Sinise Returns as Host, 2012 Got Heart, Give Hope® Gala

March 29, 2012 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, D.C., March 29, 2012 – On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, Hope For The Warriors® will honor combat wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen at the Got Heart, Give Hope® Gala at The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, D.C.  The black-tie event will feature television and movie actor Gary Sinise as the awards ceremony host.  Hope For The Warriors® expects more than 300 in attendance, including distinguished military, political and corporate leaders.

“Service members and military families demonstrate overwhelming courage and resiliency in the face of adversity,” Robin Kelleher, Hope For The Warriors® President said.  “The Gala celebrates and honors their courage as they deal with extraordinary challenges.”

Sinise is a member of the nonprofit’s advisory council and the founder of the recently established Gary Sinise Foundation.  Hope For The Warriors® is one of the foundation’s charity partners.  

Country singer James Wesley will be the musical guest for the evening.  Wesley is a GAC Top 20 Country Singer and just released a new single Walking Contradiction.  He has performed for Hope For The Warriors® in the past and is devoted to supporting service members and military families.

Lance Cpl. Ronnie Simpson, USMC (Ret.) will be the emcee for the evening’s events.  Simpson, a wounded service member, gained national attention in 2010 when he completed the Singlehanded TransPac, a sailing race from San Francisco Bay to Hanalei Bay, Kauai.  Simpson is competing the race again this year with Hope For The Warriors® as his Title Sponsor.

Hope For The Warriors® will honor the courage of each award recipient, focusing on the hope they inspire through their remarkable stories of recovery and achievement.  The Hope & Courage Awards will be presented to representatives from each branch of the military, family members of wounded and fallen, and an honor given posthumously to a parental caregiver. The military honorees are:

Chief Petty Officer Holly Crabtree, USN         
Lt. Col. Eric Holt, USAF
Staff Sgt. John Masters, USAR            
Capt. Lewis Larkin O’Hern III, USA
Marine Corps Honoree:  To Be Announced at Gala

Awards will also be presented to devoted family members of wounded and fallen military:

Noemy Hall, wife of Sgt. Richard Hall, USA
Shannon Hayes, wife of Master Sgt. John Hayes, USMC, KIA
Bob Smith, Father of Lance Cpl. Colin Smith, USMC (Ret.) – Awarded Posthumously

In addition to these Hope & Courage Award Honorees, Hope For The Warriors® will give a special recognition to another who served in Afghanistan.  Rufus was a stray dog, adopted by Sgt. Christopher Duke’s National Guard unit in Afghanistan.  Along with two other dogs, Rufus stopped a suicide bomber from entering Duke’s compound, saving the lives of many National Guardsman.  Through Hope For The Warriors® A Warrior’s Wish® Program Rufus and Duke were reunited in 2010.  Now, Rufus is a service dog and works with wounded service members.

The Got Heart, Give Hope® Gala is made possible through the support of several patriotic and generous corporations.  The Gary Sinise Foundation has committed to be the Cocktail Reception Sponsor.  Gold sponsors include Clark Construction, HBO®, L3 Communications and Raycom Media.  For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Andrea Bartlett (abartlett@hopeforthewarriors.org).

The mission of Hope For The Warriors® (www.hopeforthewarriors.org) is to enhance quality of life for U.S. service members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Hope For The Warriors® actively seeks to ensure that the sacrifices of wounded and fallen warriors and their families are never forgotten nor their needs unmet.

Hope For The Warriors® has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), an independent organization that evaluates fiscal responsibility and accountability of nonprofits.

Hope For The Warriors® (Federal Tax ID 20-5182295) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity as defined in sections 509(A)(1) and 170(B)(1)(A)(VI) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Combined Federal Campaign, CFC #27800.

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Hope For The Warriors® is a national nonprofit organization that assists combat wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen.