Success Story

Hollywood Gathers to Honor "New Greatest Generation"
May 2 2012

On Tuesday, May 1st, Hollywood turned out in Los Angeles to support real-life heroes: the 2.4 million Americans who have carried our country through the past decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fourth Annual Heroes Celebration

Over 100 IAVA members and supporters from all over California joined in tribute at The Penthouse at the AT&T Center to honor Vietnam veteran and Founder of the National Veterans Foundation Shad Meshad with the 2012 Community Leadership Award and actress Minka Kelly with the 2012 Leadership in Entertainment Award.

Watch the Highlights

They joined in tribute with actors Milo Ventimiglia, Teddy Sears, Geoff Stults, boxing legend Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Team Rubicon Founder Jake Wood, Blue Star Families Chair Kathy Roth-Duquet, 2011 Heroes Gala Honoree Aaron Mankin, former Navy SEAL and CNN Correspondent Kaj Larsen, TriWest Vice President Scott Celley, Jim Hirschmann, CEO of Western Asset Management Co., and Bill Cowher, Super Bowl Champion head coach and CBS football analyst. Robert Gupta, First Violinist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, closed out the night with an amazing performance.

See the Photos

The Heroes Celebration kicks off a week of events and activities, including a veteran resource fair at California State University, Northridge, jobs panel at the West LA Chamber of Commerce, and visit to Operation Mend at UCLA, to support IAVA’s more than 4,000 members and military families in Los Angeles. IAVA would like to especially thank our sponsors for making the night possible:

Signature Sponsor: TriWest Healthcare Alliance
Champion Sponsors: Western Asset Management Co. & Microsoft
Patron Sponsors: CNN, Health Net Federal Services & Operation Mend, UCLA Health Services

A special thanks as well to NBCUniversal, The McGrath Abrams Family Foundation, ICM, HBO, and MillerCoors.

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.