Proud to be a member of the America Supports
You Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2005
Contact: Lisa Frederick, USO-Metro
(703) 696-3278
Lisa.Frederick@fmmc.army.mil
USO of Metropolitan Washington Salutes Military Hospitals, Philanthropists, and Celebrities at the USO-Metro Annual Awards Dinner
Arlington, VA, April 6, 2005-The USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro)
hosted their 23rd Annual Awards Dinner last night at the Ritz-Carlton
in Pentagon City. The entire evening was devoted to honoring outstanding
individuals for their public service, philanthropic contributions,
and volunteer efforts to improve the quality of life for service members
and their families. More than 600 senior military, civil, and industry
leaders attended the event. Special guests at this star-studded event
included Wynonna Judd, Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs, Connie Stevens,
America’s Beloved Tenor Daniel Rodriguez, "Doonesbury" cartoonist
Garry Trudeau and his wife, Jane Pauley, Senator George Allen (R-VA),
and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers.
The evening officially began when America’s Beloved Tenor Daniel Rodriguez sang a stirring a cappella rendition of the National Anthem. Over the course of the evening, Mr. Rodriguez also performed a beautiful version of "God Bless America" for a very impressed crowd and sang "American Hymn," a song that is featured on his new album, scheduled to come out this spring.
This annual event was a tremendous success again this year; USO-Metro raised over $400,000 in one evening! The funds raised from the event will be used to support and enhance USO-Metro’s many programs and services, including organizing celebrity visits with wounded patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda. USO-Metro works very closely with these medical centers to provide entertainment, services, and support for service members injured in the war on terror. In this capacity, USO-Metro has had the opportunity to witness firsthand the remarkable dedication of the doctors, nurses, administrators, and staff at the medical centers. The Awards Dinner featured a special salute to the staff at Walter Reed and Bethesda for their outstanding and selfless service to our men and women in uniform. When recognizing the medical centers, Elaine Rogers, President of USO-Metro, remarked, "The staff at Walter Reed and Bethesda has made an outstanding contribution to the lives of our brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country." On behalf of USO-Metro, General and Mrs. Richard Myers presented a framed print of Thomas Kinkade’s "Heading Home" to each of the hospitals in recognition of the work they do for our service members.
Actress and philanthropist Connie Stevens paid a special tribute on behalf of the USO to the "Legacy of Hope." Miss Stevens is a long-time supporter of the USO. She performed with Bob Hope on USO tours overseas and has recently visited troops at Walter Reed and Bethesda. Miss Stevens presented a heartfelt salute to the many celebrities who have followed in the footsteps of Bob Hope by volunteering with the USO. Stars like Tom Hanks, Cher, Norah Jones, and Dennis Miller have recently donated their time and talent to the USO and to our troops.
During one of the evening’s highlights, legendary Country music singer/songwriter Wynonna Judd received the USO of Metropolitan Washington Merit Award for using her celebrity status to give back to the community and to the military. In addition to raising funds and donating her time to multiple charitable organizations, Wynonna is a fervent supporter of the military. She has visited wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda multiple times, and performed a special concert at the Pentagon for service members in May of 2004. Speaking about her visits to Walter Reed and Bethesda, Ms. Judd stated, "Every time I visit, I feel like these young men and women have given something to me." Elaine Rogers, President of USO-Metro, remarked, "The USO is truly honored to call Wynonna one of our strongest and most passionate supporters."
The 2005 C. Haskell Small Award for Volunteerism was awarded to Petty Officer Adam Brown of the U.S. Coast Guard. Senator George Allen (R-VA) presented the award, along with a $1000 savings bond. PO Brown has participated in multiple service projects with the Partnership in Education Straight Talk Mentoring Program, Young Soldiers for Christ, community and Coast Guard sports activities, to name just a few. He has consistently exhibited a passion for community involvement and is an outstanding example of selfless volunteer service. When thanking USO-Metro for the award, PO Brown remarked, "If I can help one, ten, 100, 1,000, or a million children to do something positive in their lives, maybe that will turn into something positive for our country." USO-Metro is honored to have had the opportunity to recognize those who serve our service members through their involvement in charitable organizations, in our communities, and in our military.
The USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to "serving those who serve... and their families" from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland to Richmond, Virginia. On a daily basis, USO-Metro provides vital human services and programs free of charge to the military community to enhance their quality of life. For more information, visit www.usometrodc.org.
Contact: Lisa Frederick, USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro)
703-696-3278, lisa.frederick@fmmc.army.mil
