The ROAD HOME Gala to help at risk veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLUMBUS, Ohio (October 4, 2017) — More than 130,000 Ohio veterans live in poverty and about 140,000 have difficulty feeding their families each year.  On Saturday, November 4, Military Veterans Resource Center is hosting THE ROAD HOME Gala at the Columbus Athenaeum from 6 to 10 p.m.

The event is dedicated to bringing increased awareness to the struggles that some veterans face when navigating the road home from military service. Guests at the event will hear from several local veterans tell their stories of service and sacrifice. U.S. Army veteran Mike Schlitz will deliver the keynote.

Schlitz was critically injured in Iraq in 2007 when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a improvised explosive device (IED). His gunman, medic and driver were killed. Schlitz lost both hands and his eyesight in his left eye and sustained burns on 85 percent of his body. He now lives with his mother, Robbi, in a specially adapted home in Columbus, Ga.

“I’m happier now than I’ve ever been, Schlitz said. “Before I was injured, my life was about me, and now I get to make my life simply about others. Don’t feel sad or apologize for what happened to me. This experience made me stronger. If there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: The American service member’s spirit cannot and will not be broken.”

Guests at the inaugural event will enjoy a seated dinner, silent auction, raffles, military-themed presentations, and will witness the Missing Man Table and POW/MIA Ceremony. Tickets are $100 each and proceeds will go towards helping local veterans rebuild their lives. Visit www.milvetsrc.org or call 614-347-3013 to buy tickets.

Military Veterans Resource Center helps veterans develop self-reliance and independence by providing access
to the resources they need to successfully manage life transitions. MVRC is based in Columbus and operates four centers throughout Ohio.

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