Actress and Advocate Minka Kelly, National Veterans Foundation Founder Floyd “Shad” Meshad Honored at Star-Studded Event for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

MEDIA ADVISORY

Friday, April 27th, 2012
CONTACT: Michelle McCarthy, (212) 982-9699 or michelle@iava.org

Follow IAVA on Twitter.com/IAVAPressRoom

Actress and Advocate Minka Kelly, National Veterans Foundation Founder Floyd “Shad” Meshad Honored at Star-Studded Event for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Special Performance by Robert Gupta, Los Angeles Philharmonic; TriWest Healthcare Alliance Signature Sponsor

WHAT: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will host its Fourth Annual Heroes Celebration in Los Angeles. This inspiring, star-studded event will bring together distinguished members of the veterans, media, sports, politics and entertainment communities. Active-duty service members, veterans and wounded warriors from the LA area will be in attendance.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 1st, 7:00 PM-9:30PM PST. Media are invited to attend for photos and interviews from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM. Media must RSVP in advance to Michelle McCarthy, michelle@iava.org.

WHERE: The Penthouse at AT&T Center, 1150 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

WHO: IAVA will honor the work and service of Floyd “Shad” Meshad, Vietnam Veteran, President and Founder of the National Veterans Foundation, with the inaugural Community Leadership Award for his extensive efforts to support veterans’ transition and mental health programs in the Los Angeles community and nationwide. For distinguished support of our active-duty military and her travels to Afghanistan and the Middle East with the USO, IAVA will also honor Actress and Advocate Minka Kelly with the 2012 Leadership in Entertainment Award.  Robert Gupta, First Violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will perform. Special guest, Bill Cowher, legendary Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and CBS football analyst, will participate. TriWest Healthcare Alliance will serve as Signature Sponsor for the evening along with Microsoft, Western Asset Management, CNN, Health Net, HBO, Operation Mend-UCLA and more.

For a full listing of the Hosts, Sponsors and other information surrounding the evening’s events, please visit http://www.IAVA.org/HeroesCelebration.

If you are a member of the media who wishes to cover IAVA’s Fourth Annual Heroes Celebration or arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or another IAVA Member Veteran in the LA area, please contact Michelle McCarthy (212) 982-9699 or michelle@iava.org.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 200,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide. Its mission is to improve the lives of this country's newest generation of veterans and their families.

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