The Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award and the Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award Recognize Their Outstanding Work in Support of Our Active Duty Military, Veterans and Their Families

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 11, 2013 - VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Hillier Ignite, an organization dedicated to promoting democracy and freedom by creating economic opportunity, today announced the recipients of the Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award and the Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award for 2013.

The Ignite award annually recognizes and rewards outstanding achievements tied to each of Hillier Ignite’s core focus areas: entrepreneurs/innovation, youth, and active duty military and their families.  The Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award recognizes the company responsible for creating and introducing a product that Hillier Ignite has judged to be the year’s most significant lifesaving innovation;  the Ignite Youth Award recognizes a person or organization that has taught and inspired disadvantaged youth; and the Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award recognizes a person or organization that has provided significant support to veterans in overcoming the challenges related to the transition to civilian life or the challenges faced by military families.   The Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award and Ignite Youth Award both include an unrestricted grant of $25,000.   The Ignite Youth Award will be presented later in 2013.

Hillier Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award

An important goal of Hillier Ignite is to encourage greater entrepreneurship and innovation towards initiatives that can save lives – particularly those of our warfighters.  The Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award is part of the organization’s effort to ignite this movement, by recognizing an outstanding product and the people behind it.   The inaugural Hillier Ignite Lifesaving Innovation award was presented to InfraScan, for its Infrascanner 2000, a portable screening device that uses Near-Infrared (NIR) technology to screen patients for intracranial bleeding.

“Traumatic brain injury touches many veterans and military families.  For those injured far from the diagnostic machines available in hospitals, fast and accurate assessment of the impact of head trauma can be the difference between life and death, said Luke Hillier, Founder and President of Hillier Ignite.   “The Infrascanner 2000 is the lifesaving innovation that makes this possible, within minutes, and as with many great innovations, it has both military and civilian applications.”

"InfraScan is honored to receive the Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award for the Infrascanner Model 2000,” said Dr. Baruch Ben Dor, Chief Executive Officer of InfraScan.  “The Infrascanner is a result of a hard work of a team of entrepreneurs in collaboration with local universities, the state of Pennsylvania and the US Navy and Marines.   Entrepreneurship is not only driving the economy and creating businesses, but it is also the means to move lifesaving innovations from laboratory bench to patient bedside."

Hillier Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award

The Hillier Ignite Warrior for Warriors award was created to ignite broader awareness and support for organizations assisting veterans and military families, both by recognizing and financially supporting their critical work.   The inaugural Hillier Ignite Warrior for Warriors Award was presented to the Travis Manion Foundation a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting our nation’s veterans and families of fallen service members, continuing their service to community and country at home, and creating a generation of future leaders.

“There are many great organizations out there working to make a difference in the lives of those to whom we all owe so much,” said Luke Hillier, Founder and President of Hillier Ignite.  “The Travis Manion Foundation is an outstanding warrior for our warriors, having touched the lives of over 18,000 veterans and families of fallen service members, while inspiring over 40,000 young people to serve their communities in honor of a fallen hero.  Their motto ‘If not me, then who?’ is a poignant reminder to all Americans of the vital role that our active duty military, veterans and their families play in our lives.”

“Our vision is to inspire and activate everyone with the generous spirit of those who serve,”

said James Brobyn, Executive Director of the the Travis Manion Foundation. “Imagine veterans in communities all across the country instilling strong core values and a service mindset in our young people: local communities would benefit; veterans would find a renewed purpose, realize their potential, and continue their service at home.  Most importantly, veterans would be positioned as leaders and assets – not as charity cases. That is why it is such an honor to partner with the Hillier Ignite Foundation. Our core values and goals are aligned. We view our veterans, their families, and our youth as pivotal to the future success of our country.”

About Hillier Ignite

Opportunity.  Democracy.  Freedom. Hillier Ignite is an organization dedicated to promoting democracy and freedom by creating economic opportunity. Focusing on groups pivotal to our future success as a society – entrepreneurs, youth, and active duty military, veterans, and their families. For more information please visit www.hillierignite.org.

About InfraScan, Inc.

InfraScan, Inc. is a medical device company that focuses on developing, commercializing, and distributing hand-held diagnostic devices for head injury and stroke assessment based on near infrared (NIR) technology. The company has received funding from the U.S. Marine Corps, the Office of Naval Research, BioAdvance, the Biotechnology Greenhouse of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.  For more information please visit www.infrascanner.com

About the Travis Manion Foundation

Headquartered in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the Travis Manion Foundation has built a national reputation for using innovative programs that transform communities through service and how we honor those who serve.Our team is comprised of Gold Star family members, military veterans – many with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan – and spouses and family members of service members. The passion and dedication of our staff is evident in the impact we have empowering survivors, veterans, and citizens to take positive action and never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their all for our today.  We characterize our programs and impact as the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Movement. The movement serves as a catalyst for activating service based on the example provided us by our Fallen Heroes.  For more information please visit www.travismanion.org