Serving Those Who Serve Us
This annual reception celebrates the service and sacrifice of our nation's military and veterans, while raising financial support to help NVLSP. The reception is typically held in Washington, D.C. near Veteran's Day in November. We will hold our fifth annual benefit reception in November 2013. As part of the event, we present three special awards that recognize individuals, organizations and law firms that help our nation's veterans and their families. See the video about our work on a historic lawsuit that debuted at the 2012 reception and photos from the 2012 reception.
The event typically includes high-profile journalists and leaders working to help advance public understanding of our nation's veterans, with past programs including retired Army General Peter Chiarelli, retired Army General Colin Powell, George Stephanopoulos (ABC News), Judy Woodruff (PBS Newshour), Tom Gjelten (National Public Radio), Martha Raddatz (ABC World News) and Barbara Starr (CNN).
Senator Daniel K. Inouye Award
During the reception, we present our annual Senator Daniel K. Inouye Award, an honor named for the late Senator who faithfully served his country and was a fierce advocate for our nation's veterans. See Senator Inouye speak at our first reception in 2009. NVLSP presents this award annually to an organization or individual who has demonstrated extraordinary national service in support for veterans, service members, and their families. Previous recipients have included:
2012 - Ronald Smith, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
2011- Jim McKay, Covington & Burling
2010 - Sesame Workshop
2009 - Senator Daniel K. Inouye
Outstanding Public Service Award
2011 - Military Order of the Purple Heart
2010 - American Legion
2009 - Former Governor Tom Ridge
Corporate Partner of the Year
2012 - Hewlett-Packard Company
Pro-Bono Partner of the Year
2012 - DLA Piper
2011 - Hunton & Williams, LLP
2010 - Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Why Become a Sponsor for the 2013 Reception?
Our nation's disabled veterans and their families need NVLSP to fight for them. In the wake of World War II, Congress made a legislative promise to every citizen who steps forward to serve our country in military uniform: if you are injured or become permanently disabled due to your military service, the federal government will care for you and your family for the rest of your life. Since 1980 NVLSP has worked to ensure that the government keeps this promise to our nation’s 25 million veterans, active duty personnel, and their families to provide them the benefits they have earned through their service to our country.
NVLSP accomplishes its mission by providing free legal services to veterans and service members; recruiting, training, and mentoring lawyer and non-lawyer advocates to represent these men and women and their families on claims for death and disability benefits; bringing lawsuits challenging current laws and regulations to address systemic problems in the operation of military and veterans benefit programs; working for passage of legislation that ensures a just benefit delivery system; and publishing educational materials that empower advocates who represent service members, veterans, and their families.
The need for these services is enormous. Our service men and women are returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other wounds, and the VA’s own statistics suggest that many are being returned to civilian life without receiving the benefits and care they are due. Year after year the VA’s own Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) overturns 50% of the benefit denials it reviews, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims decisions, denying benefits to more than 70% of the BVA rulings adverse to veterans.
NVLSP needs your support so it can continue to help thousands of our returning warriors and their families secure the health care and other disability benefits to which they are entitled.
Despite all the good work that NVLSP and their pro bono partners have accomplished for our veterans there is still much to be done. You can help NVLSP by becoming a sponsor of the 2013 event or by purchasing individual tickets. For information on becoming a sponsor or purchasing individual tickets, please contact Ana Reyes (202.621.5690).
President Lincoln enjoined us in his second Inaugural Address to “care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan". With your support NVLSP will be able to continue to grow its programs to help veterans, active duty personnel and their families obtain the benefits they deserve.