Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) is proud to announce that its Executive Director, Carl Blake, has been named to the HillVets100 Class of 2017. Blake will be honored in Washington, on March 29, at the HillVets100 Tribute Gala hosted by Military Times and Hiring Our Heroes.

"I'm truly honored and humbled to receive this award," said Blake. "I consider it a privilege to work every day on behalf of veterans with disabilities to help improve their lives."

Blake is being honored under the HillVets100 category of 'Traditional Nonprofits'. This category honors some of the longest standing nonprofit supporters of the veterans' community who continuously show dedicated and committed efforts to bringing veteran and service members' interests to the forefront of the national dialogue.

The HillVets100 includes veterans from all eras, from the Vietnam War to the more recent Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Selectees represent a broad spectrum of veterans from artists to elected officials to business executives, among others.

Blake was recently named executive director of Paralyzed Veterans, after serving as its interim executive director since November 2017. Prior to that, he led the organization's government relations program.

As head of the Paralyzed Veterans' government relations department, Blake was responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation of its national legislative and advocacy program agendas with the United States Congress and federal departments and agencies. He has developed and executed Paralyzed Veterans' Washington agenda in areas of budget, appropriations, health care, and veterans' benefits issues, as well as disability civil rights. He has also spearheaded the consortium of veterans service organization partners who annually plan, author and publish The Independent Budget, a collaborative policy and budget recommendation publication that is presented each year to the United States Congress.

Blake, a U. S. Army veteran, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation, Blake was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry in the United StatesArmy. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (1stBrigade) of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated from Infantry Officer Basic Course, U.S. Army Ranger School, U.S. Army Airborne School, and Air Assault School. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Expert Infantryman's Badge, and German Parachutist Badge. Carl retired from the military in October 2000 due to injuries suffered during a parachute training exercise. He has been a Paralyzed Veterans' member since 2001.

About Paralyzed Veterans

Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. For more than 70 years, we have ensured that veterans have received the benefits earned through their service to our nation; monitored their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funded research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.