828 Bail Bonds Honored with NABA’s First “Bail in Action Humanitarian Award”

When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina last September 2024, it left many of our communities without power, resources, and basic necessities. While many were sheltering in place, wondering what to do next, 828 Bail Bonds made a choice: pause our business, and prioritize our people.

We quietly shuttered most of our day-to-day operations so we could focus entirely on serving our community. Our owner, Michael Woody, wasted no time. He quickly assembled a team to help coordinate supply distribution across Western North Carolina. He purchased essential goods—everything from water and food to baby formula, medicine, fuel, and hygiene kits—and hit the road daily to deliver them personally to some of the hardest-hit areas. No news cameras. No headlines. Just one small group trying to reach the people others weren’t.

At the same time, our admin team never stopped working behind the scenes. Instead of promoting our services, we used our platforms to connect people with the help they needed. We posted real-time updates, created a dedicated Hurricane Helene Resource Page (view here), and shared hotline numbers, shelter info, road closures, and donation opportunities—doing everything we could to help guide people through the chaos.

We didn’t do it for attention. We did it because it was the right thing to do.

But to our surprise, our efforts caught the attention of someone far from the mountains of WNC—Michelle Esquenazi, President of the National Association of Bail Agents (NABA) and owner of Empire Bail Bonds in New York. She saw what we were doing and reached out personally, letting us know that what we stood for mattered.

Michelle and the NABA Board didn’t just send kind words—they took action, shipping warm blankets, gloves, and winter essentials directly to our region. And this year, at the national conference, they went a step further—awarding 828 Bail Bonds the first-ever “Bail in Action Humanitarian Award.” We accepted it with full hearts, not because we felt deserving, but because it represented something bigger: the power of showing up for your community when it matters most.

To be recognized on a national level by an organization we deeply respect—and by a woman who leads with both strength and heart—was an unforgettable moment for our entire team.

To say we were humbled would be an understatement.

We accepted the award not as a pat on the back, but as a symbol of what happens when bail agents show up—not just in courtrooms, but in crises. It was a moment that brought back every emotion from those intense weeks: the exhaustion, the heartbreak, the unity, the strength. It reminded us why we do what we do.

To NABA, and to our neighbors across Western North Carolina—thank you. This is the kind of work we’ll always show up for.

828 Bail Bonds is proud to be the first recipient of NABA’s Humanitarian Award.

It reflects the heart behind our hustle—and our promise to always show up.

828 Bail BondsYour 1st rate in the 828—through every storm.