WASHINGTON — Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation’s largest non-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families and their allies, announced that industry giants and military family champions USAA and Comcast NBCUniversal will be joint presenting sponsors of the 4th Annual AMPA National Gala — the nation’s largest LGBT military event of the year. Attended by hundreds of LGBT service members, military spouses, veterans, and allies from across the country and around the world, the incredible evening honors modern military families for their service and sacrifice to our nation.
“USAA and Comcast NBCUniversal’s extraordinary commitment to all of our nation’s heroes — regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity — is truly an inspiring example of the kind of leadership from the business community that is crucial for our military families,” said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. “From their commitment to hiring military spouses and veterans to their resolve to ensure LGBT military families are supported, USAA and Comcast NBCUniversal truly stand apart from the crowd. We are thrilled to have these two remarkable companies as the presenting sponsors of our annual celebration honoring our nation’s modern military families.
“USAA is honored to stand with AMPA and its long track record of helping military families around the globe,” said Major General (Ret.) Jason Kamiya, senior vice president and executive sponsor of USAA’s LGBTQIA diversity and inclusion business group. “AMPA and USAA share a common mission of supporting the military community and our relationship demonstrates the value diversity and inclusion plays in serving our members.”
“Comcast NBCUniversal’s partnership with AMPA has furthered our mutual efforts in creating an open and inclusive culture for LGBT members of the military community,” said Brigadier General (Ret.) Carol Eggert, Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal. “We’re thrilled to partner with USAA to jointly sponsor this year’s Gala as we recognize the inspirational sacrifice and burgeoning diversity of our Nation’s military families.”
The annual AMPA National Gala is an inspiring, empowering, and often emotional celebration of the incredible progress made for LGBT service members, veterans, and their families — many of whom for years were forced to serve in silence while hiding their families because of discriminatory laws and policies. With the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the recent end to outdated transgender policies, LGBT troops now serve our nation openly with pride.
Past speakers, honorees, and special guests at the annual event have included Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Rosemary Williams, marriage equality heroes Eddie Windsor and Jim Obergefell, officials from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, LGBT military community heroes, and many more.
While the event is expected to sell out early, AMPA continues to keep ticket prices for the event affordable in order to ensure a broad spectrum of the organization’s membership and supporters is able to attend. Early bird tickets are only $89 until March 15 and $125 after March 15.
The 4th Annual AMPA National Gala will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017, in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Members and supporters interested in purchasing tickets to the event can do so at www.MilitaryPartners.org/Gala. Businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in sponsorship packages may contact the organization at partners@militarypartners.org for more information.
