September 8, 2005                                        Contact: Beth Bradner, USO of Metropolitan Washington
703-696-3261; bradnerb@fmmc.army.mil

USO to Send 5,000 Care Packages to Service Members Affected by Hurricane Katrina

Washington, DC—On Thursday, September 8, spouses of members of the 101st Airborne Division joined volunteers from the Jack Daniel Distillery, the Brown-Forman Corporation, and the USO for a “stuffing party” to assemble more than 10,000 USO Care Packages.  By partnering with USO centers in the gulf region, 5,000 of the care packages will be sent to military personnel and their family members affected by Hurricane Katrina.

“The USO is proud to help the service personnel and their families who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. This is another way the USO continues in its mission of supporting members of the Armed Forces,” stated Edward Powell, President and CEO of USO World Headquarters.

Through Operation USO Care Package, the USO has provided over 650,000 care packages to service members deployed around the world in the last three years.  The USO has expanded the Operation USO Care Package program to support military personnel and their families whose lives have been touched by the deadly hurricane. 

“We couldn’t be prouder to assist with the first shipment of care packages to help these military families, said John Hayes, Vice President and Brand Director of Jack Daniels. “Whether it is at home or abroad, our military service men and women and their families deserve our full support for the sacrifices they make for their country.”

While expanding the Operation USO Care Package program, the USO will continue to distribute about 20,000 USO Care Packages every month directly to units on the ground overseas.

The September 8 stuffing party is the culmination of Jack Daniel’s “Toast to the Troops” campaign.  Earlier this year, the Distillery donated $100,000 to help purchase the USO Care Packages and began collecting messages of support in the form of “toasts” to include in each package.  The Care Packages will include items such as prepaid international calling cards, toiletries, sunscreen, and anti-bacterial wipes.

Since the program launched worldwide in the fall of 2002, Operation USO Care Package has distributed more than 650,000 USO Care Packages to service members through USO affiliates worldwide, as well as to deploying troops at U.S. airports and debarkation points.  Further details are available at www.USOcares.org.                                        # # #