(left to right): 14th Annual The Got Heart Give Hope Awards Ceremony award winners, U.S. Army veteran and former NFL player Alejandro Villanueva (keynote speaker), Alex Corbacho (Paine Schwartz Partners), Brian Snead (Frito Lay), Sean Passmore (Wells Fargo), Robin Kelleher (Hope For The Warriors), U.S. Army Veteran Gabi Cha, U.S. Marine Gunny Sgt. Amanda Eason, U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Kevin Bittenbender, Kirby (canine), Brittnay McCall and Emily Compagno of FOX News (host).
SPRINGFIELD, Va. (October 18, 2024) –Hope For The Warriors recently hosted its 14th Annual Got Heart Give Hope Awards Ceremony at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.
The Got Heart Give Hope Awards Ceremony honored three members of our nation’s armed forces and their families with the Vigiano Hope and Courage Awards. Named in honor of the Vigiano family, who lost both of their sons in the September 11th attacks, the Hope and Courage Awards are presented to service members and military family members who have demonstrated both hope and courage in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
In addition, Hope For The Warriors also honored three individuals, corporations, organizations and one canine who have stood beside the organization in serving military families.
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors assists veterans, service members and military families by providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community.
“This was such a special night for all that were in attendance of the Got Heart Give Hope Awards Ceremony,” said Robin Kelleher, founder and CEO of Hope For The Warriors. “The individuals, corporations and canine that were honored at the ceremony are all making a difference in the lives of military families across the country. Whether it’s with service through volunteerism, passion, sharing hope, funds, etc. their impact is changing the lives of the military families that we serve and we’re eternally grateful for their unique contribution.”
Emceeing the event was Emily Compagno of FOX News and delivering the keynote speech was U.S. Army veteran and former NFL player Alejandro Villanueva.
Demonstrating exceptional acts of courage and service and who embody the essence of hope, this year’s Vigiano Family Hope & Courage Award honorees included:
U.S. Marine Gunny Sgt. Amanda Eason was honored for her service and as a Team Hope For The Warriors athlete who continues to showcase her honor, courage, leadership and commitment to our nation and her fellow service members. Eason enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008 and graduated from boot camp at Parris Island in January 2009. She served as a Motor Transport Operator with Combat Logistics Battalions 2 and 6, deploying to Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2010 where she earned a Combat Action Ribbon and a Purple Heart. Eason’s awards include the Purple Heart, three Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and five Good Conduct Medals.
Her relationship with Hope For The Warriors began in 2011, when she sought refuge in the therapeutic benefits of running. Through her 16 years of service, she has suffered permanent vision loss, a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and nerve damage down the right side of her face. Team HOPE became a vital part of Eason’s healing journey, providing a supportive community that allows her to take on the challenges of endurance running. For Amanda, running is more than a physical activity; it provides escape, therapy, and freedom.
Eason and her husband, Geoffrey, reside in San Degeo, California with their daughter, Elizabeth.
U.S. Army Veteran Gabi Cha was recognized for her service and as a Team Hope For The Warriors athlete who continues to showcase her honor, courage, leadership and commitment to our nation and her fellow veterans. Cha was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. when she was 9 and grew up in Stockbridge, Georgia. She joined the U.S. Army as a combat medic at 18, serving at Ft. Benning and deploying to Iraq, Egypt, and Kuwait.
During her Iraq deployment Cha was injured by an IED explosion in Baghdad and underwent multiple surgeries. She made a full recovery within two and a half years stateside. In 2019, Cha experienced complications and muscular issues while working as a drill sergeant. She noticed she was having paralysis symptoms in her legs and went to the emergency department where they discovered she still had tiny fragments of shrapnel remaining. Cha endured three more surgeries where complications left her partially paralyzed.
During her recovery, she began adaptive sports, competing in the Warrior Games, Invictus Games, and Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. Cha’s relationship with Hope For The Warriors began as she was transitioning out of the military in 2020. She has participated with Team HOPE, competing in endurance events with other veterans and has found support, community, and purpose through HOPE’s peer-to-peer mentorship program.
Cha now lives in Houston working for a custom wheelchair company to design personalized wheelchairs that enhance independence.
Military advocate Brittnay McCall was honored for her journey as a Gold Star spouse and her full-time work as a survivor outreach service coordinator who supports families of the fallen. In addition to advocating for military families through her volunteer roles with Hope For The Warriors, The Fallen 15, Gold Star chair for Warrior Weekend to Remember, and co-chair of the Columbus Ohio Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee.
After losing her husband, U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel McCall, in 2007 while he was serving in Iraq, McCall channeled her grief into helping others and now works to provide support and resources to families in similar situations.
Her relationship with Hope For The Warriors began in the spring of 2023 when she was awarded HOPE’s Restoring Family Scholarship, granted to spouses of the fallen.
McCall resides in Hillard, Ohio with her fiancé Michael, their children Eliana and Ayden, and their dog. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University and plans to pursue a master’s in social work.
The following individuals, corporations, organizations and canine have stood beside Hope For The Warriors from inception and continue to serve military families. This year’s Partners in Mission recipients included:
Wells Fargo’s Sean Passmore received the Harry Bridgwood Lifetime Service Award which is awarded to a veteran who has committed his or her life to serving the next generations of the military community. Passmore oversees military and veteran initiatives at Wells Fargo, including housing affordability, financial wellness, small business support, and career transition programs. He manages relationships with military and veteran-serving organizations and directs military talent sourcing and marketing strategies.
A retired U.S. Army officer with over 22 years of service, Passmore previously held leadership roles at Perfect Technician Academy and USAA, focusing on military engagement and veteran recruitment. He served as a senior Presidential Communications Officer in the White House Communications Agency, supporting the President and leading teams supporting Presidential events around the world.
On behalf of Frito-Lay, Brian Snead accepted the Chairman’s Award for Corporate Citizenship, which is awarded to a group that highlights the benefits of veterans in the workplace and leads by example in enriching the lives of military families. Since 2011, Frito-Lay and Snead have partnered with Hope For The Warriors. Snead is actively involved in the Hope For The Warriors Invitational, food distribution events, and a member of the HOPE scholarship committee. With 35 years at Frito-Lay, Snead and his wife Linda are based in Richmond, Virginia, and have four sons and five grandchildren.
Paine Schwartz Partners was named a recipient of the Gary Sinise Community Service Award, which is presented to an individual or organization which puts their patriotism in action to serve military families and raise awareness of the needs of the military community. Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP) are global leaders in sustainable food & agriculture investing – with a mission to feed a growing global population, healthier food, more sustainably.
Since 2022, Paine Schwartz Partners has hosted its No Obstacles: A Race For the Warriors Race on Governor’s Island in New York City supporting Hope For The Warriors. In just three years, the annual event has raised over $2.5 million with support from over 40 corporate partners.
Kirby the canine was presented the inaugural Hope For The Warriors Kirby Distinguished Service Paw Award. Named in honor of Kirby, this award highlights the extraordinary contributions of service dogs whose steadfast companionship and support serve as a beacon of hope and healing for those who have bravely served our nation.
Kirby is a service dog trained by America’s Vet Dogs with sponsorship from the Houston Texans and Kroger. Recognized as the MVP of the 2022 Puppy Bowl, Kirby underwent socialization and basic training at the Texans’ stadium.
In December of 2022, he was introduced to retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Kevin Bittenbender. Kirby is trained to assist with mobility, PTSD, and various tasks including retrieval of items, wheelchair assistance, and anxiety decompression. His presence has enhanced Bittenbender’s daily life and ability to participate in many different activities. This includes joining Bittenbender along various points on the course, as he ran the full Pittsburgh Marathon 444 days after his lower leg amputation. Kirby was also patiently waiting for Bittenbender as he crossed rainy finish line.
For more information on the 14th Annual Got Heart Give Hope Awards Ceremony, visit hopeforthewarriors.org.
ABOUT HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS:
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 171,000 service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers through 10 programs/services focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. This includes The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors providing confidential, high-quality mental health care services. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.
About Got Heart Give Hope Gala
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. The Vigiano family has continued to serve by supporting service members and military families. In celebration of the event’s 10th year, six new awards were introduced highlighting individuals, corporations and organizations who have stood beside the organization in serving military families.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin McCloskey – Hope For The Warriors
Hope For The Warriors
erin@etmccloskey.com
(336) 207-5222
