LT Andy Baldwin M.D. speaks at tonight's "2009 Heroes Red, White & Blue Inaugural Ball"

January 20, 2009 (Washington, D.C.) U.S. NAVY Doctor, Humanitarian, Triathlete and TV Personality LT Andy Baldwin M.D. spoke at tonight's Inaugural Ball hosted by Citizens Helping Heroes honoring Military Families and Wounded Service Members. The event was held from 8:00pm to 2:00AM at the Warner Theatre with Nile Rodgers producing a three-hour tribute concert. CNN's Larry King, NBA star Jalen Rose, Admiral Mike Mullen (the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi also participated at the event.

Wounded honored at ‘Heroes’ ball
Source: Marine Corps Times
By: Karen Jowers

From folk singers “Peter, Paul and Ben Vereen,” to funk icon George Clinton with Sly Stone, to Latin American Idol Carlos Pena — and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs — the thanks rolled in Tuesday night to wounded troops and their families honored at the Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball.

About 300 troops from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and the National Naval Medical Center in nearby Bethesda, Md., were VIPs at the event, held at the Warner Theatre in downtown Washington.

Peter and Paul didn’t bring Mary, who is recuperating from an illness, so actor Ben Vereen filled in for her on the songs “Blowing in the Wind” and “This Land is Your Land.”

George Clinton brought on rarely seen Sly Stone with his group, and was a big hit with the troops, many of whom flocked forward to the stage.

The Heroes Ball had nearly been canceled at one point, but Humana Military Healthcare Services, a Tricare contractor, stepped in as a title sponsor, Navy LT Andrew Baldwin said, in thanking Humana executives on stage. Triwest Healthcare Alliance, another Tricare contractor, also was a title sponsor of the event.

Because of her wounds in Iraq, and also because she doesn’t like tight crowds, Army Sgt. 1st Class Dorothea Hooper did not attend the actual inauguration earlier in the day on the National Mall.

But the Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball was plenty for her.

“It’s just great to be here,” said Hooper, who is African-American. “I look at it like I’m part of history. I served twice in Iraq. I watched an African-American become president today. It’s unreal. The ball kind of makes everything I’ve done with the war worthwhile for me,” she said.

Groups too numerous to name have helped her, she said, including a veteran who provides specialized, hand-made canes for wounded troops. Hers has a bald eagle as its handle, and includes her name and unit, the 445th Quartermaster Co., an Army Reserve outfit in Trenton, N.J.

The event also benefited the USO and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which provides support and assistance to the loved ones of those who have died on active duty.

“The USO has been very good to wounded soldiers,” said District of Columbia National Guard Sgt. DeWitt Osborne. “They have long taken care of soldiers, and I thought it would be fitting to spend an historic evening with the USO.”

Osborne was wounded by improvised explosive devices three times, and has had eight surgeries with six anchors in his shoulder and two rods in his foot.

When House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrived, Osborne made his way through the crowd to thank her for obtaining tickets to the inauguration for him. “That really made it a special occasion for me, my wife and my daughter,” he said. “I sat with the Tuskegee Airmen. That was an honor.”

Before the concert, Mullen told the group that the passion and enthusiasm of the wounded and their families is inspiring.

“It’s a testament of our nation as to how well we take care of those who are wounded and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mullen said. “We need to, as a nation, reach out and make sure they are taken care of, and their families, for the rest of their lives.”

He asked the group to also remember the more than 280,000 troops deployed around the world.

Praising the quality of today’s armed forces, Mullen said, “We need you. We’ll continue to need you. As our brand new president said today, there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

About Dr. Andy Baldwin
U.S. Navy Lieutenant Andy Baldwin, M.D. is an Undersea Medical Officer, Ironman triathlete, Navy Diver, and humanitarian currently stationed in Washington, D.C. at the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. In January 2009, Dr. Baldwin began working with the U.S. Surgeon General and his “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” initiative to combat childhood obesity. Dr. Baldwin’s public persona as a TV celebrity on network television and the star of ABC’s hit show “The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman” has transcended into a commitment to humanitarianism through his practice of medicine. His public presentations focus on the value of service to humanity.

Dr. Baldwin’s values and integrity are evident through his charitable pursuits, his compassionate clinical contributions around the world, as well as in his desire to improve the quality of life for others in need. He has earned the Humanitarian of the Year award from Triathlete and Competitor magazines for his participation on a military mission in Laos, where he treated more than 600 Laotians in remote mountain villages.

As the founder of "Got Your Back Network" (www.GotYourBackNetwork.org), Dr. Baldwin has been able to launch a non-profit program to raise money to support the brave families of the service men and women who gave their lives while serving their country. 100% of the fund proceeds generated from Dr. Baldwin's “Got Your Back" initiative, a 501(c)(3) in-process accredited organization, will fund an endowment to provide financial support for applicant families: education, emergencies and medical miracles.

Dr. Baldwin’s domestic and global giving is reflected in his ability to motivate and energize others with good medicine and goodwill. In remembrance of his uncle, Dr. Baldwin established a fund to help raise funding for pancreatic research and he continues to support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Dr. Baldwin has been a member of Project Active, which is a non-profit initiative dedicated to diffusing world tensions through promotion of sports, health and fitness in war-torn and impoverished countries.

This drive to achieve was developed early in Dr. Baldwin’s life. He worked three jobs in his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, earned a Valedictorian honor in his high school class, was an All-American swimmer, and was the ESPN national scholar/athlete of the year in 1995. He received a full Navy ROTC scholarship to Duke University, where he pursued a pre-med curriculum. Dr. Baldwin swam as a varsity athlete throughout his undergraduate career. He graduated with honors as a student-athlete in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Commissioned Officer in the United States Navy. Dr. Baldwin pursued his dream of becoming a physician, at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine. After graduating in 2003, Dr. Baldwin completed a year internship in general surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego. He served his operational duty in the Navy as an Undersea Medical Officer. He completed Navy Dive School and Undersea Medical Training and spent a three year tour in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE.

Today, Dr. Andy Baldwin resides in Washington, D.C., a prime location for launching his global charitable giving and fundraising, humanitarian advocacy and health and fitness educational activities.

For more information on Dr. Andy Baldwin, visit his website at www.AndyBaldwin.com or Dr. Andy Baldwin's client page at Crossover Entertainment Group LLC or Dr. Andy Baldwin's foundation, Got Your Back Network.

About Lawson Artist Management, LLC/Crossover Entertainment Group, LLC
Lawson Artist Management is a unique, diversified talent management firm founded and led by Mike Lawson, an investment banking executive with a strategic development, marketing, financial and management consulting business background who is also a classical pianist. Lawson Artist Management personally manages both established and emerging recording artists, actors/actresses, screenwriters, directors and executive producers.  Lawson Artist Management is now an affiliate of Crossover Entertainment Group, LLC. For more information, visit Crossover’s website at www.CrossoverEntertainment.com.