Hollywood Gathers to Honor Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 27th, 2009

Hollywood Gathers to Honor Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

NEW YORK - Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, announced that it will host a Heroes Celebration in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 30th at 7pm to salute our newest generation of veterans and honor IAVA's recent successes. Hosted by Actor Cameron Diaz, Writer, Producer and WWII Veteran Norman Lear and CAA agent Nick Styne, this inspiring star-studded reception will bring together Hollywood supporters and local veterans to raise awareness of the unique challenges facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

"Hollywood is really stepping up to support Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.  IAVA is honored to have the support and leadership of Cameron Diaz, Norman Lear, Nick Styne and their friends in the media and entertainment industries. Their support could not come at a more critical time for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. As we welcome a new surge of veterans home, all Americans must do their part to support them and their families as they return," said IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff."

The Los Angeles Heroes Celebration will mark the official launch of the friends and family element of IAVA's national Veteran Support Campaign in partnership with the Ad Council.  Launched on Veterans Day 2008, the first series of iconic public service announcements (PSAs) reaches out to our newest veterans directly and encourages them to visit www.CommunityOfVeterans.org, a social network exclusively for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans where they can access critical resources and connect with one another in private forums.

The powerful new PSA unveiled on April 30th will similarly empower the friends and family of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans by giving them the tools and resources to help veterans transition to civilian life. The emotional TV ad shows a series of "welcome home" signs hanging from highway overpasses that, instead of merely welcoming a returning veteran, convey the difficulty of engaging a friend or family member who has recently returned home. The signs highlight the careful balancing act friends and family members often go through trying to reach out to a veteran without asking intrusive or unsettling questions. The ad directs friends and family members to a new complementary website, www.SupportYourVet.org.  At that site, friends and family members can access conversation tips, find critical mental health resources and information about navigating the VA, and connect with other families struggling with the same issues.   IAVA will also unveil powerful new radio, online and print ads that will round out the "SupportYourVet.org" Campaign.

"IAVA is thrilled to continue the momentum of the historic Veterans Support Campaign with the world premiere of 'Signs.'  With these new PSAs, we are engaging and supporting the friends and family of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in a huge way. We must never forget about the important role these folks play in supporting their men and women in uniform, and in serving our country," added Rieckhoff.

Media are encouraged to attend the launch event preceding the Heroes Celebration.

Details: Thursday, April 30th at 5pm at Creative Artists Agency, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles with special guests Milo Ventimiglia, Star of NBC's Heroes and the son of a Vietnam vet, Henry Rollins, Actor, legendary musician and USO Entertainer, Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and Founder of IAVA, and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans families from the LA area-including a number of active-duty Navy SEALs.

Media must RSVP to Michelle McCarthy, (212)982-9699 or Michelle@iava.org by Wednesday, April 29th.

For more information about IAVA's Heroes Celebration and the Host Committee, please visit: iava.org/heroescelebration.

Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2009
When: 7pm -9:30pm PST
Where: Creative Artists Agency, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles
Who: Special hosts include Cameron Diaz, Actor, Norman Lear, WWII veteran, television writer and producer, and Nick Styne of Creative Artists Agency. The star of NBC's Heroes, Milo Ventimiglia, and musician and USO performer, Henry Rollins, will also attend and help launch the "SupportYourVet.org" Campaign.

A limited number of media will have the opportunity to cover the event from a private media room. Advance RSVP for members of the media is mandatory. Media should RSVP to Michelle McCarthy, (212)982-9699 or Michelle@iava.org by Wednesday, April 29th.

Sponsors:

Premier Sponsor:

Palm

Benefactor Sponsor:

The Count and The Countess de La Haye St. Hilaire

Patron Sponsors:

Mr. Edward Vick & Ms. Stephanie Kugelman

Health Net Federal Services

Western Asset Management Company

To learn more about IAVA's landmark Veteran Support Campaign with the Ad Council, please visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/34661/.

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 125,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide. Its mission is to improve the lives of this country's newest generation of veterans and their families.