Assal Ravandi was crazy about the Oscars.
She explains, “I asked myself, ‘Why not have a recognition platform for veterans? Why is it only actors, actresses, or musicians who are recognized? Why don’t we do the same for our veterans who are the true celebrities and stars in our country?'”
Assal’s idea launched a very successful red-carpet event. The 4th Annual Veterans Awards shines a spotlight on individual veterans and organizations who are excelling at making a difference in their community.
“I was nostalgic for other service members, so I always say I kind of wanted to throw a party for myself! But 600 people showed up the first year, and organizations that supported us that year came up to me and said, ‘If you do this again, we will help you, we want to partner with you,'” shares Assal.
As a result, the Army veteran formed the nonprofit organization, the Academy of United States Veterans (AUSV). Today, Assal is the President and CEO of AUSV, and the organization proudly provides education and advocacy to ensure a promising future for a new generation of veterans.
Assal, a former intelligence analyst and language instructor, served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Although she has traded combat boots for heels, and uniforms for evening gowns, she still continues to tirelessly and humbly serve our veteran community.
Attend the 4th Vettys®
The 4th Annual Veterans Awards will be held January 20 at the historic Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC. Tickets and sponsorships are still available for this glamorous night of honoring of our veterans. To learn more about the event and the AUSV, please visit http://vettys.org/.
Watch the exclusive Army Wife 101 interview with Assal Ravandi, here:
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Jackie Toops
A self-described “Jackie of All Trades,” former Army wife Jackie Toops enjoys exploring the various facets of her personality by chronicling military life, world travels, family, her love of the arts and more. Her academic background is in the fields of Interdisciplinary Humanities, Museum Studies and Nonprofit Management, and she has overseen public relations for museums, galleries and universities. Jackie’s articles have been featured on Army Wife 101, Wall Street International Magazine, SoFluential, HomeAway, Military Biz Connection and FamiliesGo. While stationed in Germany, she regularly discussed her articles on-air with the Armed Forces Network in Wiesbaden. A mother of two, Jackie enjoys coffee, freelance writing, languages and discovering new ways to express herself. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
A self-described “Jackie of All Trades,” former Army wife Jackie Toops enjoys exploring the various facets of her personality by chronicling military life, world travels, family, her love of the arts and more. Her academic background is in the fields of Interdisciplinary Humanities, Museum Studies and Nonprofit Management, and she has overseen public relations for museums, galleries and universities. Jackie’s articles have been featured on Army Wife 101, Wall Street International Magazine, SoFluential, HomeAway, Military Biz Connection and FamiliesGo. While stationed in Germany, she regularly discussed her articles on-air with the Armed Forces Network in Wiesbaden. A mother of two, Jackie enjoys coffee, freelance writing, languages and discovering new ways to express herself. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.