Inspired by the name and mission of his tour, award-winning entertainer Blake Shelton made it his goal to identify a special community member on each stop of the Friends And Heroes 2021 run. As he prepares to take the stage at the Ford Center on September 10, Shelton is celebrating local “hero” Joe Gries.

Shelton, with assistance of the Ford Center, chose Joe Gries based on his tremendous asset to the community, especially through the COVID-19 Pandemic. As the Administrator of the Vanderburgh County Health Department, Joe has always been a wonderful leader and director to the community. In addition, throughout the past two years he has taken on coordinating all Covid-19 testing, vaccinations, supply distribution and coordination with the hospital partners for Vanderburgh County. Joe Gries will receive a prize pack that includes front row tickets for Blake Shelton’s Friends And Heroes 2021 tour date at the Ford Center on September 10th.