For Immediate Release
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Shev Rush Media First Public Relations 760-567-4321 Judy Piercey Kintera Corporate Communications 858-795-3056 Beth Bradner USO – Operation USO Care Package 703-696-3261 |
40,000 Patriots Send
USO Care Packages
with Personal Messages Using the Internet
USO
cause marketing program generates $1.2 million
online using Kintera’s web-based software
SAN
DIEGO, CA – February 25, 2004 – Patriotism and support for the U.S.
Troops continued to be significant in 2003, as evidenced by the generous
outpouring of monetary gifts that the United Service Organizations (USO)
received from its “Operation USO Care Package” program. In 2003, the USO generated more than $1.2
million online from the customers and employees of 37 corporate partners. Playing a key role in the success of the
program was the easy-to-use, web-based technology provided by Kintera® Inc.
(Nasdaq: KNTA), an innovative provider of software as a service to nonprofit
organizations.
Because of heightened security,
individuals can no longer send letters and packages addressed “Deliver to Any
Service Member.” The USO cause marketing
program, endorsed by the Department of Defense, provides supporters a
one-to-one gift giving opportunity, including the opportunity to write a
personal message of thanks that will be inserted into the care package.
“Kintera’s online donation
processing allows employees, customers, vendors, friends and family to unite to
support the brave men and women of the Armed Services,” said Elaine Rogers,
USO-Metro president and worldwide administrator for Operation USO Care Package.
Kintera’s
innovative and proven eMarketing, fundraising and website tools helped the USO
corporate partners spread the word quickly and drive higher participation in
the USO program. Results for 2003
initiatives include:
The immediacy and convenience of
the Internet is ideally suited for the USO’s cause marketing program. Using email and online marketing, corporate
partners announce to their employees and customers the opportunity to
participate in their company’s Cares for the Troops Campaign. The online message includes a link for
employees to go to a secure website where they can register to participate,
sponsor a care package and write their personal message to a service member.
(more)
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USO Cause
Marketing Program Generates $1.2 Million Online
One
of the USO’s corporate partners raised over $250,000 in just two weeks using
online marketing and web-based gift processing.
Additionally, the USO rewarded its donors for their support with
AAdvantage® miles from American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), harnessing Kintera’s
web-based technology to automatically capture additional data such as the
members’ AADVANTAGE number and submit it for automated posting of miles.
CEO and founder of Kintera, Harry Gruber, M.D., noted, “We
are pleased that Kintera’s online tools could help the USO easily expand its
reach to thousands of supporters, and securely process a tremendous volume of
donations. The compassion and generosity
of those giving to the USO is heartwarming.
Money raised by this important program helps to send comfort and support
to our military personnel throughout the world.”
About
USO
The USO is a nonprofit
charitable corporation and is not a part of the federal 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’s mission is to provide morale,
welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military personnel. The USO operates 121 worldwide centers, with
27 centers in the United States including mobile canteens, and airport and
fleet support centers.
About
Kintera Inc.
Kintera® Inc. (Nasdaq: KNTA) is an innovative
provider of software as a service that helps nonprofit organizations foster a
powerful sense of community to achieve their mission. Kintera’s Knowledge Interaction technology
strengthens an organization’s community by providing volunteers, members,
donors and staff web-based tools to efficiently fulfill their tasks and share
real-time data and information. The
company’s Internet innovations include its Friends Asking Friends® solicitation
program and Kintera Sphere™, an enterprise-grade software system that provides
content management, contact management, communication tools, commerce
applications, community-building features and reporting functions. Kintera’s technology is built on a unified
database and payment processing engine.
A web browser is all that is needed to use Kintera Sphere to help
increase donations, reduce fundraising costs and build awareness and affinity
for a cause. For more information and an
online demo, visit Kintera at www.kintera.com.
In addition
to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking
statements (including, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding
the adoption of Internet marketing efforts by nonprofit organizations) that
involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements represent our
estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. These statements reflect
our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions
and subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future
results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without
limitation: our limited operating history; our history of losses; our dependence
on increased acceptance by nonprofit organizations of online fundraising;
lengthy sales cycles for major customers; our need to manage growth; risks
associated with accounting for and processing large amounts of donations; the
rapidly changing technologies and market demands; and other risks identified in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these
uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements.
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