Army-Navy Football Luncheon to Support Local Children of Fallen Troops

The following is a press release from Kaitlin Mulcahey, of the Ahern Family Charitable Foundation: 

Boston, MA  -  November 10, 2011 – For the eighth consecutive year, The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation will host its Army-Navy Football Luncheon on December 10. The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation seeks to help veterans and current U.S. military troops. Proceeds from the event will support Operation Santa-Massachusetts, a partnership with the Military Friends Foundation to support children of local military families during the holiday season. The luncheon will take place on Saturday, December 10, 1:00 pm at the Scoreboard Sports Bar & Grille at the Holiday Inn in Woburn. Tickets are available starting on Veteran’s Day, November 11, at www.ahernfoundation.org.

Sergeant Major Jon Cavaiani, recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in the Vietnam War, will attend this year’s luncheon as a special guest. While serving as Staff Sergeant, his platoon came under enemy attack and Cavaiani successfully directed the unit’s defense and evacuation, putting his own life at high risk.  Cavaiani was part of a small group left behind. The next day, he ordered the other men to escape while he stayed behind to secure the hill. After 11 days of evading the enemy he was captured and spent the next two and a half years as a POW. Cavaiani was presented the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. Government, in December of 1974 by President Gerald Ford, a year after his release as a POW.

The Military Friends Foundation assists Massachusetts National Guard, Reserve and Gold Star Families in times of need. Operation Santa-Massachusetts will provide holiday gift cards to children of deployed National Guard and Reserves and to children who have lost a parent in the Iraq/Afghanistan war. Last year Operation Santa-Massachusetts helped over 350 children.

“When a Guard or Reserve member is deployed, their families are also called up to serve.  Military children make many sacrifices that often times go unrecognized,” said Sarah Keller-Likins, Executive Director of the Military Friends Foundation. “We are proud to again stand with the Ahern Family Charitable Foundation this holiday season to bring Operation Santa-Massachusetts to these special kids.”  Since September 11, 2001, 148 service members with ties to the Commonwealth have been lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to viewing of the 112th Annual Army-Navy football game on The Scoreboard’s large screens, the event includes a buffet luncheon, commemorative coins for the first 500 entrants, and plenty of family-friendly activities. During half time, New England Cable News Meteorologist Matt Noyes will conduct a live auction. There will also be a silent auction and raffle.

This year’s host committee includes Noyes, former New England Patriots Steve Grogan and Max Lane, former NFL player Stalin Colinet, former Boston Bruin Bob Sweeney, WBZ TV anchor Jonathan Elias, WKLB morning hosts John Willis and Lori Grande, WCVB TV crime reporter Michelle McPhee, ESPNBoston.com baseball writer Gordon Edes, WROR/WTKK personality Hank Morse, Magic 106.7 Sunday Morning Jazz host Tina Gao as well as Got Books CEO Bob Ticehurst and Holiday Inn Select Woburn/Boston General Manager Frank Vento.

To date the Ahern Family Charitable Foundation has raised more than $350,000 in helping to provide services to veterans, ranging from financial grants and scholarships to providing lodging for families if they would like to visit their wounded or injured loved ones. In addition to the Army-Navy Football Luncheon, the Ahern Family Charitable Foundation hosts a St. Patrick’s Dinner Gala that supports local and national veterans’ assistance organizations. Among these organizations are Fisher House, Homes for Our Troops, Operation Home Front, the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans and The Military Friends Foundation. 

The Scoreboard is located at 15 Middlesex Park Canal in Woburn. Doors open at 1:00PM and the football game kicks-off at 2:30PM.  Tickets to the Eighth Annual Army-Navy Football Luncheon are $25 for adults, $15.00 with a military ID, and $10 for persons under 21. Tickets are available starting November 11 online at www.ahernfoundation.org or by calling 617-212-1508.

About the Ahern Family Charitable Foundation

The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation is a Massachusetts-registered non-profit organization that seeks to assist veterans and current members of the U.S. military fighting the war on terrorism. The Foundation is committed to “fighting for those who fought for us” by raising money and awareness for those veterans in the past, present and future that may be in crisis and in need of assistance. Through its fundraising efforts, the Foundation provides financial grants to military support organizations that deal directly with affected veterans, military personnel and their families who are facing many challenges.