New York, NY (Top40 Charts) An estimated 55,000 women veterans are homeless at any given time in the United States. The Ms. Veteran
America competition has changed the discussion around homeless women veterans and will shine a light on the fastest growing segment of the homeless population on October 7 at 6:00pm at the Hollywood American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, CA.
We Are Hear artist Willa Amai will be performing at the event. The 14-year-old singer/songwriter on
Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes) & Kerry Brown's label had her first song "
Scars" featured alongside Pat Benatar,
Christina Aguilera, P!nk & more on the original soundtrack for Served Like a Girl, a documentary film about the Ms. Veteran
America competition. She was also recently in a QuickBooks TV commercial with her cover of Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," which has nearly 6 million YouTube views and just won a Clio Award - watch it here.
The 25 finalists for Ms. Veteran
America 2018, Presented by CACI, represent every branch of the United States military. One lucky woman veteran will accept the title of Ms. Veteran
America 2018 and will travel the country advocating for homeless women veterans and their children.
Not only does Ms. Veteran
America advocate for homeless women veterans and their children, but she serves as a role model, teaching and empowering young women to support, inspire and lift-up one another. Proceeds from the Ms. Veteran
America competition supports the national nonprofit, Final Salute Inc. (www.finalsaluteinc.org), provide housing for homeless women veterans and their children. To date, Final Salute Inc. has supported over 5,000 Women Veterans and their children in over 30 states and territories, provided over 12,600 housing days and raised over $3 million to support homeless women veterans and their children.
Maj. Jas Boothe (CNN Hero and Oprah Winfrey Standing Ovation Recipient) is the founder of Ms. Veteran
America and Final Salute Inc. She was prompted to start Final Salute Inc. and bring attention to the fastest growing segment of the homeless demographic in America, women veterans, when she was made aware that no other resources existed for them and their children. Jas was homeless during 2005-2006, due to Hurricane Katrina and her battle with head, throat and neck cancer. No resources existed to help her during that challenging time. Boothe set out to make changes.
"Historically, it has always been women who have brought about change for other women; women veteran issues will also take such an approach. All of these women have stepped forward to become a voice for a population of forgotten veterans who feel as if
America isn't listening to them. These women are the epitome of what it means to 'never leave a fallen comrade,'" said Major Boothe.
The 2018 Ms. Veteran
America competition Master of Ceremonies and Celebrity Co-Host is actor Lamman Rucker of the hit series "Greenleaf" on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The Mistress of Ceremonies is Marissa Strock, Purple
Heart Recipient, Combat Disabled Veteran, Glamputee and comedian.
Other special and celebrity guests include Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke from
Dukes of Hazzard); Skye Marshall (Black Lightening and Grey's Anatomy);Gina Monreal (NCIS Co-Executive Producer); Dr. Jen Welter (the First Female NFL Coach) and a performance by Cowboy Jax (Army Veteran and Singer).
