U.S.VETS to honor Kirk Saduski and USAA at Nov. 5 gala

U.S.VETS will recognize filmmaker and producer Kirk Saduski and USAA at its 13th annual SALUTE Gala in Beverly Hills on Nov. 5, 2026. The honors spotlight veteran storytelling, housing investment and financial stability efforts aimed at preventing homelessness.

Why it matters: - U.S.VETS is using its annual gala to highlight partners that support veterans through housing, financial counseling and long-term stability. - The event underscores a shift from crisis response to prevention, with veteran homelessness and financial insecurity treated as connected problems. - USAA’s housing and financial resiliency investments are tied directly to U.S.VETS’ effort to help veterans and families avoid falling into homelessness.

What happened: - U.S.VETS will honor Kirk Saduski with the Judge Harry Pregerson Public Service Award at the 13th annual SALUTE Gala on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. - The gala will take place at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Beverly Hills. - U.S.VETS will give USAA the Community Impact Award for support of the organization and the military community. - The SALUTE Gala is U.S.VETS’ signature annual fundraising event.

The details: - Saduski has been a producer and executive at Playtone since 1998. - His credits include serving as executive-in-charge of HBO’s Band of Brothers, co-producing The Pacific and producing the HBO documentary He Has Seen War. - Saduski also co-executive produced CNN’s decades series. - Saduski has taught at UCLA since 2010 and serves as a narrative advisor to The National WWII Museum. - USAA’s Honor Through Action initiative is backed by a five-year, $500 million commitment. - USAA is working with leaders across business, government and the nonprofit sector on financial security, meaningful careers and overall well-being. - USAA serves as the low-income housing tax credit lender for U.S.VETS’ supportive housing in West Los Angeles. - USAA has invested $89.9 million in affordable veteran housing at the West Los Angeles and Prescott, Arizona, VA campuses, where U.S.VETS is co-developer and supportive services provider. - U.S.VETS and USAA announced a five-year financial resiliency program earlier this year. - The program combines housing with onsite financial counseling, credit repair, benefits screening and job training. - The program aims to reach 50,000 veterans and their families over five years. - U.S.VETS was founded in 1993 and now operates more than 50 residential sites and service centers nationwide. - U.S.VETS houses close to 3,500 veterans each night and serves more than 20,000 veterans and their families annually. - The organization also uses Veterans Connection Hubs to expand access to resources.

Between the lines: - The honors reflect the role of storytelling and private-sector capital in veteran services, not just direct program delivery. - U.S.VETS is positioning housing, financial counseling and benefits screening as upstream tools that can prevent homelessness before it starts. - The gala also serves as a fundraising platform for supportive housing, clinical services and new programming that fills gaps in veteran support systems.

What’s next: - The gala will include a Camo Carpet reception, a 360 photo booth, a documentary on Robert Mitchell, a seated dinner, entertainment, donor recognition and a fund-a-need appeal. - HONORUSVETS will run a Camo Pop-Up Shop for Make Camo Your Cause gear. - Event proceeds will help underwrite supportive housing and prevention programs. - Tickets and event details are available through the gala page.

The bottom line: - U.S.VETS is honoring a storyteller and a major corporate partner to show how visibility, housing and financial stability work together to keep veterans off the streets and on firmer ground.