NAPE Charities Donations Top $5.25 Million to Honor, Support U.S. Veterans
04.13.2023
Land of the free because of the brave: NAPE Charities donations top $5.25 million to honor, support U.S. veterans
For three decades, NAPE has been synonymous with dealmaking. More recently, NAPE also has earned a reputation for giving back in a big way. Since 2009, over $5.25 million has been donated through the annual NAPE Charities event to help nonprofits that support U.S. veterans — America’s heroes.
Part of NAPE Week each February at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, the NAPE Charities Luncheon provides a unique opportunity to honor our nation’s heroes in a very tangible — and often life-changing — way. Always a crowd favorite, the luncheon features a high-profile keynote speaker and as well as a brief awards ceremony spotlighting current NAPE Charities grant recipients.
Past NAPE Charities Luncheon speakers include
- Former President George W. Bush
- Former First Lady Laura Bush
- Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2017-19)
- Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State (2018-21)
- James Mattis, U.S. Secretary of Defense (2017-19)
- Colin L. Powell, U.S. Secretary of State (2001-05)
- Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense (2006-11)
NAPE Charities honorees are selected by the NAPE Operators Committee after an exhaustive review of applications. The NOC considers the focus, management, fiscal responsibility and scope of the applicant’s mission as well as how many individuals will be directly impacted by the grant, the time frame for utilization and the percentage of each dollar donated that will benefit a veteran. Applications are available by contacting info@NAPEexpo.com.
For 2023, the NAPE Expo Charities Fund awarded $150,000 each to PenFed Foundation, Rebuilding America’s Warriors and TADSAW Inc. (Train a Dog — Save a Warrior) — totaling a whopping $450,000.
These awards are made possible thanks to generous donations from NAPE sponsors, attendees and supporters. As host, NAPE Expo LP covers 100% of event costs so that all donated funds can go directly to efforts supporting veterans.
In 2019 a group of America’s energy producers honored President George H.W. Bush with a $1 million donation in his name to the NAPE Expo Charities Fund, given in $100,000 annual increments, to support its mission of honoring veterans. In 2023 the same group donated another $1 million, also given in $100,000 annual increments, to create the American Hero Award honoring the late Anthony J. DeToto Sr. In addition to his own military service, DeToto was revered for his tireless support of U.S. veterans. Going forward, the annual award will bear his name: the NAPE Charities Anthony J. DeToto American Hero Award.
Now each fall, the updated NAPE Classic Charities Golf Tournament will provide the ideal venue to connect and reconnect with industry peers on the greens while raising funds for America’s heroes. All tourney donations and sponsorships go directly to the NAPE Expo Charities Fund.
The 2023 NAPE Classic Charities Golf Tournament is Oct. 24-25 at the Golf Club of Houston, with teams competing for the coveted NAPE Cup Trophy and custom NAPE purple jackets.