Our American Patriot of the Year Award is the Flagship of The Annual Patriot Invitational event. It recognizes the men and women who, through their actions and words similar to our great military Veterans, promote and carry out outstanding leadership skills during their lifetime. Their inspirational influence was left for the next generation of courageous heroes and leads us to our Great American Experiment: The Miracle of American Freedom, Democracy, Free Enterprise and Individualism protected every day by our Veterans.
The recipient of the American Patriot Award is chosen each year and the newest honoree is recognized at the annual Patriot Invitational event. The chosen nominee then receives a personalized etched crystal memento as a physical reminder of this noble achievement. Eligible nominees must have a recognizable history of excellence throughout their careers and demonstrate exemplary service to the community, specifically military Veterans and/or their families.
The Patriot Fund is proud to honor and present this award to the selected nominee of the year as another way to thank him/her for their various achievements made throughout their lives and their involvement and passion for aiding the Veteran community.
2024 (NORTH): John & Lorie Ruga
The Patriot Fund recognizes John and Lorie Ruga for their ongoing support for our Veterans. The financial support we garner from donors is greatly appreciated, but there are some, like John and Lorie, who truly go above and beyond. The Patriot Fund is proud to honor them both as our 2024 American Patriots of the Year!
Inspired by the Patriot Fund Invitationals over the last few years, John and Lorie were motivated to host their own intimate event in Vineland, New Jersey in 2023. On very short notice and weather conditions which forced the cancellation of a planned golf experience, over 100 guests came in support of this couple’s passion. Clearly well-respected in the area, local business people and even politicians came to support the cause.
In contrast to our Veterans who bravely risk their lives for our freedoms and way of life, there are individuals who, purely out of volunteerism and altruism, are willing to put their own reputation at stake to honor our heroes. This describes who John and Lorie truly are.
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2023 (NORTH): Pete Ciarrocchi
Pete Ciarrocchi is the Chairman and CEO of Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar, an expanding restaurant group that has become part of the true fabric of the City of Philadelphia, and a “must stop” before, during, or after every Philadelphia sporting event.
Pete’s father and uncles all served in World War II or the Korean War. Uncle George was a hardworking man and Pete’s mentor, but also became a true American hero. While at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, George left the safety of a bunker to go out and rescue his fellow soldiers in the battlefield despite being ordered to remain in place. For his valor, George was awarded the Silver Star Medal which was not revealed to the family until after his death. George was a true American hero; humble and willing to sacrifice his own life for the freedoms we all hold so dearly. he now resides in Arlington National Cemetery with the rest of our American heroes where they belong.
Although Pete was unaware of George’s accomplishments until after his death, he knew that Uncle George was of the highest character and his role model. It is through hard work, the freedoms that George and his brothers fought for, and the guidance of his character that Pete’s family has been able to live out the American dream. To honor their memory there are pictures of the Ciarrocchi military Veterans, Uncle George, and a copy of Uncle George’s Silver Star Citation in all Chickie’s & Pete’s locations.
Pete serves on the Jefferson Health Northeast Foundation Board of Trustees, as well as their Board of Directors. He participates in many philanthropic ventures and is an active member of The Polish-American String Band. Pete is a native of Philadelphia and still resides locally with his wife Lisa and three boys; Peter, Blaise, and Anthony.
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2023 (SOUTH): Dr. Mitch Cordova
Dr. Mitch Cordova currently serves as the Founding Vice President for Student Success & Enrollment Management & Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).He has held this position since March 2018 after serving nearly 7 years as Professor and Dean of the Marieb College of Health & Human Services. In his capacity as Vice President for Student Success & Enrollment Management, Dr. Cordova leads a division that comprises 4 units containing 14 departments – including Military and veterans Success – encompassing 350 full-time staff and over 450 part-time staff.
At FGCU, Dr. Cordova has the honor of overseeing the Military & Veteran Success department where the goal is to improve direct student services for our Veterans and Military families. Through these efforts, Dr. Cordova works tirelessly to ensure the best environment exists for Veterans who enroll at Florida Gulf Coast University to thrive. This is realized by improving their physical and behavioral health, and ensuring the appropriate student support resources exist to help them succeed in reaching their education and career goals.
His passion for supporting Veterans began back in 2014 when teamed up with Home Base to help create the Warrior Health and Fitness program in Southwest Florida (SWFL). Over the past 9 years, this program has grown tremendously serving more than 600 Veterans and Military families. This growth helped establish a significant component of what is now Home Base Florida. Through these efforts, Home Base recognized Dr. Cordova with their Veteran and Community Builder Award in 2016.
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2022 Patriot of the Year: William LaVan
It is with great pleasure that The Patriot Fund announces William “Bill” LaVan as recipient of The American Patriot Award for our Patriot Invitational Event on Sunday, October 9th, 2022.
As Bill tells his life story from humble beginnings to a successful career, he has chosen to give back to our Veterans by giving to The Patriot Fund. The Board members of The Patriot Fund fully agree that Bill LaVan sets the standard for making the world better because of our commitment to our Veterans.
The Patriot Fund is proud to honor and present this award to Bill as another way to thank him for his various achievements made throughout his life and his involvement and passion for aiding our fellow Veteran heroes.
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2021 Patriot of the Year: Ryan Peters
As a U.S. Navy SEAL, Commander Ryan E. Peters’ dedication to our country is well respected by all and we are proud to announce that he is the recipient of the 2021 American Patriot Award.
Upon successfully finishing training and certification as a Navy SEAL, CDR Peters completed three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Leaving active duty in 2009, CDR Peters attended Rutgers School of Law, and was graduated in 2012. In 2013, he was recalled to active duty service and spent ten months forward-deployed with a SEAL element assigned to Special Operations Command South.
Outside of his Navy SEAL background, CDR Peters serves as the Commanding Officer of Special Boat Unit 18, a Reserve Unit composed of 7 Officers and over 150 Enlisted SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant Crewman, and Support Personnel, responsible for ensuring the Navy Reserve, Special Boat Unit 18 is operationally ready to mobilize in support of Naval Special Warfare Global Force Management Requirements.
Ryan E. Peters embodies everything that The American Patriot Award stands for and we are honored to present him with the presentation of this award. Congratulations, CDR Peters. Thank you for your service to our country and to our community!
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Due to Covid-19 complications, we were unable to host our annual Patriot Invitational event in 2020 along with naming an American Patriot Award Recipient that year. Now that Covid-19 restrictions have been mostly lifted, we are back to hosting The Patriot Invitational & Announcing The American Patriot Award Recipient for the year 2021.
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2019 Patriot of the Year: Don Tretola
It is with great pleasure that The Patriot Fund has named its second recipient of the American Patriot Award to Mr. Don Tretola, on Monday, September 23rd, 2019. Eligible nominees must have a recognizable history of excellence throughout their careers and demonstrate exemplary service to the community, specifically military Veterans and/or their families. Don is a stellar match for this year’s presentation.
After joining the military and attending college, Mr. Tretola began his career with PSE&G in 1971 and has over 37 years of service with a diverse background in Management and Public Affairs. He currently serves as Chief Public Affairs Officer with Allies, Inc., an organization that serves adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Don holds board positions throughout New Jersey including the State of New Jersey Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, Office of Department of Defense, Middlesex County Chiefs of Police and many others. Congratulations, Don. Thank you for your service to our community!
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2018 Patriot of the Year: James Brennan, Jr.
It is with great pleasure that The Patriot Fund has named its first recipient of the American Patriot Award to Mr. Jim Brennan, CEO of SEA BOX, on Monday, September 17th, 2018. Eligible nominees must have a recognizable history of excellence throughout their careers and demonstrate exemplary service to the community, specifically military Veterans and/or their families. Jim is a perfect match for the first presentation.
SEA BOX has supplied innovative shipping containers and expeditionary shelters to all branches of the armed services to aid in their service of our country. Jim has done so much for military installations as one more voice of American exceptionalism to support our troops and worldwide effort for the safety of other societies.
The Board members of The Patriot Fund fully agree Jim Brennan sets the standard for all awardees in the future, making the world better because of our commitment, like Jim Brennan’s, for a better world!