For Marie Bogdonoff, who founded the non-profit organization Villagers for Veterans, helping military members and their families has been a labor of love. For the past two years, she has raised more than $150,000 to help injured warriors and their families as well as veterans across the United States, through hosting a wide range of events along with dedicated volunteers in The Villages.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, Villagers for Veterans will bring military caregivers and their wounded warrior sons and daughter to The Villages for a book signing and dinner fundraising event. They are featured in the book, “Unbreakable Bonds: The Mighty Moms and Wounded Warriors of Walter Reed,” co-authored by Dava Guerin and Kevin Ferris, and released last November by Skyhorse Publishing in New York. The book, which has received stellar reviews and has a foreword written by President George H. W. Bush, tells 10 touching stories of the struggles and triumphs of being a military caregiver. These “mighty moms” have given everything to aid in the recovery of their children who were catastrophically injured during war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The daylong event begins with a book signing from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at Lake Sumter Landing. Copies of the book will be available to be signed by the authors, moms and warriors. Then, another book signing will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. at American Legion Post 347 in Lady Lake. And from 6 to 9 p.m. at the same location, Villagers for Veterans will present a cabaret show and dinner featuring singer, Suzi Cruz. Tickets for the dinner and show are $25 and can be purchased in advance by contacting Marie Bogdonoff at (516) 220-5068, at American Legion Post 347 or by visiting www.villagersforveterans.org
