11th Annual Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala to be Held April 21 – Participant Media to Receive ‘Patriot of the Year’ Award

WASHINGTON – Each year the Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala brings together the most eclectic group in Washington to honor our nation’s military service members. This year’s event, “Become a Battle Buddy,” takes place on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the Ronald Reagan Building and hosts wounded service members and their families from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Fort Belvoir’s Warrior Transition Brigade, and other local installations. Joined by Members of Congress, senior military leaders, corporate sponsors, and civilian supporters, the event recognizes those who have gone above and beyond in support of the Armed Forces Foundation’s mission.

We are proud to announce Participant Media as this year’s recipient of the Patriot of the Year Award for their yearlong Return the Service campaign which centers around That Which I Love Destroys Me, the Armed Forces Foundation funded documentary by director Ric Roman Waugh which aired on the company’s Pivot TV network and TakePart.com website. The Patriot of the Year is awarded annually to the corporation that best exemplifies our motto of “Serving those who Serve.” Participant Media’s CEO Jim Berk will be present to receive the award and provide brief remarks.

Details about the 2015 Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala:

Who: Wounded service members,Members of Congress, senior military leaders, celebrities from television, film and sports along with corporate sponsors and civilian supporters
What: 11th Annual Congressional Gala
When: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Why: To honor members of our nation’s armed services, their families, and to thank supporters for their commitment to the military and the Armed Forces Foundation

About the Armed Forces Foundation

The Armed Forces Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to supporting and advocating for active-duty military personnel, National Guardsmen, Reservists, military families, and veterans. The AFF returns 95 cents of every dollar raised to service members and their families through our programs. Since 2001, the AFF has provided more than $95 million in assistance by covering travel, hotel rooms, home mortgages, car payments and everyday bills for families to be able to stay at their loved ones’ sides during treatment and recovery from wounds suffered during war. With the launch of our Help Save Our Troops campaign, the AFF proactively educates Americans about the hidden wounds of war, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and advocates for those troops and veterans who have suffered these hidden wounds. The ultimate goal of Help Save Our Troops is to reduce military suicides. Through this campaign, the AFF provides counseling services for military families, including children, grants for therapy and addiction counseling, and runs a variety of recreation group therapy programs to boost morale amongst service members, veterans, and their families.