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PenFed Foundation to Acclaim 'Heroes at Home' at Night of Heroes Gala
[May 17, 2012]

PenFed Foundation to Acclaim 'Heroes at Home' at Night of Heroes Gala


May 16, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation, an organization working to meet the unmet needs of military personnel and their families, announced the lineup of special guests who will attend this year's black-tie Eighth Annual Night of Heroes Gala on Thursday, May 24, in Washington, D.C., honoring family and friends of deployed service members and caregivers of wounded military veterans.



"The caliber of this year's guests really speaks to the importance that all of us place on the role of family and friends in supporting all military members while they are deployed and helping wounded veterans recover," said Christopher Flynn, president and chief executive officer of the PenFed Foundation. "We don't always remember to recognize the heroes at home for their quiet sacrifices. But we hope the gala will remind us all to take the time." According to a release, notable guests attending this year's gala include keynote speaker Dr. Ashton B. Carter, deputy secretary of Defense; General (Ret) Barry McCaffrey; NBC Chief Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski; actor, producer and writer Joe Mantegna; and Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler. This year, the event will recognize the "heroes at home," the family and friends of deployed service members and caregivers of wounded military veterans.

Dr. Carter will give the keynote speech, General (Ret) McCaffrey will present the awards and Miklaszewski will serve as the master of ceremonies. Mantegna will receive the American Hero Award and the Defense Credit Union Council and other credit union partners of the PenFed Foundation will receive the Community Hero Award. Dahlia Constantine, who cared for your husband after he sustained a severe injury to the face while serving in Iraq, will receive the Hero at Home Award. Constantine was chosen by the public through the foundation's Hero at Home Video Contest earlier this year.


Foundation officials said that along with members of the community and supporters of the foundation, several caregivers chosen as finalists in the video contest will attend. All proceeds from the gala will go toward supporting the foundation's programs providing military personnel and their families with emergency financial assistance, home ownership aid and alternatives to predatory lending, in addition to supporting the new Defenders Lodge. And because PenFed (Pentagon Federal Credit Union) covers all labor expenses for the foundation, every dollar donated goes directly to supporting its programs. The gala will begin at 6 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 24. The online auction, which is part of the gala, will run through May 24.

Sponsors of this year's Night of Heroes Gala include event underwriter PSCU; corporate circle of honor sponsors SAIC and The Niner Foundation; and legendary hero sponsors Alliant Techsystems, Inc., Allied Solutions, Humana Military Healthcare Services and ServiceLink.

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