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Community Corner

Benefit Car Show for Veterans With PTSD

'd like to call attention to a great event at VW/Audi HQ to benefit a local non-profit serving veterans. Any and all coverage would be appreciated!
See press release below and flyer attached.
Best,
Evan Regan-LevineVolunteer for Operation VetsHaven
FAST CARS & FUN: OPERATION VETSHAVEN CAR SHOW BENEFITING MILITARY HEROES SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

ARLINGTON, VA April 14, 2014 – As the hub of the nation’s defense, it should be no surprise that the National Capital area has the highest number of veterans and active duty soldiers in the entire country suffering from serious and life threatening mental health disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  Thankfully, for the Washington, D.C. Metro area, there’s a helping hand called Operation VetsHaven. This local, non-profit organization is dedicated to the free, prompt therapy (within 48 – 72 hours of being contacted) for veterans and families of active duty military affected by these disorders. 
In order to shed some light and raise funds to treat this very serious epidemic in our Nation’s Capital, Operation VetsHaven is hosting a day full of fun and fast cars at it’s car show benefit on Saturday, April 27th, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The event will be hosted on the grounds of the Volkswagen Group of America Headquarters located at 2200 Ferdinand Porsche Drive, Herndon, VA
“Visitors to the Car Show need to be prepared to see some really, really awesome cars,” said Chuck Clopton, Executive Director of Operations Vets Haven. “Cars such as the Austin Healey, with the best exhaust notes I’ve ever heard, a 1965 Porsche, which is the last model year of the original series, Ferraris, Maseratis and that’s just to name a few.”
According to Clopton, for those who really have a need for speed, there will be an auction for rides on an L-39 high-performance jet trainer aircraft, as well. 
Admission is free to the car show. A charitable contribution is being asked from those who wish to show their cars, ranging from $5 for active military members, $20 for standard display and $150 for the showcase area. Pre-registration is encouraged by visiting: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e92aq60m34fc8ea9&llr=uu4cn8mab
Operation VetsHaven recognizes that veterans need to be treated as individuals and not as one of a stack of case folders. The need for individualized attention and advocacy is crucial in getting military members help through professional, pre-screened psychotherapists and caring staff who have been specifically selected to focus on that individual. 
“This has been a horrible war and the things that bring about PTSD are really just a normal reaction to a horrible war,” says Clopton. “The horror that brings on symptoms of PTSD are experiences stemming from a war that is probably the worst in our country’s history.”
Operation VetsHaven is intended to complement services being offered to veterans through various government or military providers. By focusing on getting help to veterans more quickly in a more personalized way, the end result is ultimately getting them back on the road to a healthier future.
“The thing about the work we do, that scares me the most, is when someone comes up to me and says “I wish I had heard about you before…and you fill in the blank,” says Clopton.  “That is why it is critical to get the word out about Operation VetsHaven and raise the needed funds to get our heroes the help they need and deserve.”
Operation VetsHaven is a Federally recognized non-profit 501(c)(3) charity established in 2011. 
Services of Operation VetsHaven are provided at no cost to those who have served and need assistance as a result of PTSD or TBI. For more information on the work Operation VetsHaven does, please visit www.OperationVetsHaven.org

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