Last year’s 2nd Annual Patriot Day Celebration proved to be very successful with more than 3,000 citizens gathering to celebrate our heroes, their families and to salute our fallen soldiers. Approximately 3,000 blankets were collected for refugees in war torn Afghanistan delivered by signature sponsor, American Airlines. We were very fortunate to have 55 Corporate Sponsors, 7 National, 10 regional and 35 local vendors. Crocs Shoes Donated to 700 pairs of shoes to Airmens and Afghan families. In addition, we made history with the landing of a BlackHawk and Apache Longbow helicopter in a business district on a city street.

2011 EVENT OVERVIEW

WHEN:      Saturday, September 10, 2011 (9.10.11)
WHERE:   Paseo Highlands Park, 3435 West Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix
2 PM – 9 PM
 2 PM  GATES OPEN
DAILY ACTIVITIES
• Aerial Shows
• Military Displays
• Regimental Grog
6:45 PM   TONY ORLANDO
7:45 PM   JOE NICHOLS

SHUTTLE LOCATIONS: Coming soon.Admission Price: $9.11(plus surcharge) for advance online sales.  Day of event admission is $10.
Kids 10 and under FREE. Food and drink will be available for purchase.  9*11 Patriot Day tickets and merchandise are now available!
**Admission is FREE for active duty military personnel with government ID or in uniform. COLLECTING:    New or gently used blankets for Afghan refugeesBENEFITS: 100 Club, ThanksUSA and Fighter Country Foundation
          
Scholarships Go To Benefit:
• Dependents and spouses of active-duty U.S. military personnel, with special emphasis given to those
who lost a loved one in service to America.
• Families of Arizona National Guardsmen serving on active duty
• Families of Arizona Police and Firemen

HOST:  Friends of Freedom, a 501(c)(3) chartered foundation, pending nonprofit organization status. It is comprised of a team of business owner’s, leaders of industry and everyday citizens dedicated to aiding and supporting our military family of active duty service members and veterans and the men and women first responders in our police, fire and emergency response teams.

Event Info: You may bring in 1-20 oz sealed, bottle water | No food, beverage, alcohol, backpacks or weapons allowed!

QUESTIONS:   Amy Petrovsky, Sensational Events, amy@sensationalevents.com; 602.696.4646; info@patriotdayaz.org

ANNOUNCING OUR 2011 SPONSORS AND MEDIA PARTNERS

                      

             

            

             

                     
              

     

       

Join us on  

1. 9-11 Patriot Day Celebration Giveaway
2. 2nd Patriot Day Celebration Video Montage
3. 2nd Annual Patriot Day Celebration

Opt-in-2-Win up to $25,000 in PRIZES
(must be present to win)

Text VETS to 411247

INSTRUCTIONS:
Start a new text message. Enter 411247 as you would a phone #.
In the body of the Text enter VETS. Now send and you’re done.
Must be Present to win. Your info will never be shared.
Standard Text Rates Apply.

GIVE-AWAYS PRIZES

(More to come, check back often!)

• TROON: 40 Troon Cards (valued at $250 each-The Troon Card (aka the AZ Foursome Card) gives the cardholder plus up to 3 guests green fee discounts of about 50% at each of Troon’s 15 Arizona daily fee golf courses.
• Arizona Biltmore: 2 complimentary dinner’s for 2 (excluding alcohol) in Wrights
• Hard Rock Hotels: 1 night stay and meal for 2 in MJs
• Hyatt Hotels: 2 night stay at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe
• Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa: 2 night stay and dinner for 2 in our Italian restaurant, Alto Ristorante e bar
• La Quinta Resort and Spa: 2 night stay plus dinner for 2 at 26 Restaurant
• La Valencia Resort at La Jolla: 1 night stay + breakfast
• Fox Sports Grill: 4 – $25 gift certificates
• The Scottsdale Plaza Resort: 2 night stay in one of our patio suites
• Fort McDowell Adventures: Cowboy cookout for 10, and a horseback riding gift certificate
• Hotel Valley Ho: 1 night stay with breakfast for 2

To learn more about the 2nd Annual Patriot Day Celebration click here.

1. 2nd Annual Patriot Day Celebration
2. 2011 9*11 Patriot Day Celebration
3. 2nd Patriot Day Celebration Video Montage

Mission – To support the men, women and families of Luke Air Force Base.

Fighter Country Foundation (FCF) is a 501(c) (3), not-for-profit corporation focused on the supporting programs and services at Luke that aid, support and honor Airmen and their families in need.

Established in 2006, FCF has made a significant impact on the lives of servicemen and women stationed at Luke. We also support Luke Airmen currently deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world.

We also support the families of any Luke Airmen killed in the line of duty and are proud to have raised more than a million dollars for this effort to date.

PROGRAMS

Annually, FCF supports programs on Base that ease and comfort these fine men, women and families as they serve our country. A few of these services are listed below:

Operation Thunderbox

Occurs each July, October and December. Operation Thunderbox collects comfort items such as sunscreen, phone cards and powdered drinks for airmen. Items are collected and the program pays for boxes and postage for 450 boxes: 150 in July, 150 in October and 150 in December to Airmen deployed from Luke AFB to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, and throughout the world.

Operation Warmheart

Occurs throughout the year. Operation Warmheart is used to assist military families in times of hardships for things that Air Force Aid is unable to help them with. Warmheart is also used to augment Adopt a Family and Angel tree donations during the holidays.

Unit Spouse and Family Support Fund

The Foundation provides support and services to help Luke service members cope with the demands of deployments and to support families during separations resulting from mission requirements. Base funds are limited for these programs. Hearts Apart provides monthly activities that offer social, recreational, and morale support through a wide range of events, including picnics, bowling, arts and crafts, spouse luncheons, sports events, children’s activities, and concerts. These activities provide a safe and supportive environment to provide Luke deployed families with a strong sense of community while separated from their loved ones. In addition, expanded quarterly activities include active duty personnel who have returned from deployment within the past year, along with their families. Post-deployment “Welcome Home” events provide education on reunion stressors and coping with issues related to deployment in a friendly welcoming environment that includes lunch and welcome home gift certificates to the deployers and families. This program supports over 1,500 persons per year.

Airmen / Family Readiness Center

FCF helps market Base programs and encourages participation in activities designed to promote the welfare of the Luke active duty and family population. Luke service agencies focus on prevention programs to assist the many young families at Luke. Over one-third of the Luke population is under the age of 25 and many have family responsibilities. Incentives and refreshments create a positive environment that encourages use of services that include financial counseling, parenting assistance, family violence treatment and prevention, relocation assistance, and a variety of other prevention programs.

Chaplain Services

FCF is proud to support monthly dinners deployed to Airmen families.

944^th Reserve Wing

The Foundation also supports programs that assist the 944^th Air Force Reserve Wing. These are men and women who live in our community full-time and support the global war on terror.

LUKE AIRMEN MEMORIAL FUND

Fighter Country Foundation has established the Luke Airmen Memorial Fund to assist any Airmen injured or killed in the line of duty. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Luke airmen and their families sacrifice a lot for our freedom. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice to their country. We are here to provide honor, support and comfort to these incredible Americans.

DONATE

You can help the families and airmen at Luke by making a donation. Even a few dollars can go a long way in providing much needed assistance to those who need it most. As a 501(c)(3), your donation is always 100% tax deductible.

You can make a donation of any amount including $10, $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500 and more. You have an option of how to direct your donation as one of the following:

Airmen and Family Base Programs
Airmen Memorial Fund
Chaplain Services Fund

1. 9/11 Silent Auction to benefit Fighter Country Foundation
2. Senator John McCain Honored by Fighter Country
3. Fighter Country Partnership’s Ron Sites looks to the future

Each year, our valued members and corporate partners enable FCP to host many events designed to bring the community and the base closer together. The life of an Airmen and their family often rotates assignments every two years, so commonly a commander will change command of a squadron, group or wing level within 24 months.

FCP supported events ease this transition by having many opportunities for social interaction between the community and the base. Many times this is where new commanders are first introduced to their surrounding communities.

Also annually, Fighter Country Partnership and Fighter Country Foundation volunteers to support events and programs that have been identified as crucial to the care and feeding of Luke Air Force Base personnel, as well as being vital to the education of the surrounding communities. The following are the 2009 Top Ten Events and Programs supported by Fighter Country, our Sponsors and Members.

1. Luke Air Force Base Serves as the “School House” for Air Force Fighter Training
2. Luke community thankful for your support
3. Support Building for Statewide F-35 Luke Forward Campaign

Steven Yamamori was the Executive Director and CEO of Fighter Country Partnership and Fighter Country Foundation. He worked with business and community leaders to renew our commitment to the largest fighter base in the world with a $2.17 billion dollar economic impact to our state. During Steve’s tenure as CEO he was responsible in raising over two million dollars for the organization.

Steve began his professional career in advertising where he worked in account management and later as a copywriter for the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Tobacco Education Prevention Program. His work with local projects and companies around the state who were committed to educating kids about the dangers of smoking taught him the importance of grassroots marketing and awareness.

During an award-winning stint at R&R Partners advertising agency, Steve worked as lead copywriter for major Valley companies and is passionate about volunteering in his community, in particular the West Valley, his current home that he shares with his wife Aimee and their daughter Lilly.

Steve now works with APS as Manager, Community Relations.

1. Executive Director / President – Ron Sites
2. Fighter Country Partnership announces new Executive Director / President
3. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Steve Yamamori Love Luke AFB