Channel 3 Kids Camp's Women’s Benefit Luncheon Celebrates Tenth Anniversary May 3

Channel 3 Kids Camp is excited to announce their 10th annual W.R.A.P. (Women Raising Awareness Philanthropically) Luncheon on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Connecticut Convention Center from 11am to 2pm. The event is presented by KeyBank and was created to help build positive networking opportunities while honoring the work of a woman for notable philanthropic contributions in her field and community.

Channel 3 Kids Camp is pleased to honor Former U.S. VA Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning and Former Commissioner of the CT Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, Dr. Linda Spoonster Schwartz. Spoonster Schwartz, RN, MSN, DrPH, FAAN, served as a U.S. Air Force Nurse during the Vietnam War. As Flight Nurse, she was injured in an aircraft accident. After her 1986 retirement from the military, Dr. Schwartz earned a Master’s in Nursing from Yale University & a Doctorate in Public Health from the Yale School of Medicine. She has had a lengthy, distinguished career.
 
In September 2014, Dr. Schwartz was nominated by President Barack Obama to be Assistant Secretary of Veteran Affairs for Policy and Planning. She served as the VA’s principal advisor on policy, interagency liaison activities & strategic planning.
 
Dr. Schwartz was the Connecticut Commissioner of Veterans Affairs from 2003 to 2014, known for her strong advocacy for Homeless Veterans, Veteran Suicide Prevention, and Women Veterans. She retired from that position with the rank of Colonel from the Governor’s Military Staff. Currently, Dr. Schwartz is a Veterans Health Consultant at the Yale School of Nursing. 

Among her many honors, Dr. Schwartz was selected by the National Women’s History Committee as one of 15 “2018 Nevertheless She Persisted” honorees for her “extraordinary persistence and tenacity in fighting all forms of discrimination.”
 
The keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Lieutenant Commander U.S. Navy Bashon Mann. Mann is a Navy public affairs officer with more than 18 years of active duty service. He is currently assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations staff as the Deputy Public Affairs Officer in the Pentagon. Mann is the author of Daddy’s Love Notes.  Mann says of his book, “As I approached my 40th birthday, I was looking for a creative and slightly humorous way to mark my countdown.” He began writing daily notes to his two daughters to capture significant life events that were instrumental to his personal growth. After sharing the notes publicly, he realized there were others who enjoyed them. So he kept writing. Mann said “The more I wrote, the more I realized the messages within the notes were just as much for me, as they were for my children. They reaffirmed my love for them and helped me regain focus on what was truly important in my life. In these notes, I found my truth.  It's the most valuable thing I can give my daughters.”

Beginning at 11am, the luncheon will include a variety of area boutiques and artisans for shopping before the luncheon program begins at 12:15pm featuring a delicious seasonal menu. Following the luncheon program, copies of Mr. Mann’s books will be available for purchase and autographs.
Tickets for the event are $75 per person. Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Channel 3 Kids Camp.

Channel 3 Kids Camp believes that ALL children deserve a camp experience. Its mission is to provide fun year-round opportunities to children of all abilities, families, and communities through recreational and educational programs that promote diversity, acceptance, and environmental appreciation.  The nonprofit organization provides these opportunities through, traditional overnight and day camp summer programs, respite weekends, vacation camps, a teen leadership program, a year-round childcare center and visiting weekend groups.