America's Tenor Daniel Rodriguez to Perform at Military Child of the Year Awards Gala

Daniel Rodriguez, famed as "America's Tenor," will perform at Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year Awards Gala on Thursday, April 6. Rodriguez, the Brooklyn-born, now-retired police officer, helped bring the country an uplifting spirit of promise and hope with his stirring rendition of "God Bless America" after the 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

Operation Homefront's annual awards recognize outstanding young people ages 8 to 18. Six award recipients each represent a branch of the armed forces for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life. Also recognized at the gala is the recipient of a seventh award, the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation presented by Booz Allen Hamilton.

"Throughout my life I've been drawn to service, and the young people we are honoring are all about that spirit of service," Rodriguez said. "The men and women of our military put on the uniform voluntarily. Their families do not volunteer, but the patriotism and excellence shown by these military kids is no less than that of their parents."

On September 11, 2001, Officer Rodriguez was driving to work when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Arriving at the site as a first-responder, he witnessed the destruction of both towers, nearly losing his own life. At "Prayer for America" in Yankee Stadium his inspirational voice gave hope and strength to a grieving nation. His music career had turned into a calling.

Rodriguez's philanthropic and patriotic efforts have been recognized with numerous honors, such as the USO Lifetime Achievement Award, the DAR Medal of Patriotism and others. He continues to uplift and inspire in performances for his chosen charities, and at concert halls around the world.

About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive - not simply struggle to get by - in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America's military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.