Ravens Coach Headlines The COMMIT Foundation Gala

BALTIMORE, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Coach John Harbaugh, Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens, gave an animated and entertaining speech about his troop visits with Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno on Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd at the American Visionary Arts Museum.  CBS reporter Jessica Kartalija emceed the black tie event, which drew 300 guests from across the nation to support The COMMIT Foundation's cause of assisting veterans in transition from the battlefield to their next mission out of uniform.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake enjoyed the pre-dinner cocktail hour with a host of leaders from General Dynamics C4 Systems, Robert Half, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Reliable-Churchill, JP Morgan, Whiteford Taylor Preston, Goldman Sachs, Cassidy Turley and Oxpoint Holdings.

The event kicked off with a video produced by Jess Atkinson and 3Penny Films that featured the Foundation's Co-Executive Directors Anne Meree Craig and Matt Eversmann, as well as Brad Snyder, the first veteran served by The COMMIT Foundation after its official formation.

Snyder, Retired Navy Lieutenant, was given the first COMMIT Foundation award for changing the narrative in his successful move from active duty to civilian life.  The gold medalist from the 2012 London Paralympics credited COMMIT co-founders Ms. Craig and Guy Filippelli as instrumental in his transition from a wounded EOD officer to a civilian.

Sebastian Maniscalco performed his stand up routine to the delight of all the guests. The Los Angeles comedian gave a hilarious skit about his infatuation with Navy SEALs with some great audience participation.  Those in uniform and out of uniform enjoyed an hour of laughter to finish the fund raising event.

"These men and women have sacrificed so much for every single one of us, we are obligated to give back to them," said Mr. Eversmann, a veteran of battles in Somalia and Iraq.  "We had 300 leaders here on Saturday night, all ready and willing to do just that.  I am excited for the future and know that the COMMIT Foundation will positively change the lives of our heroes."

The COMMIT Foundation
The two-year-old COMMIT Foundation is fundamentally changing the way Veterans and America think about military transition.  Through mentoring workshops, one on one transition assistance, and corporate education, the foundation is preparing Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines to succeed on their next mission.

For more information please visit www.commitfoundation.org or follow them on Facebook and Twitter @COMMIT2vets

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140303/DC75779

SOURCE The COMMIT Foundation