NBC's Willie Geist to Host 54th Annual USO Armed Forces Gala & Gold Medal Dinner in New York

NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHAT: 54th USO Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner

WHEN: Wednesday, December 9, 2015
6:30 p.m. Red Carpet
6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:30 p.m. Dinner & Evening Program
 
WHERE: New York Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
 
WHO:
 
Host
Willie Geist, NBC's TODAY Show and Morning Joe
 
Celebrity Presenters
Meredith Vieira, NBC's Meredith Vieira Show
Stephen Colbert, CBS's Late Night with Stephen Colbert
Sadie Robertson, AMC's Duck Dynasty and ABC's Dancing with the Stars
Cast Members from FOX's GOTHAM
 
Volunteers of the Year
50+ Miss USA and Miss Teen USA titleholders
Sherri Hill, International Fashion Designer
 
USO Distinguished Service Award Recipients
General Paul J. Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Mrs. Ricki Selva
Frank Bisignano, Chairman & CEO of First Data Corporation
 
George Van Cleave Military Leadership Award Recipients
U.S. Army: Sergeant Rachael Nicol, 307th BEB, 3rd BDE, 82nd ABN DIV Fort Bragg, NC
U.S. Marine Corps: Staff Sergeant Zachary Rubart, Marine Security Force, White House Communications Agency, Washington, DC
U.S. Navy: Hospital Corpsman First Class Timothy Bleigh, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Kaneohe Bay, HI
U.S. Air Force: Staff Sergeant Spencer Stone, Travis Air Force Base, CA
U.S. Coast Guard: Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Darren Harrity, Coast Guard Sector North Bend, OR
 
USO of Metropolitan New York
Chuck Hill, Chairman of the Board
Brian Whiting, President & CEO
 
WHY: NBC's Willie Geist to serve as host and Meredith Vieira, Stephen Colbert, Sadie Robertson and cast members from FOX's Gotham will present at the 54st USO Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner at the New York Marriott Marquis on Dec. 9th. During the awards dinner the USO of Metropolitan New York will publicly honor and thank the outstanding commitment, exceptional service, sacrifice and achievements of individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to their country. This year, General Paul J. Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mrs. Ricki Selva and Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO of First Data Corporation, will be presented with the USO Distinguished Service Award. The USO George Van Cleave Military Leadership Awards will also be presented to service members from each branch of the armed forces including Staff Sergeant Zachary Rubart, who was involved in the Navy Yard shooting in Washington, DC and Staff Sergeant Spencer Stone, who helped foil an attempted terror attack on a French train earlier this year.
 
SPONSORS:
 
Presenting Sponsors
First Data Corporation
Prudential Financial
United Technologies Corporation
 
Co-Chair Sponsors
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Catsimatidis Family Foundation
JetBlue Airways
Johnson & Johnson
Tukaiz
 
NOTE: For more information about the USO Gala visit usonyc.org/gala. For media inquiries please email kbeshear@usonyc.org.