NEA Chairman Dana Gioia and Actress Karri Turner Participating in 2007 SemperComm Gala

SPRINGFIELD, Va.--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia and actress Karri Turner of “JAG” and “Heroes” television series fame will be participants in the 2007 SemperComm Gala. The Gala, set for May 10 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA, is the SemperComm Foundation’s major annual fundraising event, featuring a black-tie dinner, a performance by country singer Chely Wright, and both a live and silent auction of several donated items.

“The SemperComm Foundation's mission—helping our nation's deployed troops communicate with their loved ones—is an essential and noble undertaking”

Gioia, an internationally acclaimed poet, critic, educator and former business executive, has served as NEA Chairman since 2003. As part of his special guest appearance at the Gala, Gioia will discuss Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience, an NEA program that preserves the stories and reflections of U.S. military personnel who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families.

“The SemperComm Foundation's mission—helping our nation's deployed troops communicate with their loved ones—is an essential and noble undertaking,” Gioia said, adding, “I am deeply honored to speak at the 2007 SemperComm Gala.”

Turner has supported SemperComm events in the past and will be the emcee for this year’s Gala. “I'm super proud to be a part of another SemperComm event. I love the men and women of our military and support their missions and know how much this organization does to help them. Through organizations like this, I've met amazing people...the ones who give their lives ...and the ones who support them. I'm honored to be there again!” she said.

Turner appears through SemperComm’s major partner, Stars For Stripes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing live celebrity entertainment to U.S. troops based overseas. In the last three years, she has performed at U.S. bases in both Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a number of different military support organization tours, including one sponsored by Stars For Stripes.

“We’re certainly pleased about how much public support we’re getting this year for our efforts,” said Lara Coffee, SemperComm’s executive director. “Karri and Dana both add quite a depth of recognition to our event that we’ve never had before, and it’s gratifying to have them both on board.”

Tickets are still available for this event. For more information, go to www.sempercommgala.org, or call 703-923-7611.

About The SemperComm Foundation

The SemperComm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supplying morale-boosting communications and entertainment equipment, software and services to small, overseas remote U.S. military bases. SemperComm receives major support from Computer Systems Center Incorporated, a unique defense-oriented software development company; Stars For Stripes, a nonprofit that brings celebrity entertainment to U.S. military personnel; and PC Recycler, an electronics recycling and services company. For information about SemperComm, visit www.sempercomm.org.

NOTE: Printable photos of Dana Gioia and Karri Turner can be downloaded from the Media Room on the SemperComm website at www.sempercomm.org.

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