Swett Gala to Pay Tribute to Wounded Soldiers, Raise $1M

During an event this weekend at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas hosted by the “Swett Warriors” organization several large firms in the insurance industry plan to raise funds and awareness for injured veterans.

On Jan. 27, 2013 in conjunction with Creech Air Force Base in Las Vegas, “Swett Warriors” will hold a gala honoring and celebrating wounded veterans. One hundred wounded veterans and more than 700 industry professionals are expected to be in attendance at the event. Organizers say the goal is to raise $1 million to help wounded veterans.

A focus of the event is on the men and women coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with life-altering injuries. They have experience, skill sets and ambition, but when many of them try to reclaim civilian life, they struggle, according to event organizers, who say the mission of “Swett Warriors” is to help those wounded veterans obtain productive lives, jobs, and the prospect of a brighter future.

According to a statement on a website promoting the event, Swett & Crawford employees saw a need to raise public awareness for returning service members.

“After finding out that nearly 50,000 troops were injured in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, these Swett employees discovered that many of these warriors were returning home with combat-related injuries and medical and psychological challenges,” according to the statement. “Additionally, these warriors needed jobs, stability and an opportunity to resume their lives.”

Also at the event will be Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band. Sinise’ band is named after his character in the film “Forrest Gump,” for which Sinise earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as an injured veteran.

Aside from Swett & Crawford, several dozen large sponsors have signed on for the event.

“We are thrilled to serve as a leading sponsor of the Swett Warrior Gala to benefit returning veterans,” Stanley A. Galanski, president and chief executive officer of The Navigators Group Inc. said in a statement. “Swett & Crawford is not only an important partner for us, but the company’s philanthropic efforts align well with Navigators’ dedication to giving back to those who have given so much in service to our nation.”

Topics Funding