Dulles, VA – Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (Fallen Patriots) is hosting its Inaugural New York City Gala on Wednesday, May 22 at Cipriani 42nd Street. Fallen Patriots provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. As nearly 20,000 children have been left behind over the past 35 years, Fallen Patriots is committed to making their college dreams come true with help from generous donors. The Inaugural New York City Gala is sponsored by The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C with a $250,000 contribution providing 40 years of debt free college education. KKR and K&N Engineering are Commander-in-Chief sponsors, contributing $100,000 each, equaling 16 years of debt free education.
General (Ret) David Petraeus will accept the Foundation’s Patriot Award on behalf of the men and women he served with during his 37 years in the U.S. Army. The former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency also serves as the event co-chair alongside his wife Holly Petraeus, Nancy and Tim Armstrong, and Ellen and Rob Sweeney. These three incredible couples are long-standing members of Fallen Patriots’ board and are passionate supporters of military families. Rob Sweeney served more than six years in the Navy in various roles including training command. The Distinguished Service Award will be presented to the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation for their steadfast dedication to supporting surviving military families.
The NYC Gala gives donors the chance to learn firsthand about the mission and meet the recipients whose lives have been changed by Fallen Patriots. Daniel Bertolino was 12 years old when his father, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Stephen Bertolino was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. As he grew up, he wondered if he could still have a successful future, despite the loss of his father. Daniel is the featured student speaker at the NYC Gala and will share how Fallen Patriots helped him graduate from Brigham Young University debt-free. When board member Nancy Armstrong and her husband Tim Armstrong recognized Daniel’s potential, they helped him secure an internship with AOL which equipped him with the pivotal skills needed to secure a full-time job. Daniel is now married and living in New York City where he works for Ernst & Young, a company that also supports Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
Army veteran David Kim and his wife Cynthia Kim started the organization to honor one of the soldiers he served with, who was killed in action just months before his first daughter was born. “We believe that one of the best ways we can honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country is to invest in the future of those they loved most in the world - their children,” David Kim said. Since 2002, Fallen Patriots has awarded more than $29 million and assisted over 1,400 students with college. “A college education is the key to a bright future for any child and the generosity of our supporters is making those hopes and dreams come true.”
The evening will begin with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, special remarks from General Petraeus and Daniel Bertolino, a live auction and the Fund-A-Scholarship appeal, where supporters can see their donation at work contributing to tuition, books, computers, and more for our Fallen Patriots scholars.
About Fallen Patriots
Fallen Patriots honors the sacrifices of our fallen military heroes by ensuring the success of their children through college education. Since 2002, Fallen Patriots has provided nearly $29 million in total assistance, including college scholarships and educational counseling to over 1,417 military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Nearly 20,000 children from across America will need future assistance.
About The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C.
Qatar is an independent state in the southern Arabian Gulf. Diplomatic relations with the United States were established in 1972; in the same year, Qatar’s first diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. opened. The relationship between the two countries has always been friendly, highly productive, and reciprocal. Qatar is home to many Americans, and the United States is both Qatar’s largest foreign investor and its largest source of imports. Qatar-U.S. relations are growing continuously in multiple areas: economic, political, military, educational, and cultural. Qatar is a close ally of the United States and a strong advocate of building a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Middle East. Qatar has provided significant humanitarian and development assistance to countries around the world, including the United States.
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR Co.
About K&N Engineering, Inc.
Since 1969, K&N® has been an industry-leader in filtration technology—offering products to increase performance, protection, and longevity in thousands of vehicle applications for automotive enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you’re searching for an air filter to help protect your engine and increase performance, a cabin air filter to keep the interior of your vehicle clean and fresh, or a home air filter to help protect the air you breathe at home—K&N® has the reputation for exceptional quality and customer service that you can trust. Visit www.knfilters.com to search for high-performance products for your vehicle and home.