It’s Vegas Baby! “Viva Las Vegas Night” Gala March 9 is House of Heroes Connecticut’s Biggest Fundraiser of the Year
William J. May III Service Above Self Awards, Including Posthumous Salute to Hartford Police Detective Bobby Garten, to Headline Annual Event; iHeart’s Renee DiNino to Host
Hamden, Conn., January 23, 2024 – House of Heroes Connecticut’s (HOHCT) 8th Annual Hearts & Heroes Gala March 9 at Aria in Prospect will take on a Vegas theme this year, with casino-style games, entertainment by the Timmy Maia Music Experience and the organization’s annual William J. May III Service Above Self Awards, including a special, posthumous Strength in Service award honoring Hartford Police Detective Bobby Garten.
iHeart Media personality and veterans advocate Renee DiNino will be Guest Host of HOHCT’s “Viva Las Vegas Night,” the veterans service organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. More than 250 guests are expected at the event, which will also include an open bar, buffet dinner, premium raffle and silent auction.
Then-Officer Garten, a member of the Hartford Police Department’s (HPD) Street Crimes Unit, was tragically killed last September while on duty with his partner, Officer Brian Kearney, who suffered serious injuries. Officer Kearney will also be honored with a May Award in ceremonies that will pay tribute to the HPD Street Crimes Unit and the law enforcement community.
The William J. May III Service Above Self Awards are presented annually to the organization’s Volunteer, Craftsman and Sponsor of the Year. This year’s honorees in those categories for the 2023 service year are Paul Hoar, Jackie Lovett and Ann Yeomans (Volunteer), John and Dana Furness (Craftsman) and Clinton Country Club (Sponsor). The Strength in Service honor is a special category of the May Award, presented periodically in recognition of extraordinary service and sacrifice.
The May Awards, established in 2019, honor the legacy of HOHCT’s late co-founder Bill May, a 24-year Army Aviation veteran, Black Hawk helicopter test pilot and inspiring leader whose vision was to assist fellow veterans in need of home renovations and repairs that would keep them safely in their homes.
Tickets for the event are $130 per person. Event tickets, tables, sponsorships and advertising opportunities are available at www.hohct.org/vivalasvegas.
House of Heroes Connecticut is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that recognizes, honors and serves military and public safety veterans and/or their surviving spouses for their sacrificial service to America. The organization has provided one-day, no-cost home improvements with a priority placed on safety and accessibility to more than 220 veterans or surviving spouses. The Connecticut Chapter is part of a national organization based in Georgia that has served more than 1,000 veterans nationwide. For more information, visit www.hohct.org.
Pictured: Fallen Hero, Hartford Detective Bobby Garten