On Thursday, October 5, Emmy and Tony award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth will perform under the stars at the 5th Annual Mission: Gratitude benefit gala and rally support for Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program.
Guests will enjoy an intimate piano performance by the star, best known for her roles in Hollywood, including “You Again;” on TV shows, like “Pushing Daisies” and “Glee;” and on Broadway, in “Wicked.” The gala celebration will feature a cocktail reception on the USS Constitution and dinner under the stars in a glass tent, on the historic Charlestown Navy Yard.
For Kristin, the evening represents a great responsibility and duty, “It is an honor for me to be able to share my talents to support the greater good of our military community. There are many reasons to support our Armed Forces and the hope Home Base provides to these men and women when they come home. I look forward to coming back to Boston and performing at Mission: Gratitude, an evening with such significant purpose.”
Presented by BAE Systems, the evening honors military families – past and present – for their service and sacrifice, and recognizes Home Base’s most passionate supporters for their service and dedication to the non-profit’s mission. All proceeds from the event will directly support the vital health and wellness programs of Home Base, which works to heal the invisible wounds for Veterans, Service Members and their Families affected by the invisible wounds – invisible wounds that include post-traumatic stress (PTS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety, depression, co-occurring substance use disorder, and family relationship challenges.
“Our service members and their families took quick action to save the lives of others, whether on the battlefield or in a civilian neighborhood,’ said Home Base’s Executive Director, Brigadier General (ret.) Jack Hammond. “Although we cannot say ‘thank you’ enough to these heroes, each year at Mission: Gratitude we try to move well beyond a simple thank you and honor their service by demonstrating out concern for their future and raising the funds necessary to guarantee the care provided at Home Base.”
Also sharing the stage will be Sal Gonzalez – an Iraq Veteran whose love of music has helped him persevere through some of the greatest hardships in life, including his emotional response to the events of 9/11. “That tragedy inspired me to join the military,” says Gonzalez. “The fact that I come from a family of immigrants propelled me to want to join. I wanted to give back for all this country has given us.”
Gonzalez joined the United States Marine Corps on October 21, 2003, and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines as a machine gunner. A year later, he found himself in Ramadi, Iraq, where he gave back much more for his country than he anticipated. Gonzalez we hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) and was in a coma for about a week. Months later, his left leg was amputated below the knee. “Playing and writing music has always been my passion, and luckily, my injury has not affected that at all. I’m always striving to improve and earn that next standing ovation – which I’ve been lucky to have had many in my career.”
Sal’s talent with music has garnered him an appearance on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and the television show “Nashville.” He also recently performed with country music star Keith Urban, but nothing means more to him than sharing his story and encouraging his fellow Veterans to connect to programs that will empower them to love the best life – long after their mission is complete. “You can never forget that life has inspiration all around us. Just look at all the wounded service members in our country who are such good role models. Those are the men and women I admire most.”
Thanks to generous contributions from partners, collaborators, friends, volunteers and staff, Mission: Gratitude raised more than $1 million for Home Base in 2016. Proceeds from this year’s event will strengthen Home Base’s ability to serve Veterans and Military Families throughout the nation, by supporting operational costs and directly funding the clinical and services offered by Home Base that is provided at no cost to the Veteran, Service Member or Family Member.
Since its inception, Home Base has provided healing and hope to more than 11,000 Veterans and Family Members and trained more than 45,000 clinicians, educators, and community members nationwide. The corporate partners, community allies, and advocates who support Home Base at the 2017 Mission: Gratitude benefit gala will help ensure the bright future of Home Base by making it possible to continue and expand upon those successes.
Table reservations for Home Base’s Mission: Gratitude benefit gala are available starting from the $10,000 level. A limited number of single tickets are on sale at the $1,000 level, subject to availability. For more information visit www.missiongratitude.org, or contact Home Base’s Director of Development and Mission: Gratitude event organizer, Steve Monaco by calling (617) 643-0457 or emailing missiongratitude@partners.org.
