyed Surf City beaches for many years and moved to the island in 2017.
Lori Chaney-Hastings
Secretary
A former educator of more than 20 years, Lori now works as Director of Sales for a curriculum and assessment company out of MA. Having spent her summers in Coastal Carolina since 1966, she fulfilled her life-long dream of moving to the area when she and her husband, John, purchased a home in 2016. Passionate about giving back to her community, Lori has served on the Board of Paddle 4 Troops since 2017. In 2023, she was appointed to Pender County Tourism Board to represent Surf City.
Ian Morgan
Military Liaison
Ian has served in the US Marine Corps for over fifteen years. He has worked alongside P4T for the last 8 years as military ambassador and donor. He currently serves in the Camp Lejeune area.