Wounded Warrior Dillan Cannon with supporter David Hasselhoff.
On May 15, the Playboy Mansion celebrated National Forces Day with a 1950’s pinup themed party called “Stars and Stripes at the Playboy Mansion,” with proceeds benefitting Heroes Night Out and Wounded Warriors.
Complete with a red carpet arrival, live DJ, silent auction with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the charities and performance by rap artist Lil Kim, wounded veterans Mike Clark, Dylan Cannon, Robert Walker, Robert West, Jackie Hutson, Thomas Wray, Michell Caldwell and Anthony Brawdy, were given the A list celebrity treatment, including Playmate-hosted tours of the grounds with Playmates Victoria Fuller, Nikki Ziering and Jessica Burciag and Playboy Models Kaki West and Sarah Stage.
Our brave Wounded Warriors and guests.
Celebrity attendants included Corey Feldman (“The Lost Boys”), Tara Reid (“American Pie”), David Hasselhoff (“America’s Got Talent”), Verne Troyer (“Austin Powers”), Jose Canseco, DJ Paul and Three 6 Mafia. Jose Dominguez, a veteran as well, served as executive director and organizes these kinds of veteran-honoring festivities on a regular basis.
Corey Feldman, Tara Reid
David Hasselhoff with guest.
Dr. Paul Dougherty pictured here with Michai Phifer
The second annual “Stars and Stripes at the Playboy Mansion” benefit not only provided a fun night out for the wounded veterans, but also a chance for a group of the soldiers to receive free vision surgery donated by the prestegious Dr. Paul Dougherty, using LASIK or the Implantable Contact.
Dr. Dougherty has received many honors throughout his career and has been featured on many prominent TV shows, including Oprah, The Early Show, E! News, and TLC’s 10 Years Younger. He has offices in Los Angeles, Ventura County and Santa Barbra and offers LASIK, implantable contact lenses and cataract replacement lenses. Dr. Dougherty has performed nearly 20,000 laser eye procedures, including a surgery on his own eyes in 1997.
For this special event, Motorcycle Charity Associates (MCA) and Heroes Night Out (HNO) joined forces and sent war veterans from Texas military bases in Fort Hood and Fort Sam Houston to Los Angeles for the treatment. Veteran caregivers were also given a few days in the city to accompany the soldier as they recovered from the surgery.
Wes and Judy Pierce (left) of Hero's Night Out with Wounded Warriors and their loved ones. Founded by Wes and Judy Pierce to give military families a chance to relax during the tough time surrounding surgery, therapy and rehabilitation, Heroes Night Out, is also a non-profit organization with the sole focus on U.S. soldiers and their comfort. Right now, the organization provides for 29 Fisher House locations at military medical facilities that also care for the families of the soldiers. www.heroesnightout.org/home“It’s the least we can do in exchange for the sacrifices our service men and women have made to insure our freedoms in this great country,” Executive Director Billy Gordon of Motorcycle Charity Associates said in a statement. “The week long experience should be a great morale booster which is a big part of what Hero’s Night Out Provides.”Jose Canseco
According to its website, Motorcycle Charity Associates’ mission is to “support research, education, community programs, health services and advocacy efforts” by encouraging and promoting events for certain 501(c) (3) charities. Founded by Gordon, Jason Lawrence and Adele Wynosky, MCA’s motto reads: “Helping Charities Along the Way While Fun can Break out in any Minute!” Last year, the group also celebrated holidays at the Playboy Mansion like Halloween with the Wounded Warriors and gave time to the 1Real Riders Christian Motorcycle Outreach, a non-profit charity organization. www.motorcyclecharityassociates.org/
Also contributing to the event and medical procedures for the veterans was Hyatt of Century Plaza, ABATE of CA Local 19, Star Surgical, Abbott Medical, Bausch and Lomb and Navy Vet Mason Curl, who offered food and the use of his Hunter 42’ Sailboat.
