TJ Embree started Rockwall Cars and Coffee in April 2024 with a simple idea: fill a parking lot with cool cars and send every dollar raised to charity. Two years later, the free monthly gathering at Cavender Nissan of Rockwall has more than 30 sponsors and a rotating roster of nonprofit beneficiaries.

The Aug. 15 event sent 100% of its proceeds to Texas Valor Project, a nonprofit that funds brain-health treatment for veterans and first responders affected by traumatic brain injuries. The organization partners with Resiliency Brain Health to connect service members with care.

"It's a family event. 100% of everything we do goes to charity," Embree said in a profile published by The Rockwall Times. "We don't keep anything, we don't charge anything, and we don't pay ourselves. Everything you spend money on or support goes right back to the cause."

The meet draws vintage hot rods, modern sports cars and custom builds to the Cavender Nissan lot at 1700 E. I-30 Frontage Rd. from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. Vendors and food trucks line the lot. Admission is free because sponsors, including local fitness centers, home-service contractors and automotive shops, cover costs.

Brandon Pugh, a DFW-area car enthusiast who has owned a 1971 Chevrolet Camaro for 23 years, said he switched from the Plano event to Rockwall because he prefers the smaller size and community feel.

Each month's proceeds go to a different cause, but the group's core mission centers on disabled and homeless veterans and neglected or abused children. Cars and Coffee Rockwall also partners with Patriot PAWS, the Rockwall-based nonprofit that trains and provides service dogs to disabled veterans at no cost. Patriot PAWS, founded in 2006, marks its 20th anniversary this year.

Beyond the monthly meets, Embree has a longer-term vision: building a tiny-home community for homeless veterans.

How to show up next

The next Rockwall Cars and Coffee is Saturday, Sept. 19, at Cavender Nissan of Rockwall, 1700 E. I-30 Frontage Rd. The meet runs 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and is free to attend. Texas Valor Project's "Boots & Brains" gala is Saturday, Oct. 24, at Boyd Farm, 10350 State Hwy 205, Lavon.