For Immediate Release

November 10, 2003

Contact:

Larry Whiteley                                                              Beth Brandner

Bass Pro Shops                                                                        USO-Operation USO Care Package

417-873-5022                                                                         703-696-3261

lwhiteley@basspro.com                                                            BradnerB@fmmc.army.mil

Reeling In Support for the U.S. Troops

          Bass Pro Shops and the USO Will Send Needed Reminders of Home

Springfield, MO and Washington, DC-Bass Pro Shops, America’s most popular outdoor store, is joining forces with the United Service Organizations (USO) to carry out the “Operation Bass Pro Shops/USO Care Package” program. The Bass Pro Shops and USO alliance will enable individuals to support America’s men and women in uniform that are deployed overseas, through personal messages and care packages filled with items they have requested.

Because of heightened security, individuals can no longer send letters and packages addressed ‘Deliver to Any Service Member..' The USO program is approved and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense to deliver packages to aid in “morale boosting and comfort” for men and women of the Armed Forces.

“We are excited to be an official partner with the USO on such a meaningful program and patriotic endeavor as Operation Bass Pro Shops/USO Care Package,” said Bass Pro Shops founder John L. Morris. “If we can, in some small way, offer a sense of comfort and home to our heroes, then we’ve provided a great service of which we are proud.”

The Bass Pro Shops/USO partnership will be officially announced Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store at 1972 Power Plant Parkway in Hampton, Virginia.  USO officials will be presented with a $10,000 check from Bass Pro Shops. The company will also help get the word out about the program with over $1 million of marketing support. Bass Pro Shops also helps the men and women of the Armed Forces by offering a 15% military discount excluding certain items.

Anyone wanting to help support our troops can stop by any Bass Pro Shops retail location, pick up a $1, $3, or $5 donation card, and take it to the nearest cashier. The cards can also be signed with personal greetings to the troops.

Donations may also be made by calling 1-800-BASSPRO or on the Bass Pro Shops web site at basspro.com.

Donations will be used to purchase an assortment of items the military has specifically requested, such as AT&T 100-minute prepaid international calling cards, disposable cameras, toiletries, and sunscreen. These items, along with the signed greetings on the donation cards, will be put into the Bass Pro Shops/USO Care Packages and sent to the troops.

“These care packages help the USO bring a touch of home to our men and women in uniform,” said Edward A. Powell, President and CEO of USO World Headquarters.

Bass Pro Shops stores in Hampton, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland will be hosting Bass Pro Shops/USO Care Package “Stuff Events” over the next several months. Bass Pro Shops will be coordinating volunteers at each location.

“USO appreciates Bass Pro Shops offer to promote this initiative among its stores through their catalog and over their Internet site, to show our fighting men and women that they are remembered,” said Elaine Rogers, USO-Metro President and Worldwide Administrator for Operation USO Care Package. “This program is possible because of the support from corporations like Bass Pro Shops and their customers.”

About USO

The USO is chartered by the Congress as a nonprofit charitable corporation and is not a part of the United States Government. It is endorsed by the President of the United States and the Department of Defense. Each President has been the Honorary Chairman of the USO since its inception.

The USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military personnel. The USO operates over 120 international centers, 27 centers in the United States and mobile canteens in locations such as Iraq and Afganistan.

About Bass Pro Shop

Unequaled in their award-winning concept and design, Bass Pro Shops current destination retail stores attract some 54 million people annually.

Bass Pro Shops, also a major Internet and catalog retailer, is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. Stores are located in Springfield (also home to an outlet center) and St. Louis, MO, Dallas and Houston, TX, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, Cincinnati, OH, Atlanta and Savannah, GA, Baltimore, MD, Destin, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Islamorada, FL, Charlotte, NC, Nashville and Memphis, TN, Bossier City , LA and Hampton, VA. A store will open in Oklahoma City next week.