5.24.2006 ET

(CSRwire) SPRINGFIELD, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2006--Country star Aaron Tippin brought down the house May 11, in Washington, D.C., at The SemperComm Foundation's 2006 Annual Gala and Silent Auction at the Mandarin Oriental hotel to help raise funds for the Foundation's activities. The gala drew a crowd of more than 600, packing the grand ballroom. The event brought together well-wishers, local and national business leaders, foreign dignitaries, members of Congress and several recently wounded servicemen from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While the crowd cheers for Tippin were still reverberating throughout the ballroom, quiet donations were being made directly to two of the wounded servicemen by anonymous benefactors attending the gala. U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joel Klobnak, 19, received an autographed guitar donated by country star Tim McGraw that went for $3,400, and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Chris Bain, 35, was presented an all-expenses-paid golfing package to Los Angeles valued at $1,200.

Both Klobnak and Bain are being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington for wounds received during recent service in Iraq. Klobnak lost his leg, and Bain has severe nerve damage to both arms and hands. Klobnak recently returned home to Norwalk, IA, for a short Memorial Day holiday visit, but will be returning for Walter Reed for additional treatment. Bain hails from Williamsport, PA, and has been undergoing rigorous therapy for his nerve damage.

"Seems like we have some silent stars in our midst," said Lara Coffee, SemperComm's executive director. "While both donors wish to remain anonymous, we certainly want to thank them for their generosity. Both servicemen were shocked to have these items given to them at the end of the night, and I know they both couldn't be happier to have received them.

"This is what SemperComm's true mission is--giving back to the men and women who give so much for us," Coffee added.

About The SemperComm Foundation

The SemperComm Foundation is a charitable nonprofit organization founded to boost the morale of U.S. service members stationed at overseas remote bases, by providing them with the means to communicate with loved ones back home and with access to a variety of entertainment equipment in order to make life at remote postings more bearable. The name SemperComm (Always Communications) is derived from the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful). SemperComm is supported by its title partner, Computer Systems Center Incorporated (CSCI); its entertainment partner, Stars For Stripes; and its presenting sponsor, PC Recycler. For information about SemperComm, visit www.sempercomm.org.

NOTE: Printable photos of Klobnak, Bain and the guitar are available for download from the Media Room on the SemperComm website at www.sempercomm.org.


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