FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2016
Washington, D.C. – On April 9th Donald Rumsfeld was honored to accept the 2016 Community Impact Award on behalf of the Rumsfeld Foundation at the Luke’s Wings 5th Annual Heroes Gala. The Foundation leadership and staff were privileged to attend the event alongside service members, veterans, their families and supporters of our nation’s military community. Additional honorees included Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Florent Groberg, and SRS Distribution Inc.
Accepting the recognition as one of the organization’s longest standing foundation partners, Donald Rumsfeld gave remarks noting the impact of Luke’s Wings, as well as the courage and commitment of wounded veterans and their families. Discussing his experience of visiting with the wounded while Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld said, “If people really want to know about young Americans, what they need to do is to visit our military hospitals and spend time with the troops and their families. It is inspirational.”
It was a special evening honoring service members and their families for their important contributions and sacrifices. Donations raised from the 5th Annual Heroes Gala, totaling over $235,000, will directly support needed flights for the wounded and their families throughout their period of recovery.
Luke’s Wings is a non-profit that provides families with transportation to visit during a service member's hospitalization and rehabilitation. Since 2008, they have provided more than 2,500 flights to bring wounded service members together with their families. The Rumsfeld Foundation has partnered with Luke’s Wings since 2011, and remains supportive of their important work.
Since its establishment in 2007, the Rumsfeld Foundation has donated more than $3.9 million to charities supporting troops, veterans and military families. In addition, all of Donald Rumsfeld’s proceeds from the sales of his memoir, Known and Unknown, as well as from the new Churchill Solitaire app, go toward the military charities supported by the Foundation.
To learn more about Luke’s Wings and contribute to their important efforts, please visit www.lukeswings.org/. For more information about the Rumsfeld Foundation, please visit www.rumsfeldfoundation.org or our Facebook page.
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Media Contact:
Sarah Conant
Executive Director
Rumsfeld Foundation
(202) 944-1304
s.j.conant@dhrllc.net