Suzanne Baracchini (DSES Communications Director), Jerry Buckley (Capital Campaign Consultant), June and Neil Ash, and Betty Walker at USO Annual Gala, 2015, San Diego, CA [Photo courtesy of Vincent Andrunas]
Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA
Recently, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra had the opportunity to meet a number of community leaders in San Diego who are active with the local USO (United Service Organizations) program. Suzanne Baracchini, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES) director of communications and Jerry Buckley, capital campaign consultant attended the USO’s annual Stars & Stripes gala and discussed the National Wounded Warrior Center, a DSES program, with many of the very dedicated people who were at the event, including board members, civic and business leaders as well as local philanthropists, Neil and June Ash. The nation’s largest USO facility is at San Diego International Airport and is named in honor of Neil for his most generous gift to the USO.
Nichelle Medina of CBS News 8, San Diego emceed, and the 600-plus attendees enjoyed a formal presentation of colors and a mini-concert of service anthems by the ultrasharp Marine Band San Diego. The event honored Sempra Energy executive Jessie Knight Jr. for building strong collaborations between local business and military leadership; Jim Zortman (Navy vice admiral, ret.) and the Northrop Grumman Employee Network for ongoing support of military families; and wounded warrior Nicholas Kimmel (Marine sergeant, ret.) for his exemplary service and indomitable spirit after losing both legs and his left arm in an explosion in Afghanistan.
To learn more about USO San Diego and their Annual Gala Click Here