FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 8, 2005

Contacts: BWI: Shauna Van Buren, (410) 859-3890 USO: Lisa Frederick, (703) 696-3278 USO: Christine Phillip, (703) 908-6485

The USO to Distribute 600,000^th Care Package

WASHINGTON – The USO will distribute its 600,000^th Operation USO Care Package July 10 as U.S. military personnel depart Baltimore-Washington International Airport for Iraq and Afghanistan. The care package program, initiated in 2001, is a way for Americans to show support for our men and women in uniform, and the packages contain items specifically requested by service members.

“This is a tremendous milestone, and demonstrates the support USO volunteers and the American people provide our men and women deployed in the war against terrorism,” said USO president and CEO Edward A. Powell.

The USO started the program after security concerns caused the Department of Defense (DOD) to shut down its very popular “Any Service Member” program due to the threat of anthrax following Sept. 11, 2001. Under that program, Americans sent unsolicited letters and care packages to deployed troops. The Operation USO Care Package program is endorsed by the White House and DOD because of its strict adherence to security codes and regulations.

Each package weighs about two pounds and contains items such as prepaid international phone cards, disposable cameras, toiletries, sunscreen, snacks and playing cards.

Care packages are distributed through USO Airport Centers that serve military personnel deploying to overseas destinations and through USO centers that have special “send-off” celebrations. They also are sent directly to troops on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas locations.

Due to security requirements, please contact Lisa Frederick at 703-696-3278 if you would like to cover this event. To support this special program visit www.usocares.org or call 1-877-USO-GIVE. For other services the USO provides military personnel and their families, individuals can call 1-800-USO-7469 or log on to www.uso.org.

About the USO: For more than 64 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale and recreation-type 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 Anheuser-Busch Companies, AT&T Corporation, Avon Products, Inc., BAE SYSTEMS, Bass Pro Shops, Clear Channel Worldwide, The Coca-Cola Company, Computer Systems Center, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Military Channel, Morgan Stanley, National Football League, TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other organizations, 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.

# # #