FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. XX, 2005

Contact: Donna St. John, (703) 908-6458 dstjohn@uso.org

Bass Pro Shops Partners with the USO to Benefit the Troops

WASHINGTON – For the third year in a row, Bass Pro Shops – America’s most popular outdoor store – has joined forces with the USO with its “Reelin’ It in for the Troops” campaign. Through the promotion, customers can purchase donation cards, valued at $1.00, $3.00 and $5.00, at any Bass Pro Shop retail location. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will support USO programs for military personnel and their families around the world, with $100,000 earmarked for the Operation USO Care Package Program.

Since 2003, Bass Pro Shops has raised more than $500,000 to sponsor care packages, filled with toiletries, snacks and other needed items that the USO delivers to deployed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other overseas locations.

“The continuing support from Bass Pro Shops has helped the USO to make a difference in the lives of our men and women in uniform. We are grateful for their steadfast support,” said USO president and CEO Edward A. Powell.

“All of us at Bass Pro Shops are extremely 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 President Jim Hagale. “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.”

A strong supporter of military personnel, Bass Pro Shops will host various events throughout the year to support the “Reelin’ It in for the Troops” program. The company also helps thee men and women of the armed forces by offering a 15 percent military discount (excluding certain items).

###

About Bass Pro Shops: Unequaled in their award-winning concept and design, Bass Pro Shops current 23 destination retail stores attract some 63 million people annually. Bass Pro Shops, also a major Internet and catalog retailer, is headquartered in Springfield, Mo. For more information, log on to www.basspro.com.

About the USO: For nearly 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by World Partners, AT&T Corporation, Avon Products, Inc., BAE SYSTEMS, Bass Pro Shops, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Military Channel, National Football League, S&K Sales Company and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at www.uso.org.