Los Angeles
philanthropist, patron of the arts and injured veterans
activist Patricia Kennedy founder of Step Up 4
Vets presented Tiffany Smiley, on behalf of
her husband Captain Scotty Smiley, with the
Peace One Earth Medallion for his efforts to
support his fellow Veterans and his bravery in combat.
Capt. Smiley was blinded and seriously injured by a
VBIED in Mosul,
Iraq. Valiant
soldier, infantryman, Airborne Ranger, combat diver,
mountain climber, skier, tri-athlete, devoted husband
and father, Capt. Smiley is the first blind U.S. Army
officer to lead a company. He was named �Soldier of the
Year� in 2007. The Medallion designed by Ms.
Kennedy is inscribed with Capt. Smiley�s name, the date
of his injury and the title of his inspirational book,
�Hope Unseen�. Ms. Kennedy launched Step up 4 Vets
in 2008 to partner in the transition of our injured
veterans as they readjust, rebuild and redirect their
lives.
Ms. Kennedy established
Peace One Earth as a way to express gratitude to
the defenders of our freedoms while acknowledging the
hope for a world at peace. Renowned for her exquisite
jewelry collection Ms. Kennedy created the beautifully
crafted Peace One Earth medallion to make a statement
about what is really important and essential in a
peaceful society and to acknowledge the service and
sacrifice of our troops and veterans who have given so
much in pursuit.
The bezel of the
medallion is rimmed with her five essential E�s. At the
center of the medallion a dove hovers over the twin
hemispheres, a single drop of blood drips from his heart
representing the last drop of blood shed for world peace
if we could follow these five essential E�s - Education,
Equality, Ecology, Economy, and Equity. The presentation
took place at the star-studded Career Transition for
Dancers (CTFD) 25th Anniversary Silver
Jubilee at the Hilton New York prior to the Anniversary
Supper
Capt. Smiley and his
wife Tiffany joined other guests of Ms. Kennedy at her
table for the gala dinner. As has become her tradition,
Ms. Kennedy fills her table with Veterans to thank them
for their service to our country. Other military guests
who also attended the Career Transition for Dancers
star studded retrospective at City Center hosted by
Angela Lansbury earlier in the evening included
Col. John Christian, Director U. S. Army Special
Operations; Sgt. Todd Bowers, Deputy Director IAVA;
Major Jacob "Jake" Miller USMA and his wife
Amanda Miller.
For over twenty years
Patricia Kennedy has had a deep impact on the future of
dance, especially in the ballet world as a great
supporter of the Joffrey Ballet serving on the board
from 1984-1994 Transitioning from the board in 1993 she
co-produced with Gerald Arpino the
internationally famed Prince ballet �Billboards�
which is the most commercially successful ballet in
history. A longtime supporter of Career Transition for
Dancers she was honored by CTFD with the Award for
Outstanding Contribution to the World of Dance in 2004.
From 2005 to 2007, she served as gala chair raising
millions of dollars for CTFD and their support programs
for injured dancers.
Transitioning once
again and taking a page from CTFD�s playbook, she
founded Step Up 4 Vets to help injured Vets transition
to civilian life. She designed the Peace One Earth
medallion in 2008 to honor their service and sacrifice.
In recognition of her enormous charitable efforts and
philanthropy she was invested Dame of Merit with Star in
the Scared Military Constantinian Order of St George. At
the core of Ms. Kennedy�s beliefs is the concept that
the dance and theater experience and, yes, parades can
have a transforming effect on the injured veterans and
elevate the spirit to aid in the healing process.
For the last three
years, at Career Transition for Dancers Annual Gala,
Patricia has hosted at her table � not CEOs or dance
world luminaries - but injured veterans and their
spouses. Each year during the event's auction, she has
purchased The Thanksgiving Day Parade Brunch overlooking
Times Square to which she invites veterans
and their families.
This year as in
previous years, some 20 injured veterans and their
families will be treated to an elegant champagne brunch
while watching the parade from Career Transition for
Dancers� offices overlooking Times
Square
While in New York, Ms.
Kennedy continued her support for injured Veterans and
attended the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America Fourth
Annual Heroes Gala honoring Afghanistan Veteran, best
selling author, IAVA Board Member and investment
professional
Wes Moore. The NFL Today and former Head Coach of
the Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Cowher presented Mr.
Moore with the Veterans Leadership Award, given annually
to an
Iraq or Afghanistan Veteran who has
demonstrated immense courage and leadership within the
veterans� community.
IAVA also honored
David Gelbaum, CEO Entech Solar; Chairman, The
Quercus Trust; Venture Philanthropist and Founder of the
Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund at the
California Community Foundation in
Los Angeles who received the
Civilian Service Award.
Presenting the award to
Mr. Gelbaum was former IAVA honoree All My Children
star and motivational speaker J. R. Martinez, who
suffered burns over 40% of his body and undeterred went
through 32 surgeries. He became a motivational speaker
and joined the cast of �All My Children� in 2008 as
combat veteran, Brot Monroe. New York Mayor Michael
Bloomberg also addressed the crowd and congratulated
IAVA founder Paul Reickhoff and his team for all
they do for veterans. NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian
Williams served as the gala�s emcee.
The following day,
Veterans Day, found Ms. Kennedy proudly marching up Fifth Avenue representing Step Up 4 Vets
with IAVA along with over 20,000 of her
fellow Americans who were all part of the largest parade
in its 91 year history.
To learn more about the
vital work that Step Up 4 Vets is doing to help our
brave men and women injured in combat and how you can
help, please visit
www.stepup4vets.org.
The Peace One Earth
medallion, offered as both a pendant and a lapel pin, is
available in 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Solid Sterling
Silver, Gold-Plate and Silver-Plate. The pendant is
suspended from a 22" red cord representing the bravery
of our soldiers. The back of the medallion is designed
to be engraved with the name of a loved one who served
in any conflict, past or present, or is currently
serving the cause for peace in
Iraq and Afghanistan, as
well as other places around the world. The medallion
comes in its own Peace One Earth gold-stamped suede
pouch. To honor our troops and veterans purchase a
medallion for yourself or as a gift for a loved one.
You will be supporting the work of Step Up 4 Vets. To
purchase your Peace One Earth medallion please go to
www.peaceoneearth.com