News Summary
Warrior Rising hosted its annual Saluting Her Service Business Shower & Gala in Washington, D.C., raising over $378,000 to support women veterans and military spouses in entrepreneurship. The event featured a pitch competition for women entrepreneurs and included prominent speakers, highlighting the importance of veteran-owned businesses. With more than 550 attendees, the gala celebrated the contributions of women veterans and aimed to empower them and their families.
Washington, D.C. – Warrior Rising’s Annual Gala Raises $378,000 for Women Veterans and Military Spouse Entrepreneurs
Warrior Rising, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering veterans and their families, successfully hosted its annual Saluting Her Service Business Shower & Gala in Washington, D.C. last week, raising over $378,211.54 to support women veterans and military spouses in launching and growing their businesses.
The gala, held at the Warner Theatre, attracted more than 550 guests from various sectors who gathered to celebrate the contributions of women veterans. The funds raised will directly support Warrior Rising programs for qualified veterans and their families, with an impressive 82% utilization rate ensuring that a significant portion of the funds returns to participants.
The day commenced at J.P. Morgan’s D.C. offices, where six women entrepreneurs showcased their businesses during a pitch competition judged by industry experts. The strength of the pitches led judges to expand the finalist round to include three winners, highlighting the caliber of entrepreneurial talent among participants. The winners of the competition were Cenita Williamson, representing her business ALYS Always Love Yourself; Sarah Tadesse, presenting The Guest Lab; and Jessica Harris, of K9 Salute.
Event Highlights
Among the noteworthy moments of the evening was the presentation of a live-painted portrait of Abraham Lincoln to Kara Hourihan, the Executive Director of the Pederson Foundation, recognizing her contributions to the cause. Additionally, alumni success stories were shared by Paden Sickles of SickFit and Brent Dial of Beek Health, further illustrating the positive impact of the organization.
Key remarks were delivered by several prominent figures, including Terry Hill of J.P. Morgan, Eduardo Ortiz of Coforma, and Dawn Halfaker of the Continuing to Serve Foundation, each emphasizing the importance of supporting veteran-owned businesses. The event concluded with a performance by comedian Zarna Garg, who entertained guests and provided signed copies of her bestselling book, *This American Woman*.
About Warrior Rising
Founded in 2015 by U.S. Army Green Beret Jason Van Camp, Warrior Rising aims to empower veterans and their families by providing access to mentorship and funding necessary to create sustainable businesses. The organization’s mission focuses on building lasting opportunities for women veterans and military spouses through entrepreneurship.
The annual gala was made possible through the support of presenting sponsor J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking and additional contributions from partners such as the Continuing to Serve Foundation and Coforma, who were pivotal in the event’s success.
Warrior Rising continues to pave the way for women veterans and military spouses by facilitating essential resources needed to thrive in the business world. More information about Warrior Rising and its initiatives can be found on their website.
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Additional Resources
- PR Newswire: Warrior Rising Gala
- BBC News: Women’s Veterans
- WNDU: Honoring Women Veterans
- Google Search: Women Veterans Entrepreneurship
- Upper Michigan’s Source: Women of Valor Flight
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Women in the Military
Author: STAFF HERE WASHINGTON DC
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