America's Warrior Partnership Honors TAPS Founder Bonnie Carroll With Fifth Annual Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award

WASHINGTON, September 4, 2019 (Newswire.com) - America’s Warrior Partnership has named retired Air Force Reserve Maj. Bonnie Carroll as the recipient of the fifth annual Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award. Named after Medal of Honor recipient Col. Leo K. Thorsness, the award recognizes outstanding leadership and exceptional service to military veterans, their families and caregivers.

“Leo channeled his experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam into the inspirational leadership that stood as a guiding principle of our team’s mission to empower veterans,” said Jim Lorraine, President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership. “Similarly, Bonnie’s own personal experience facing a traumatic loss was the crucible through which she forged her own leadership in serving bereaved military families. She has clearly earned her place among those who embody Leo’s spirit.”

Carroll is a retired Air Force Reserve major, an appointee in the Reagan and Bush White Houses and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. She founded the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the leading national organization providing critical support services to the families of America’s fallen military heroes, in 1994 following the death of her husband, Brigadier General Tom Carroll, in an Army aviation accident.

TAPS compliments the honors rendered and benefits given to eligible survivors by the government and expands that care to all who are grieving the death of a military loved one. For over 25 years, TAPS has provided ongoing emotional support, resources, comfort and care for more than 85,000 surviving military family members, giving survivors a national network of trained peers, camps and retreats for all ages. The organization also offers casework services including financial assistance, connections to community-based care and a 24/7 survivor helpline all available at no cost, for all who are grieving, forever.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named the fifth recipient of the Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award and to join a distinguished group of recipients who have committed themselves wholeheartedly to our veterans, their families and caregivers,” Carroll said. “Col. Thorsness exemplified service and leadership both in and out of uniform, and his distinguishing qualities of humility and bravery resonate deeply with all those who have loved and lost a fallen military hero.”

Previous recipients of the award include former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole; former U.S. President George W. Bush; Home Depot co-founder and philanthropist Bernie Marcus; and Fox News anchor Jon Scott. Carroll will receive this year’s award at the Sixth Annual Warrior Community Integration Symposium, which occurs from September 4 – 6, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta.

More information about the Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award and the Warrior Community Integration Symposium is available at AmericasWarriorPartnership.org/2019-Symposium.

About America’s Warrior Partnership

America’s Warrior Partnership is committed to empowering communities to empower veterans. We fill the gaps that exist between current veteran service organizations by helping nonprofits connect with the veterans, military members and families in need: bolstering their efficacy, improving their results and empowering their initiatives. America’s Warrior Partnership is a force multiplier for warrior community integration that enhances communities where great Americans choose to live and contribute. For more information on the organization and how to get involved, visit www.AmericasWarriorPartnership.org.

About TAPS

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 85,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).  

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Media Contacts:

Joe Wolf, Dalton Agency

904.910.4454; [email protected]

Anthony Popiel, Dalton Agency

404.876.1309; [email protected]

Rita Barry-Corke, TAPS

202-588-8277; [email protected]

Source: America's Warrior Partnership