2008 IAVA Civilian Service Award Recipient

Arnold Fisher

Senior Partner, Fisher Brothers

Honorary Chairman, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Fisher is one of four senior partners at Fisher Brothers, a leader in New York City real estate, and the firm has made significant contributions to the city skyline.  In helping to drive the success of the family business, Mr. Fisher has been responsible for the construction of over 15 million square feet of space, both commercial and residential.  He has been personally responsible for the building of such signature commercial properties as 299 Park Avenue (42 stories), 605 Third Avenue (50 stories), 1345 Avenue of the Americas (50 stories), 1185 Avenue of the Americas, One Bankers Trust Plaza, and Park Avenue Plaza (42 stories).  He has also been involved in the construction of residential properties such as Imperial House, 150 East 79th Street, and 50 Sutton Place South.  

Arnold Fisher became the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Intrepid Museum Foundation in May 2003 and served through December 2006.  The Foundation is a leader in providing support for America’s Armed Forces and operates the world’s largest maritime museum. Centered around the historic aircraft carrier Intrepid, the Foundation educates 700,000 annual visitors about sea, air and space history and technology. The Foundation provides support to military and veterans’ families and serves as a monument for all who have served in our nation’s defense. Mr. Fisher remains a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee. He spearheaded the efforts of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provided contributions of $10,000 to each spouse and $5,000 to each child of military personnel who have paid the ultimate price: the loss of their life in defense of our country. The Fund recently changed direction and constructed a 65,000 square-foot building called “The Center for the Intrepid,” a state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, which opened in January, 2007.

From 1999 until 2003, Mr. Fisher served as Chairman of the Fisher House Foundation and in 2003 turned the chairmanship over to his son Kenneth, which constructs comfort homes to house the families of hospitalized military personnel and veterans. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Foundation. The Foundation has built 39 Fisher Houses with five more due to be completed in 2008/2009.

On November 9th, 2005 Mr. Fisher became an Honorary Knight of the British Empire in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the welfare and well-being of the families of British Armed Forces personnel killed in action and his energetic leadership in support of closer UK-US relations.

In 2007, Mr. Fisher served as a member of the IRG Committee formed by the Department of Defense for the purpose of investigating the short comings of our wounded servicemen and women at Walter Reed Medical Center.

His other philanthropic causes include the Veterans Bedside Network and the development of the Vietnam Memorial in Westchester County. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of the Hall of Honor (Home of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society) and on the Board of the New York Chapter of the USO.

Mr. Fisher and his wife Audrey have three children, Kenneth, Steven and Karen, and ten grandchildren.

IAVA 2008 Veterans Leadership Award Recipients

Scott Winkler, Iraq War Army Veteran

Track & Field Paralympic Athlete

Shot Put & Discus

Scott Winkler was unloading an ammunition truck near Tikrit while under fire when he fell and became paralyzed from the chest down. He battled depression for the first year and went through a painful divorce. “I just kept feeling sorry for myself, asking why me.” Scott said. “Then I was introduced to sports during a Paralympic Sports Clinic.” At the clinic, he tried throwing the shot put for the first time, and less than a year later he broke the world record. Strapped to a chair, Winkler uses his upper body strength to throw the shot put and discus. He is expected to dominate his field in Beijing. Winkler is also a hospital chairman at the Southeastern Paralyzed Veterans of America in Georgia, where he mentors other disabled veterans, encouraging them to use sports for rehabilitation. “If I can inspire one person out of a million that¹s disabled to try sports, that¹s my goal for the future.” Winkler said.

Master of Cermonies

Henry Rollins

Author, Actor and USO Performer

Henry Rollins first gained fame as lead singer for the band Black Flag in 1981. In 1986, he formed the Rollins Band, with which he has since been making records and touring the world. Rollins also owns a publishing company, 2-13-61, which releases books, CDs and DVDs by Rollins and others. Always outspoken, Rollins accepts dozens of speaking engagements each year, is known for bringing a raw energy to his talks and has won a Grammy Award for best spoken word record. As well as performing in several movies and television shows, Rollins hosts a weekly radio show “Harmony In My Head” on Indie 103.1 FM in Los Angeles. Most recently, Rollins appears in The Alibi with Steve Coogan and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, and has a lead role in the Project Greenlight feature Feast. Meanwhile, the DVD from Henry’s 2004 tour ‘Shock and Awe’ and his latest written works, Roomanitarian and Fanatic! have been released on the 2.13.61 imprint. Rollins regularly tours with the USO, and had traveled to Afghanistan, Siberia, South Korea, Iraq, Kuwait, Honduras and Qatar to entertain and meet US troops. Rollins kicked off his US spoken word ‘RECOUNTDOWN’ tour on September 18 to coincide with election season ‘08.

For more of Rollins’ adventures and exploits, check out www.henryrollins.com and www.21361.com.”