Paralyzed Veterans' Americana Gala Honors Outstanding Leadership, SpotlightsImproving the Quality of Life for Veterans with DisabilitiesWASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Paralyzed Veterans of America(Paralyzed Veterans) will hold its annual Americana Gala, Wednesday, September16, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center inWashington, DC.
Gala mistress of ceremonies will be ABC News chief foreign correspondent, Martha Raddatz.Awardees include U.S. Representative Chet Edwards, former Deputy U.S.Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield, Invacare CEO Mal Mixon and theU.S. Paralympics.
Presenters include the U.S. National Security Advisor,General James Jones, and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland."Imagine an America where paralyzed veterans and their families haveeverything they need to thrive.
Through their leadership, the people andbusinesses we honor at the Gala are helping Paralyzed Veterans make thisvision a reality," said Paralyzed Veterans' National President Randy L. Pleva,Sr.
The inspirational annual fundraising event both honors extraordinary leaderswho work hard 24/7 to help our nation's paralyzed veterans and their familiesand highlights the vital role that Paralyzed Veterans' programs have inimproving 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 peoplewith disabilities -- with 12,000 new spinal cord injuries reported annually.
Paralyzed Veterans works around the clock to create an America where veteransbenefits and health care are fully funded; where everywhere is barrier freefor everyone; where wheelchair sports are mainstream; and where our scientificcommunity is amply funded to strive for new treatments and cures.
This year's honorees are: Outstanding Service to Veterans Award The Honorable Gordon H. Mansfield Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Access Through Architecture Award, American Institute of Architecture Students, Sports and Recreation Award, The U.S. Paralympics Congressional Award, The Honorable Chet Edwards, U.S. House of Representatives Corporate Leadership Award, Mal Mixon, CEO Invacare, Invacare Corporation.
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 toa world with few solutions to the challenges they faced.
They made a decisionnot just to live, but to live with dignity as contributors to society. Theycreated Paralyzed Veterans, dedicated to veterans service, medical research,and civil rights for people with disabilities,and for more than 63 years,Paralyzed Veterans and our 34 chapters have been working to create an America where all veterans and people with disabilities, and their families, haveeverything they need to thrive. We represent thousands of veterans in all 50states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America, a501(c)(3) nonprofit, congressionally chartered veterans service organization.To learn more about our work, go to www.pva.org.SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America
