The Navy SEAL Warrior Fund celebrated the Naval Special Warfare Community and its support of our country by raising a record $4.2 million at the 4th Gala Dinner onboard the USS INTREPID on Thursday May 6, 2010. The sold out event attracted over 1,000 supporters.

The Navy SEAL Warrior Fund began the day at the New York Stock Exchange, where Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire, USN, rang The Opening Bell at the NYSE. VADM Maguire is the Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Ms. Tracy Tapper, surviving spouse of SOC David Tapper (Killed In Action, Afghanistan, August, 2003) and LT Jason Redman (Wounded In Action, Iraq, September, 2007), accompanied VADM Maguire.

USN, rang The Opening Bell at the NYSE

Emotions ran high as dinner host Mika Brzezinski of the MSNBC show Morning. Joe emceed the evening events and celebrated the heroes in the audience. Not only did they offer uplifting and inspiring comments about the Navy SEALs and their service to this country, but also offered insights as to the impact the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund has on the families and dependents of Navy SEALs. They both thanked the New York City Police Department Honor Guard for presenting colors prior to the start of the dinner.

Brendan Rogers, President of the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund, in addressing the crowd said, "Today's Naval Special Warfare Community is approaching ten years of sustained combat. This level of combat intensity carries with it high costs, some visible and some hidden. Our mission is to serve our community by helping to mitigate some of these very real costs to our warriors and their families. It is a tribute to the community that tonight's dinner has been so successful."

The SEAL Fund presented Mr. and Mrs. Steven Cohan with the Navy SEAL Patriot Award. This award was established by the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund and is presented to an individual(s) who has contributed greatly to our county and/or who upholds the values that epitomize the SEAL community.

Alexandra and Steven Cohen are well known in the New York and Connecticut charitable circles. Steven Cohen runs S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LP an asset management firm based in Stamford, Connecticut. The Cohen's focus their charitable giving on children's education and health services. In March, the North Shore-LIJ pediatric hospital was named the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's' Medical Center of New York in recognition of their significant support. For many years the Cohen have been benefactors of several New York and Connecticut hospitals, including establishing pediatric care facility at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Stamford Hospital. Steven Cohen is also an active board member on the board of Robin Hood which fights poverty in New York. Previously, Steven served as a board member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research and continues to actively support this organization.

During his acceptance speech, Mr. Cohen spoke about his son who after graduating from Brown University about a year ago, decided to enlist in the Marine Corp. Mr. Cohen stated that one of the proudest days in his life was watching his son's graduation at Parris Island, South Carolina. His son will leave shortly for a tour of duty in Iraq. We ask you to keep him and all the other members of the armed services serving overseas in your prayers as we do.

An additional highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Fire in the Gut Award to Captain Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk Alabama who was held hostage for three days by Somali Pirates before being rescued by Navy SEALs.

Christina Valentine, surviving spouse of SOCS Tommy Valentine (Killed In Training, February, 2008) addressed the audience and provided specific examples of how the SEAL Fund has impacted the families of fallen SEALs. LT Jason Redman addressed the audience as well and publicly thanked the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund for the support they provide to the families of wounded warriors. The inspiring and emotional evening concluded with the Naval Special Warfare Sailor of the Year reciting the SEAL Ethos.