The Italian Catholic Federation branch at St. Bede Roman Catholic Church in La Cañada Flintridge recently hosted a potluck dinner meeting and provided a check to the National Wounded Warrior Center, under construction in Mammoth Lakes.
Mark Mannarelli, Branch 374 president, presented the check to Kathy Copeland, the executive director of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, the organization behind the construction of the new center. The mission of the new center will be to empower wounded, ill and injured servicemen and women by facilitating their transition into fulfilling civilian lives through education, vocational training, rehabilitation, health and wellness. Copeland’s organization has been serving the needs of wounded veterans for several years.
The new center will cost an estimated $23 million to construct. The facility will contain 26 individual bedrooms, two kitchens, dining room, game room, and parking for 55 cars. Donations can be made through www.woundedwarriorsmommoth.org.
In addition to donations to the Wounded Warriors, the St. Bede branch of ICF supports research for Cooley’s Anemia, St. John Seminary and other local charities.