SOUTHAMPTON, NY – The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons hosted the Blue Dream Summer Gala, which celebrated the achievements of wounded warriors of Warfighter Sports. The program is devoted to enriching the lives of the men and women who return from military service and are in need of healing and rehabilitation.

The second annual event was held on August 25 at the Sharing Grounds in Bridgehampton where 100% of the proceeds were donated to Warfighter Sports.

The event was a star-studded affair, with Rosanna Scotto, Journalist for Fox News and popular anchor of Good Day New York, as Master of Ceremonies, and a special performance by Greek-Cypriot recording artist and actress Anna Vissi.

Kirk M. Bauer, JD, U.S. Army, Ret., Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA introduced members of the Armed Forces who were in attendance and offered remarks on the program. Master Sergeant Kuth Tanner also offered his personal testimony on how Warfighter Sports has assisted him as he returned from service. A special commemorative plaque was presented to members of the Church and Blue Dream Committee.

Father Constantine Lazarakis reported that the organizers, who included co-chairs Olga Karloutsos-Palladino, Angela Giannopoulos and Bruce Mosler, with the assistance of Father Alexander Karloutsos and his wife Presbytera Xanthi, “put it together with a lot of love.”

Currently Chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman and Wakefield, Mosler suggested Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled Sports USA. Its general mission “is to provide national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, recreation and educational programs.” Warfighter Sports is dedicated to working with veterans.

Father Lazarakis said that “the more you learn about how difficult it is for many of our vets to plug back into society, and about the sacrifice, bravery, dedication, and love for their country with which they served, we have to respond to their service with our service, and that’s what we are doing with Blue Dream this year.

“They have come back, physically, emotionally and spiritually wounded and they need the support of the people they have defended and made sacrifices for, he said, and we are responding to the call of the Gospel because there is a need for mercy and for love. With so many veterans returning to the US,” he said, “you cannot name a more timely cause.”

View photographs of the event »
Watch Anna Vissi’s performance: Video 1 | Video 2
To learn more about the Warfighter Sports, visit: www.warfightersports.org