|
Putnam County Mother Heads up $7Million Drive to Help Returning American Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
by Edward Paul Greiff
 | | Left to right at the 2006 NYC Marathon - Adrian Guglielmo, the first place female marathoner with a disability, an Iraq veteran marathoner and 76-year old Richard Traum, founder and President of the Achilles Club. |
|
Adrian Guglielmo could be considered “Woman Of The Year” for many reasons. She is pictured here after her latest accomplishment - planning, coordinating, and establishing the Avis Achilles Club Reunion and Triage area for athletes with disabilities at the 2006 NYC Marathon. At the event there was no doubt in anybody’s mind who was running the show as she immediately took control and issued out orders like a commanding General on a battle field.
Richard Traum began this club as a way of instilling self-confidence in individuals with disabilities. His rationale is if you complete a 26-mile marathon you will have self confidence to tackle other challenges in life. Adrian has completed over five NYC Marathons and in her behind-the-scenes role she pulls together a very large support team of volunteers from the NYPD, NYFD, EMT, Doctors, and many other support personnel to aid the athletes after their physically and emotionally exhausting effort.
Adrian Guglielmo is first a suburban Mahopac mother of three teenage students, two sons and a daughter, a role she takes very seriously. She may travel around the world during the week but weekends are reserved for quality family time, a rule she very rarely breaks.
Secondly, she is the President of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Designate Support Group and has committed to raising $7 million to help assimilate returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans back into American life. The group’s slogan is, “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”
Ms. Guglielmo became involved in this project through a serendipitous meeting that occurred at an affair hosted by NYC Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion. This past fall Bloomberg hosted a Diversity Awards ceremony at Gracie Mansion to honor individuals and corporations for their outstanding achievement in helping people with disabilities reenter mainstream America. One of the invited guests, Col. Patrick L. Gualtieri, Executive Director of the “United War Veterans Council,” the Veterans Day Parade and other veterans affairs, walked up to the NYC Commissioner for Disability Services Matt Sapolin and asked, “I need somebody to help us with our fund raising and support program to help the returning veterans readjust to civilian life especially those that have been injured. Do you know of anyone that can help us?”
Without hesitation, Commissioner Sapolin, who is blind, turned to the direction of Adrian’s voice, pointed and said, “She’s your man, there’s no one better.”
And that’s how a mother from Mahopac got involved with the Vietnam Veterans of America and as the VVA President John Rowan said in a recent Press release, “From its beginning in 1978 the VVA has lived by our founding principle, “Never again will one generation of Americans abandon another.” We adopted that principle in response to the less-than welcome home we received from too many Americans when we came home from our war. Today, we have broadened that message to give our fullest support to the newest generation of veterans.”
Adrian has spent the last twenty years of her life opening the doors of Corporate America to recognize and assist the disabled community in reentering mainstream America. So when the veterans asked for her help it was a natural fit. Her Designate Support Group is part of the Vietnam Veterans of America and they work with Patrick Gualtieri, and Brigadier General Richard Colt, a three-war veteran (Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq) and Commandant of Fort Totten, and honorary leader of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). John Rowan is the North American President of the VVA.
When asked about the commitment to raise $7 million for the program Adrian responded by saying, “it may seem like a lot, but I like challenges and believe in setting goals.” What makes Adrian different than other marketing and fund raising consultants is her ability to put a different twist on the approach that makes the efforts a win-win situation for all involved. “Capitalism with a cause,” is what she calls the method. Over the years she has won many awards for her efforts such as “The New York State 2004 CEO Leadership Award” bestowed upon her by the “American Association of People With Disabilities” (AAPD) and by the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD).
When it comes to raising money one of her recent success stories is the creation of the “Avis Access” program which led to a one year 35% increase in revenue for Avis and it is still growing.
Adrian Guglielmo’s passion and quest in life is helping people with disabilities succeed in life and convincing corporate America that the disability community is mainstream America. These are the reasons why she is the “Woman Of The Year.”
Providing local news, information and opinions from
Philipstown and Putnam Valley, NY
Encompassing the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville,
and the hamlet of Garrison, Putnam County, NY.
This site is a publication of The Putnam County News and Recorder, the source for news and information of the Philipstown
and Putnam Valley area. The PCN&R is 139
years old, published in hard copy every Wednesday, and circulated throughout Putnam
County, NY.
The PCN&R prints LEGAL NOTICES
for: Putnam County, The Town of Philipstown, The Town of Putnam Valley, Village of Cold Spring, Village of
Nelsonville, the Haldane Union Free School District and the Garrison Union Free School
District.
Deadline for printed press releases, advertisements and classifieds is Monday at noon for
Wednesday publication. This site is updated on an as-needed basis with a minimum update
weekly on Thursdays. For further information or to request a subscription to the paper, please
contact us with your name and mailing address at:
(845) 265-2468 PO Box 185, Cold Spring, NY 10516, or e-mail us at editor@pcnr.com
If you see an advertiser on line, tell them! | Click ads below
for larger version
|
)