CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Transitions may be the toughest part of military life for active duty, veterans and family members, but you can help ease the way by attending the annual fundraising breakfast for SAFE: Soldiers and Families Embraced. “One of the major tasks of a counselor or social worker is helping clients safely navigate difficult life transitions,” says former Executive Director Rev. Jodi McCullah. “That’s why ‘Embracing Life’s Transitions’ is the theme this year,” she says.

The theme for this year’s event is “Embracing Life’s Transitions” and is set for Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 a.m., in a new location, at Belle Hollow Event Center at Miss Lucille’s, 2231 Madison Street.
Individual tickets are $100 and tables are still available at the $1000 sponsorship level.

All proceeds go towards providing free counseling for military and their families, many of whom are navigating their personal and family transitions while feeling keenly the effects of more than 16 years of war. “We pay our counselors $50 a session to see our clients so a table sponsorship will go a long way to help ease the transition of a combat veteran, spouse or child,” says McCullah.

The breakfast, which is the biggest fundraiser for this homegrown and locally funded program, now regularly welcomes more than 150 guests who will hear from guest speakers like Col. James “Rob” Salome, US Army, (Ret), former Garrison Commander at Fort Campbell. Col. Salome and others will share about the struggles facing our military and their families and how the community can help.

“SAFE is a homegrown outreach program that now offers more than 300 sessions of counseling a month to active duty military, veterans and families at no cost to the clients,” says McCullah, in addition to offering internships and popular songwriting retreats. “We rely solely upon private and corporate grants and donations to offer this service to our heroes next door.”

The 2017 Breakfast will also honor a local group, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Tennessee Chapter 18-2 with its annual Community Hero Award. Former recipients of the award include, State Senator Mark Green, Phil Harpel, Senior Community Banking office for US Bank, Carol Clark, Executive Assistant to the President at Austin Peay State University, and the late Col. Ted Crozier, US Army (Ret) and former Clarksville mayor. All recipients of the award have demonstrated exceptional support to the military and veteran communities in the Clarksville/Ft. Campbell area.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 931-591-3241, emailing briana@safetn.org or at soldiersandfamiliesembraced.org.