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Celebrating 11 years of successfully helping many Veterans and their families overcome challenges they face when trying to return to civilian life is a reason to celebrate!
Please join us at the celebrated Union League of Philadelphia on Friday, October 23, 2026 for our Annual Patriot Fund Gala!
As this is a very special event, we wanted to hold it in a very special location.
The Union League of Philadelphia is
Proudly Voted #1 City Club in the Country 2012 • 2014 • 2016 • 2018 • 2020 • 2022 • 2024
Founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, The Union League of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Union Leagues across a nation torn by civil war. The League has hosted U.S. presidents, heads of state, industrialists, entertainers and dignitaries from around the globe and has proudly supported the American military in each conflict since the Civil War. The Union League continues to be driven by its founding motto, Amor Patriae Ducit or Love of Country Leads.
Hotel rooms available at Union League Club: contact Front Desk: 215.587.5570 for The Patriot Fund Room Block or email at: [email protected].
Event Timeline
5:00 p.m. Registration
5:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour
6:30 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker and other VIP Speakers
8:00 p.m. Entertainment
Dress Code
Black Tie Optional
Patriot Of The Year: Frank Giordano
Frank Giordano was the founding Executive Director of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (America 250), where he developed the nationwide strategic plan and operational foundation for the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026. Alongside his civic work, he serves as President and CEO of Atlantic Trailer Leasing Corporation, a family enterprise established in 1949.
A prominent Philadelphia-area philanthropist and civic leader, Frank has held key governance roles across regional institutions. As Chairman of Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, he expanded community programs, and as Chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Foundation, he raised $10 million to launch the Sir John Templeton Heritage Center. He is also President Emeritus of The Philly POPS, having overseen a period of unprecedented growth, and serves as the Honorary Consul of Malta to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His board leadership includes the Rutgers School of Business Dean's Leadership Council, former trusteeship at Rowan University, and past President of the Burlington County Boy Scouts.
Frank and his wife, Dottie, actively support higher education, having endowed experiential learning and internship scholarships at both Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University. His contributions have earned him numerous distinctions, including the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, induction into the Philadelphia Business Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Music Alliance's inaugural Platinum Award. A South Philadelphia native and Rutgers University graduate, Frank and his wife, Dottie, reside in Moorestown, New Jersey.
Keynote Presenter
Major Jonathan Turnbull US Army (Ret)
Jonathan Turnbull enlisted in the United States Army soon after graduating from High School in 2005. He was deployed once to Afghanistan, twice to Jordan, once to Lebanon, and then in 2018 deployed to Iraq with a follow on assignment to Syria. Throughout his career, Turnbull and his team were involved in several missions that enhanced the quality of life for those living in war torn areas. They enabled the system to allow around 4,000 girls to return to school after seven years of prohibition from ISIS. They helped rebuild a local hospital and even renovated a hydroelectric dam in Tishreen, Syria which restored power to about 450,000 people in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan.
On January 16th, 2019, Turnbull and his team were visiting a school to perform a wellness check and ensure that they were not being denied access to their education. As they were leaving, an ISIS suicide bomber ran up to Turnbull and his team, detonating his vest. There were 19 casualties, 4 of which were Jon's teammates, and three other Americans including Turnbull were seriously wounded. Turnbull suffered a complete nucleation of his right eye and a puncture to his left eye, resulting in him being 100% blind. He spent months in the hospital, had over 20 surgeries, and clocked in countless hours of rehabilitation.
Due to the extent of his injuries, two years later, Jon retired in November of 2021. Jon continues to train, mentor, and inspire others through giving inspiring speeches to groups, and hopes his story will help those who are struggling.
This event led Turnbull to write and publish a book called, "Zero Percent Chance." Turnbull says, "I wrote the book to honor my fallen teammates. I didn't want it it to be a book written about how they died, but instead, I wanted their families to know how they lived. Their families have become a part of mine, and I love them all. I only hope they know how much they mean to me."
Special Presenter
Evangelo "Vann" Morris
U.S. Navy (Ret) Surface Warfare Officer
Evangelo "Vann" Morris is a U.S. Navy retired Surface Warfare Officer and Afghanistan deployed Combat Veteran who has traveled to 45 countries and is on a mission to Heal America. His wife (Rita) and three sons are all proud U.S. Veterans. In 2001, Vann and his team seized 14 tons of pure cocaine during a Colombian drug raid - the largest drug bust in U.S. maritime history.
Vann is a former nuclear powered ballistic missile Submariner, with an MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School, in Monterey, CA. and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from the University of Memphis. His last two tours of duty are the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the United States Special Operations Command in Tampa, FL. Parallel with his military career, Vann has been public speaking for 20 years to honor all those who serve our great nation and to teach our children the value of Freedom.
Creative Ways to Give and Maximize Your Impact
At The Patriot Fund, we understand that donors seek diverse avenues for making meaningful financial contributions. As a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we gratefully accept funds from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), Private Foundations, and Public Foundations.
Additionally, we welcome gifts of publicly traded stock, providing donors with an opportunity to contribute appreciated assets. By donating stock, supporters can realize an income tax deduction for the full market value of their gift while also avoiding capital gains tax exposure from a sale-allowing for a more tax-efficient and impactful way to give.
If you wish to facilitate your support in one of the above-referenced manners, please contact our Director of Operations at [email protected]
