Admiral Winnefeld to be Guest Speaker at Annual Gala

May 9, 2012 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 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.  Admiral James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be the guest speaker for the Gala and Awards Event.  Hope For The Warriors® expects more than 350 in attendance, including distinguished military, political and corporate leaders.

Winnefeld serves as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer.  

“Hope For The Warriors® is honored that Admiral Winnefeld is our guest speaker at the Got Heart, Give Hope® Gala,” said Kelleher.  “His presence demonstrates a dedication by senior military to our wounded and to our military families.”

Guests include many active duty and retired military generals as well as members of Congress.  For a list of VIP attendees, visit:  www.gotheartgivehope.org.   Congressman Allen West, representative for the 22nd District of Florida attended last year’s Gala.

“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.”

The black-tie event will feature television and movie actor Gary Sinise as the awards ceremony host.  Sinise is a member of the nonprofit’s advisory council and the founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation.  Hope For The Warriors® is one of the foundation’s charity partners.

“The Got Heart, Give Hope® Gala celebrates the extraordinary strength in character of our Armed Forces,” Congressman Allen West said.  “As a soldier who served 22 years in the Army, I am inspired by the courage of each of these honorees and of all of our military families.”

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.

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 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.  

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.