Hope HealthCare announces author, army ranger event
Hope HealthCare Services and Uncommon Friends Foundation Present
“A Celebration of Community Spirit, Character and Leadership”
Event to feature “Black Hawk Down” Army Ranger Keni Thomas
Hope HealthCare Services and the Uncommon Friends Foundation have announced plans to host “a powerful motivational event that will be uplifting for everyone who attends,” according to Hope President and CEO Samira K. Beckwith.
Keni Thomas, who was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his Army company’s mission in Mogadishu, Somalia, will bring his story of personal strength and courage to Fort Myers’ Burroughs Home on Veterans Day, November 11, as part of the Legacy Speakers Series presented by Hope HealthCare Services and the Uncommon Friends Foundation.
The harrowing Mogadishu mission of Thomas and his Army colleagues was detailed in the best-selling book and movie, “Black Hawk Down,” which chronicles the ill-fated 18-hour firefight that led to the tragic deaths of 19 American soldiers. Thomas’s experiences led him to become a nationally acclaimed motivational speaker who stresses the importance of values, teamwork and leadership in his presentation, “Salute to Valor: A Soldier’s Story.”
“Keni’s message is a story of heroism and much more. It is a message of inspiration that is relevant to every one of us in our daily lives,” Beckwith said. “We will all be enriched by this celebration of community spirit, character and leadership.”
Thomas, a graduate of the University of Florida and an accomplished country singer and recording artist, will also perform musical selections at the event.
“It is indeed a privilege to bring to Fort Myers a young man who exemplifies all that is good about our country. Keni Thomas stands for the courage and values that support the mission of the Uncommon Friends Foundation and he continues the tradition of the Legacy Speakers Series. We are delighted to be co-hosting this event with an organization we admire Hope HealthCare Services,” said Arlene Roth, Executive Director of the Uncommon Friends Foundation.
The Celebration takes place November 11 at the Burroughs Home in downtown Fort Myers. A buffet dinner under the oak trees begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Color Guard presentation at 6:45 p.m., with introductions by Major General (Ret.) James L. Dozier. Thomas’s presentation and performance begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the dinner and program are $135. Those who wish to hear Keni Thomas speak and perform after dinner may purchase tickets for $30. Proceeds will benefit Hope and the Uncommon Friends Foundation. To order tickets, please call (239) 656-3260.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Uncommon Friends Foundation and will support Hope’s programs, many of which help America’s veterans. The Hope VALOR Program helps veterans receive the special care they have earned through service to the country and to enhance their available VA benefits.
Hope Healthcare Services is a not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3)-status community-based agency, nationally recognized as a leader in providing high-quality, innovative care. Hope is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), the national leader in improving the quality of care in the home care industry, and is a recipient of the nationally acclaimed Circle of Life Award for excellence and innovation in patient care. For more information, visit www.hopehcs.org.
The Uncommon Friends Foundation, established in 1993, is a character education and business ethics foundation whose mission is to “instill ethics, moral values and a sense of purpose in tomorrow’s leaders.” This mission is accomplished through curriculum that spans all age levels, business ethics programs, scholarships and the Legacy Speakers Series.
Source: Uncommon Friends Foundation