Children Illustrate their Support for Troops

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | 1 Comment

A young girl shows her winning artwork at Ft. Lee.

The patriotic pictures on the walls of Ft. Lee and the Richmond International Airport are no ordinary images. Drawn by children, the artwork illustrates their support and respect for the troops that keep them safe.

In honor of April’s ‘Month of the Military Child,’ the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia (USO HRCV) has created a unique contest to engage local children and raise awareness of the USO’s mission.

For the second year, the USO HRCV called on all school-age children in the area to compete in an art contest that uses the winning artworks to decorate the walls of USO HRCV’s two local USO centers, Richmond International Airport and Ft. Lee.

The children, ages 5 to 18, were instructed to create a patriotic artwork that incorporated the USO HRCV logo and a branch of service or military families.

Once the winning artwork was selected, USO HRCV turned the patriotic images into wallpaper for their two locations.

USO HRCV and the winning artists gather for an unveiling at Richmond International Airport.

Last week USO HRCV held unveilings for the winners at their two locations, where their patriotic art work was on display.

Surrounded by support from proud family members and even art teachers, the winners enjoyed a light meal and cake to celebrate. USO HRCV also presented the children with certificates of appreciation.

USO Director of the Richmond International Airport Center, Tricia Riggs, said the children were very excited and appreciative of the opportunity to have their artwork on display.  Riggs also received numerous calls from parents telling her how meaningful this opportunity has been for both them and their child.

One girl’s grandfather, a Navy Vet, had recently passed away. Riggs said the girl and her family were very thankful and humbled to have her artwork on display and sending a lasting message of thanks to the troops who will visit the center.

Since children are our future military members and volunteers, Riggs stressed how important it is for USO HRCV to work them. Before this event, many of the children had not heard about USO HRCV.

Now, these children know how they can help our nation’s troops, and they have an exciting experience to share with their family and friends.

“Each child left not only with a better understanding of the USO, but a new sense of pride and patriotism for their country and those who serve,” said Riggs.

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Check out USO HRCV’s Snapfish album to see more pictures of the children’s winning artwork. – Sarah Camille Hipp, Communications Specialist

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Posted in Centers, Families, US

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Wonder Bread Partners With the USO to Honor American Heroes

Posted on May 1, 2012 by | 2 Comments

For a second year, Wonder® bread is partnering with us to celebrate ordinary Americans making extraordinary contributions to their families, communities and country with the 2012 Wonder Bread Heroes program. Wonder is inviting families across the country to join the celebration and nominate American heroes in their lives for a chance to have $50,000 donated to the USO in the winning hero’s name. The Wonder Bread Hero winner will also receive $2,500 and a year’s supply of Wonder to enjoy with his or her family!

“The USO and Wonder bread are two great American classics,” Tameika Miller, Wonder brand manager, says. “For more than 70 years, the USO has been making a difference in the lives of our American troops and their families. And for more than 90 years, Wonder bread has been a staple in American households and a family favorite. The Wonder Bread Heroes campaign gives us a chance to honor Americans making a difference in the lives of those around them while supporting the USO’s mission and the creative programs it offers.”

Know someone who deserves to win? Nominate them at www.wonderbreadheroes.com today!

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Posted in Donations, Recognition

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USO Wishbook Gifts for the Military Child

Posted on April 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Today is the last day of the Month of the Military Child. Here at the USO, we do our best to provide programs and services that ease the unique burdens military children face daily – to provide ways to stay connected to parents when gone for long periods of time. Help us continue to provide these important services by purchasing one of these gifts for a loved one in your life today!

Growing Up Brave
Deployment can be a challenging and confusing time for a child. This $25 kit gives them the tools they need to help cope with this challenge and keep them happy and healthy. It includes a coloring book, a specially-made DVD to answer the questions they often have and a journal.

Family Fun Day
Our military families go through lots of hardships during their service. But at USO centers, they have a chance to relax and have some fun together. For $50 you can make a Family Fun Day at a center possible and give a little something back for all their sacrifice.

Bedtime Stories
The hardest hit members of a military family are often the youngest. For $50 you can help by giving our service men and women the chance to read them a bedtime story through United Through Reading’s Military Program, record it on DVD and send it back home.

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Posted in Donations, Families, Support

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USO April Hot Jobs

Posted on April 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Here at the USO we’re often asked, “How can I get more involved?” Surprisingly, many don’t consider what could be considered the ultimate in getting involved: working full-time at the USO! Here are just a few positions open right now:

United States

Director, Major Gifts (can be based in Virginia or Texas) – The Director, Major Gifts is responsible for implementation of fundraising efforts targeted to individuals who are capable of donating $25,000 or more to support USO programs and services.

Intern for Information Technology – Listed  under Career Development Positions – The Career Development Program (CDP) is designed to provide current students or recent graduates with a hands-on experience to learn more about non-profits and the various roles we play in lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families.

Pacific

Area Operations Manager, Seoul, Korea –The Area Operations Manager will be responsible for the management, operation and delivery of programs and services at the USO centers within the Seoul, Korea area.

Because why spend your days toiling away at a thankless job? Working at the USO is a truly rewarding experience where you do amazing work with passionate people and day in and day out you get messages of gratitude from the troops and their families. But, in the end, you are simply thankful for being able to do what you can. – Vyque Elessar, USO Director of New Media

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Posted in Centers, Pacific, Support, US

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Operation Basic Boot Camp

Posted on April 25, 2012 by | 1 Comment

It’s not very often that military children get a chance to see what their parents do on a day-to-day basis. The USO of Metropolitan Washington gave more than 75 children that opportunity and then some. On July 20, 2011 at Fort Belvoir’s Castle Park, USO Metropolitan Washington hosted the first-ever “Operation Basic Boot Camp.” After checking in, the kids had 30 seconds to change into their new t-shirts and meet their drill instructors for a day of fun and challenging activities.

Their  instructors were no joke and the kids gained valuable insight and appreciation into their parents’ lives: “I learned that my parents have been working really hard and what they do is no joke,” says Bryce Hairston, 12.

Both of Bryce’s parents served in the Air Force for more than 20 years and his mother is still active duty.

Once the children were finished with PT, they welcomed Elaine Rogers, president of USO-Metro; and Col. John Strycula, Fort Belvoir garrison commander; for a few words of advice.

Strycula emphasized teamwork and wanted the youth to learn what their parents go through on a day-to-day basis. He also reminded them to stay hydrated because safety always comes first.


Military Children Go Through Boot Camp at Fort Belvoir: MyFoxDC.com

After lunch, the children separated into groups for some team-building activities, face painting to help them blend in with their surroundings, and ended the day with a competitive game of Capture the Flag.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Bryce Hairston said, “At first, I didn’t think I could do it. But, once the drill instructors started yelling at me, it really motivated me to believe I could do it.”

All participants received certificates stating their completion of the first USO-Metro Operation Basic Boot Camp. With the incredible success of the 2011 program, event plans are currently underway to expand. – Joseph P. Scannell, New Media Intern

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Posted in Families

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Princess Tea Party

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Daughters of local metropolitan Washington D.C. service members became “princesses for a day” at a Princess Tea Party while their moms received some fashion and makeover tips, April 21, at USO-Metro‘s 2nd Annual Project Cinderella at Fort Meade, Maryland.

The girls learned how to be a lady and accessorized with tiaras, beads and rings before enjoying strawberries and apple juice while getting their nails done. — USO photos by Joseph Andrew Lee

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Posted in Families, Troops

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Healing With Honor

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | 1 Comment

You and I have a special mission — and a short time to complete it.healing with honor

The mission: raise $300,000 in the next 11 days to care for troops who have been wounded on the field of battle. Our most immediate priority includes supplying and operating one of the first stops of the recovery process for our injured troops, the new USO Warrior Recovery Center in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The USO is the right organization to support our wounded troops from the field of battle and throughout their recovery. That’s why you and the USO are in a good place to step forward and help. If we receive your donation of $10 by May 4, it will be matched dollar for dollar up to the $150,000 matching fund limit by a generous and committed donor — doubling your impact for our wounded troops.

Step forward to help our troops who have been wounded. Make a donation now to the USO’s Healing With Honor Matching Campaign and your gift will be doubled.

With your help, we can maintain the USO’s track record of being there for wounded, ill and injured troops every step of the way — from immediate triage, to the first point of evacuation, to sustained support on the road to recovery.

The USO is on the ground in Afghanistan and at supporting military medical facilities at Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where the USO provides a full range of services to our wounded, ill and injured troops, their families and caregivers.

Donate before the May 4th deadline and your Healing With Honor contribution will be doubled in its impact.

Our commitment to our wounded, ill and injured troops must be as unyielding as their commitment to our country.

We only have a short time to reach our $300,000 goal. Please fulfill your role in this mission as quickly and as generously as possible.

Sincerely,
General Richard B. Myers, USAF (Ret.) Chairman of the Board, USO

Update: We reached our goal and our generous supporter has raised their matching limit to $200,000! Can we reach $400,000 for our wounded troops?

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Posted in Fundraising, Support, Troops, USO Warrior & Family Care

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