Paralyzed Veterans' Americana Gala Honors Outstanding Leadership
Spotlights Those Who Are Improving the Quality of Life for Veterans with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) will hold its annual Americana Gala Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.
Awardees include: the Commonwealth of Virginia (receiving the award for the Commonwealth will be the Hon. Paul E. Galanti, its Commissioner of Veterans Services); Dean Kamen, founder of DEKA Research and Development; The U.S. Department of Defense; and ABC Television's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (receiving the award on behalf of the show will be Paul DiMeo). The 2010 gala chair is the Hon. Anthony J. Principi, executive chairman, QTC Management, Inc.; former U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs.
This year's gala will introduce "Mission: ABLE," the newest Paralyzed Veterans' initiative to empower veterans. For more information, go to http://www.mission-able.com/.
"Paralyzed Veterans of America changes lives and builds brighter futures for those who have worn the uniform and have sacrificed. Through Mission: ABLE, we aim to enlist all Americans to help our paralyzed heroes fully live the lives they deserve and to receive what they need most: care, benefits and jobs," said Paralyzed Veterans' National President Bill Lawson.
Paralyzed Veterans' Americana Gala is an inspirational annual fundraising event. It both honors extraordinary leaders, who help our nation's paralyzed veterans and their families, and highlights the vital role that Paralyzed Veterans of America programs have in improving the quality of life for veterans with disabilities. More than 300 guests are expected to attend this year's gala.
Our great nation is home to 25 million brave veterans and 54 million people with disabilities—with 12,000 new spinal cord injuries reported annually. Paralyzed Veterans works around the clock to create an America where veterans benefits and health care are fully funded; where everywhere is barrier free for everyone; where wheelchair sports are mainstream; and where our scientific community is amply funded to strive for new treatments and cures.
This year's honorees are: |
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The Employable Award |
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The Commonwealth of Virginia, for leadership in providing employment opportunities for veterans with disabilities |
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The Achievable Award |
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Dean Kamen, founder of DEKA Research and Development, for innovation in prosthetic and medical device technology that improves quality of life for veterans with disabilities |
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The Unstoppable Award |
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The U.S. Department of Defense, for leadership and support of Paralyzed Veterans of America Sports and Recreation Programs for veterans with disabilities |
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The Accessible Award |
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ABC Television & Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for providing innovation in creating accessible living environments for veterans with disabilities |
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Paralyzed Veterans was founded by a band of spinal cord injured service members who returned home from World War II to a grateful nation, but also to a world with few solutions to the challenges they faced. They made a decision not just to live, but to live with dignity as contributors to society. They created Paralyzed Veterans, dedicated to veterans service, medical research, and civil rights for people with disabilities. And for more than 64 years, Paralyzed Veterans and our 34 chapters have been working to create an America where all veterans and all people with disabilities, and their families, have everything they need to thrive. We represent thousands of veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Proceeds from the gala will benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, congressionally chartered veterans service organization. To learn more about our work, go to www.pva.org.
SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America
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