2024 IAVA Heroes Gala will also mark the beginning of IAVA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
October 21, 2024
CONTACT: press@iava.org

Washington, DC – Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is excited to announce the honorees for our 2024 Heroes Gala on November 7th in New York. This year’s Heroes Gala will be the 15th such event that’s celebrated those who’ve led within and on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and will be the beginning of a celebration of the 20th Anniversary of IAVA.

IAVA is proud to announce that retired US Capitol Police Officer, US Army and Iraq War veteran Aquilino Gonell will receive IAVA’s 2024 Veteran Leadership Award. Gonnell was on duty at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 and in addition to displaying courage on that day, while also enduring bodily harm during the attack on the Capitol, he’s displayed courage as an advocate since. His patriotic story is told in his memoir, American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy. 

“SSG Aquilino Gonell represents the best of us,” said Iraq War veterans and IAVA CEO, Allison Jaslow. “An immigrant who served the United States in uniform, shipped off to fulfill his duty in wartime, and made the decision to continue to serve his new nation as a US Capitol Police Officer afterward. It is with extreme pride that we are able to recognize SSG Gonnell with IAVA’s 2024 Veteran Leadership Award.” 

IAVA is also proud to announce Wayne Peacock, President and CEO of the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), will receive IAVA’s 2024 Civilian Leadership Award. USAA has served the military community and their families for more than a century, and Wayne exemplifies the association’s deep commitment to its mission and members. He is a passionate advocate for military families and the causes that matter most to them. In addition to serving on USAA’s Board of Directors and as vice chair of USAA’s Federal Savings Bank Board of Directors, Peacock is vice chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Board of Directors which supports our nation’s military caregivers. 

“Wayne Peacock has steadfastly served our community for more than three decades at USAA – the bank and insurance provider most veterans, servicemembers and their families trust more than any other,” said Jaslow. “One can only imagine the impact that Wayne has made on behalf of our community during his career at USAA. We are honored to award an incredible servant leader such as Wayne Peacock with IAVA’s Civilian Leadership Award.”

Finally, IAVA is proud to announce that Kenneth Fisher, co-managing partner of Fisher Brothers and chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation will receive IAVA’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to serving the military and veteran community in a variety of ways throughout his lifetime, Fisher’s Fisher House Foundation has made a sweeping impact on the lives of injured post-9/11 veterans and their loved ones.

“Ken Fisher’s commitment to America’s military and veteran community speaks for itself. The work of the Fisher House Foundation specifically, however, will go down in history,” said IAVA CEO Allison Jaslow.  “The lives of the military and veterans community that Kenneth Fisher has made a lasting impact on are countless, and it’s a great privilege to be able to award him with IAVA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.” 

This year, the Heroes Gala will also be MC’d by longtime friend of the post-9/11 generation of veterans and IAVA, Pete Dominick, who is also the host of the successful ‘Stand Up with Pete’ podcast. It’ll be an incredible night of patriotism, inspiration and service and will help IAVA raise resources to fuel our best-in-class advocacy, awareness, and membership program for our nation’s newest generation of veterans. 

Past honorees and distinguished guests have come from across the military, business, sports, entertainment, and politics and include: Admiral Mike Mullen, Jon Stewart, Peter G. Peterson, Retired General David Petraeus, Miss USA Deshauna Barber, Joan Ganz Cooney, Henry Kissinger, Julian Bond, Roger Waters, David Gelbaum, Arnold Fisher, Senator Tammy Duckworth; Medal of Honor Recipient Sal Guinta, Willie Geist, Michael Bloomberg, Wes Moore, J.R. Martinez, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Bill Hemmer, Rachel Maddow, Leslie Gelb, Coach Bill Cowher, Craig Newmark, Peter Berg, Nora Jones, Marc Roberge and OAR, Bob Woodruff, Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe, Harry Carson, Katie Nolan, Michelle Monaghan, Sebastian Junger, and many more. 

Current sponsors of IAVA’s 2024 Heroes Gala are: Barry Bloom, Brookfield Properties, Cushman & Wakefield, Fiserv, Jon Tisch, Laurie Tisch, PhRMA, Rechler Philanthropy, Steve Tisch, TriWest, and Vornado. Sponsorship packages and tickets are available for the 2024 IAVA Heroes Gala online or contact IAVA at events@iava.org.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of American veterans. We represent over 425,000 members, and our best-in-class, non-partisan advocacy on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans has chalked up big wins for our community – and America – for 20 years and counting.

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