Blog Post

IAVA and Lincoln Center Kick Off New Partnership
Posted by Christina Kim on July 13 2012

With summer in full swing, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families came together on July 12, 2012 for New York City’s hottest outdoor dance party -- Midsummer Night Swing!

The event kicked off a new creative partnership between IAVA and Lincoln Center, the world’s leading performing arts center. Lincoln Center is committed to supporting America’s New Greatest Generation and facilitating exposure to the performing arts and providing job opportunities via a fast-track program for open positions at the organization. More than 11,000 IAVA members in the New York City-area and veterans across the country will benefit from this partnership.

Lincoln Center President Reynold Levy, who is also the son of a World War II veteran, and IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff spoke about the positive impact of the arts and reinforced the message from a joint op-ed published in the New York Daily News: The arts can save veterans’ lives. 

Over 130 veterans and their guests attended the event and were treated to a VIP tent overlooking the dance floor and a catered BBQ dinner and open bar. Additionally, all vets received a special gift from Lincoln Center as a thank you for their service.

But the festivities didn’t end there. Vets and their guests also took to the dance floor to swing the night away as The Losers Lounge played hits from Michael Jackson, Prince, and much more. And even when the live music stopped, dancers donned wireless headphones while the DJs continued spinning during a “silent disco.”

As part of the partnership, Lincoln Center is also distributing tickets to IAVA member veterans and their families to various series at Lincoln Center. Earlier this spring, IAVA member veterans and their guests attended the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra’s performance at Avery Fisher Hall with a program featuring Webern, Schubert, and Brahms. Up next? IAVA member veterans and their guests will attend the Paris Opera Ballet’s performance of Giselle.

Get Involved

In just the last year, IAVA has connected hundreds of veterans with employers through innovative career fairs, helped over 10,000 veterans go to college on the New GI Bill, and provided mental health support to over 50,000 veterans—all at no cost to Member Veterans. Programs like these are only made possible through your generous support. Fight for those who fought for us and help us keep these resources and benefits completely free for new veterans and their families. DONATE >>

Not an IAVA member yet? What are you waiting for?! IAVA Member Veterans get access to exclusive career fairs, events and tickets. Join up today--membership is free and all you have to do is submit proof of OIF/OND/OEF status.

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