Give an Hour to Host “A Celebration of Service”

Since 2005, Give an Hour has helped provide thousands of service members, Veterans, and their family members with mental health benefits. With a network of more than 6,700 mental health care professionals, social workers, therapists, and counselors, Give an Hour provides much needed care and comfort to those affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 501(c) (3) non-profit offers no cost treatment for substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, anxiety, depression, sexual health and intimacy concerns, as well as assistance coping with loss and grieving.

The mental health care professionals of Give an Hour’s network donate an hour of their time to care for those in need from the military community. Instead of paying for treatment, the recipient pays it forward by giving an hour of their time to an approved charity within their local community. Give an Hour provides a crucial service to members of the military. The organization’s founder, Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, has been named as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2012.

On April 6^th-8th, Give an Hour will be hosting three day of events in Washington D.C. called “A Celebration of Service”. During the event, Give an Hour will be honoring three individuals with their “Commitment to Service” award. This year, Give an hour is presenting the awards to Senator Richard Burr, Senator Debbie Stabenow and USMC Veteran Brendan O’Toole, who completed a 3,600 mile run to benefit Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Military Connection CEO Debbie Gregory was a 2013 honoree, proudly accepting the Civilian Commitment to Service award for her unwavering support of military members and their families.

A Celebration of Service will kick-off on April 6th with a community service project. From noon until 4 pm, Give an Hour will bring 100 volunteers to improve facilities at Veterans on the Rise, Inc., an organization that provides services to homeless Veterans.

On April 7^th from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Give an Hour will host a conference intended to educate the next generation of mental health professionals on how to best serve the military and Veteran communities. The conference will be live-streamed to universities across the country.

On Tuesday, April 8th, Give an Hour will be hosting a reception from 5:30 p.m. to 11p.m. The evening will include the presentation of the “Commitment to Service” awards and a performance of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, Water by the Spoonful.

For more information, to register or buy tickets for any of the events, please visit A Celebration of Service.