Five veterans and military family members to be recognized for their demonstration of hope, receive the Vigiano Family Hope and Courage Award
ARLINGTON, Va. (September 28, 2017) – Hope For The Warriors hosted their eighth annual gala event, the Got Heart Give Hope Gala on Wednesday evening at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va. Featuring the theme “Faces of Hope,” the gala represented the lives of the veterans, service members, military families, families of the fallen and caregivers that Hope For The Warriors’ programs impact daily. The event celebrated the many ways that the military families find restoration, while highlighting the countless programs offered by Hope For The Warriors that address the wellbeing of the entire family–including transition services, clinical health and wellness, and sports and recreation. To honor the diverse faces of hope, the evening also featured the annual Hope and Courage Awards, where five individuals, including military heroes, caregivers and Gold Star families, were recognized for their embodiment of the essence of self, family and hope.
“The 2017 Vigiano Family Hope & Courage Award Honorees represent the courage and successes of our service members and military families,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and CEO for Hope For The Warriors. “These recipients symbolize hope and courage in our communities and across our nation, they are true American heroes. It was our honor to present them with these awards and highlight their service and sacrifices and hopefully inspire others.”
Since 2010, the Hope and Courage Awards have been presented to service members and military family members who have demonstrated both hope and courage in the face of extraordinary circumstances. Named in honor of the Vigiano family, Captain John Vigiano, Sr., retired FDNY, and his wife, Jan, gave both of their sons on 9/11-one served as a fire fighter and the other served as a police officer in New York City. Sharing their own unique face of hope since the 9/11 tragedy, the Vigiano family has continued to serve by supporting service members and military families.
The 2017 Vigiano Family Hope and Courage Award recipients.
Left to right: Robin Kelleher, President and CEO of Hope For The Warriors, Hope Linder, Mario Alcala, Cindy Roberts, Bob Roberts, Dana Abudayeh, Gabby Mack and keynote speaker General Robert B. “Abe” Abrams
This year’s award recipients included:
Dana Abudayeh, a military caregiver and United States Marine Corps (USMC) veteran from Jacksonville, N.C., was recognized for her role as a veteran, caregiver, wife, mother, and volunteer with Hope For The Warriors. Click here to learn more about her story.
Mario Alcala, a USMC veteran from Carrollton, Texas, was recognized for his role as a veteran and volunteer with Hope For The Warriors. Click here to learn more about his story.
Hope Linder, a United States Army (USA) veteran from Phoenix, Ariz., was recognized for her journey as a veteran and the work she does as a volunteer of Hope For The Warriors. Click here to learn more about her story.
Gabby Mack, a USA veteran from Griffin, Ga., was recognized for her journey as a veteran and the positive impact she continues to have on her community. Click here to learn more about her story.
Bob and Cindy Roberts, the proud Gold Star parents of SGT Kristie Roberts from Queensbury, N.Y., were recognized for the work they do in honor of their fallen daughter to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Click here to learn more about their story.
About Hope For The Warriors:
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for post 9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served more than 13,000 through a variety of support programs focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement and connections to community resources. The nonprofit’s first program, A Warrior’s Wish, has granted 165 wishes to fulfill a desire for a better quality of life or support a quest for gratifying endeavors. In addition, Run For The Warriors has captured the hearts of more than 22,000 since 2010. For more information, visit HopeForTheWarriors.org,
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.