Hal Hargrave Jr

Founder & President

Hal Jr was injured in an auto accident on July 26, 2007, which left him paralyzed from the neck down and as a quadriplegic.

Hal Junior spent over 70 days in acute care and rehabilitation hospital. The doctors said there was a 1-3% chance that he would ever walk again. Despite this news, Hal’s emotional and mental outlook was strong.  This was due to one single line of thinking Hal carried with him that made the future feel brighter – he could still “be perfect”. Inspired by the movie Friday Night Lights, the idea was that if you could look the people you love in the eye and tell them that you did absolutely everything you could – gave every ounce you had – then it didn’t matter whether you won or lost. Hal realized that he could “Be Perfect” whether or not he ever walked another day in his life.

In Hal's terms: Be Perfect meant getting the most out of himself each and every day.

The Be Perfect Foundation has remained Hal's passion ever since the idea came about in 2007. As a founding member of The Be Perfect Foundation, Hal wakes up every day with an intent to want to make a difference in the field of paralysis recovery.

Hal Jr's day-to-day involvement with the foundation resides in decision-making, community relations, client outreach, event coordinating and planning, and marketing.

In his own words: “When my accident happened, I quickly recognized that my accident affected not just me, but my entire family and those around me. Fortunately, I have incredible family of a wife, parents, brothers and sisters and extended family who have never left my side. Additionally, the community has rallied around the and when those steps away, others stepped up. The Be Perfect Foundation has been the biggest blessing (aside from my injury, my wife and my family) that has ever happened to me. It has given me newfound perspective, newfound purpose, and a reason to get up every morning and be proud of who I am and what I'm doing. However, I understand that the only way that this is possible is through a supportive family, a supportive community, support of donors, support of board members and volunteers, and namely grateful individuals who the foundation supports. The unfortunate part in all of this is knowing that people continue to have terrible diagnosis, terrible injuries and terrible stories to tell. However, the fortunate part is knowing that the foundation is there to make a difference. I know that I'm nothing without each and every one of you supporters and donors, namely the team that is listed here on this page. I owe it all to them.”