Stephen Colbert, Brian Williams, Norah Jones to Headline IAVA’s Fifth Annual Heroes Gala in New York City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 7, 2011

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Stephen Colbert, Brian Williams, Norah Jones to Headline IAVA’s Fifth Annual Heroes Gala in New York City

Speakers include honorees Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, and Corporal Aaron Mankin, Iraq Veteran and wounded warrior; Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Norah Jones to perform

NEW YORK - To kick off an inspiring week of Veterans Day tributes and celebrations nationwide, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, announced that the Fifth Annual Heroes Gala will take place this Wednesday, November 9th at 7:00 p.m. at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. IAVA is proud to honor Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, with the 2011 IAVA Civilian Service Award and Corporal Aaron Mankin, an Iraq veteran and advocate for wounded warriors, with the 2011 Veterans Leadership Award.

Nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Norah Jones will also perform at the event in support of IAVA. Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor at NBC Nightly News, will return as Master of Ceremonies for this star-studded and inspiring tribute, bringing together distinguished members of the media, business, sports, politics and entertainment in support of the veterans' community. Sponsored in part by Walmart and Southwest Airlines, the event is open to the press from 7-8 pm only. Media are highly encouraged to attend and cover.

“This is going to be an incredible and inspiring night. Our community is excited to honor Stephen Colbert and Corporal Aaron Mankin for their leadership and service on this special night and we are thrilled to have Brian Williams joining us again. In the face of impossible odds, Aaron's courage, honesty and perseverance has inspired thousands of wounded veterans to rebuild their lives. He is living testament to the tenacity and sacrifice of this New Greatest Generation. With his unique style and humor, Stephen is championing new veterans and bringing them into our nation's living rooms at a time when our country and the media are tuning out. And Norah Jones’ support for new veterans is a huge boost for our community,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.

"Both of the men we honor are making an extraordinary impact in the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families. And they’re doing so with unparalleled enthusiasm that shows Americans of all generations that they can get behind the veterans movement. We’re thrilled to honor them for their service and applaud their commitment to stand with our nation’s newest veterans from the first day they come home through the rest of their lives.”

“I am honored to be recognized by IAVA as this year’s recipient of their Veterans Leadership Award.  IAVA is helping to shape the futures of our sons and daughters fighting these wars.  To educate, employ and empower this great generation of service members is a responsibility we all share and is an obligation we must all uphold.  I am proud to be a part of this organization and all that Paul and the IAVA Board accomplish on behalf of our newest veterans,” said Corporal Aaron Mankin.


“It is an honor to receive IAVA's Civilian Service Award. I've been serving as a civilian for over 40 years.  I have always admired the work IAVA does to raise awareness about the new generation of veterans. And you know I mean this, because I've already won this award, so I have no reason to pander. Unless there's a 2nd award for saying that, in which case, I accept,” said Stephen Colbert.

“I am thrilled to again be the Master of Ceremonies for IAVA’s Heroes Gala. It is consistently an inspiring night that reminds us all of the importance of supporting the newest generation of veterans. As new veterans come home to sky-high unemployment rates, it is crucial today to support their transition home. IAVA has been dedicated for years to making this transition as smooth as possible, and as someone who has covered both wars overseas, I am so proud to be involved with their important work,” said NBC Nightly News Anchor and Managing Editor Brian Williams.

IAVA will honor Corporal Aaron Mankin with the 2011 IAVA Veterans Leadership Award. Corporal Mankin is one of the veteran community’s single most powerful advocates as a Spokesperson for UCLA’s Operation Mend, a groundbreaking reconstruction program that helps treat military personnel severely wounded during service in Iraq and Afghanistan. In May 2005, Aaron was severely wounded in Iraq when his vehicle rolled over an IED. He suffered intense burns over 25 percent of his body, essentially losing his ears, nose and mouth. Facing impossible odds of recovery, he became Operation Mend’s first patient in August 2007 and since then has undergone nearly 60 surgeries. Now a spokesperson for Operation Mend, he is a leading voice for over 40,000 veterans who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a constant reminder of the sacrifices our service members have made in nearly a decade of war.

IAVA will honor Stephen Colbert with the 2011 IAVA Civilian Service Award. Colbert has made unprecedented contributions to service members, veterans and their families, putting them front and center in our living rooms at a time when media coverage of the wars is waning. During his broadcast of The Colbert Report from Iraq in 2009, he risked his own safety, as few entertainers have, to bring laughs and a piece of home directly to our troops in the combat zone. From shaving his head for the cover of Newsweek to wearing a camouflage suit to conducting one of the first interviews with Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta, he’s kept veterans issues on America’s radar using his unique platform to engage and inspire all Americans to support our community.

2011 Heroes Gala Sponsors

The Fifth Annual Heroes Gala is the cornerstone event of IAVA’s nationwide Veterans Week activities and provides direct support for IAVA’s efforts throughout the year, including free membership and access to resources, services and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. This is all thanks to the generous support of our sponsors:

Dinner Sponsors

Southwest Airlines

Walmart

Support Sponsors

Alcoa Foundation, Bill Brandt, Development Specialists, Inc., CNN, Anne and Sean Coffey, The Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation, The Colbert Report/Spartina Productions, Fisher Brothers, jcpenney, Jennifer and Jonathan Allen Soros, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, Mission Essential Personnel, Craig Newmark, craigconnects, Viacom, Steve Victor, Development Specialists, Inc. and Stephanie and Edward Vick

Sponsors

Booz | Allen | Hamilton, Credit Suisse, Excelsior College, HBO, HealthCentral, Health Net, Legg Mason Global Asset Management, NBC News, NYSE Euronext, Operation Mend, UCLA Health System, USO and Western Asset Management Company

To see a full list of sponsors or learn more about past Heroes Galas, please visit: http://iava.org/2011HeroesGala.

For more information about IAVA’s Veterans Week 2011 activities, please visit http://iava.org/vetsday2011.

Please note: The cocktail hour from 7:00-8:00pm is open to the press, but RSVP is required. Members of the press who are covering the event are NOT required to purchase tickets in advance and will receive credentials upon checking in.  Please RSVP to Isabel Black at isabel@iava.org.

If you are a member of the media who wishes to cover the Heroes Gala or to arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, please contact Isabel Black at (212) 982-9699 or isabel@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 Member Veterans 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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