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All Previous Newsletters and Updates

Posted on September 7, 2009 - 13:29 PM

To view all previous Operation Gratitude Newsletters and Updates, click here:
OPERATION GRATITUDE ARCHIVES 

12,000 Participate in "A Day of Service for Our Military"

Posted on January 26, 2009 - 07:14 AM

 Operation Gratitude, Target and Serve DC Organize Massive Care Package Assembly Attended by
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden

 http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102426359508&e=001mI8Hbgsnkn-m21-kopvqhgi5SAdSnvnwfFEIOQDonaPyXCfJ39DYKsQ4322COZYFg2a0IuJ-wk0oqrF7vRR8E9HRWbOmrPMtO6shsju43yrvkyhRXmm6_vbLK7mlE2To
Answering the President's national call to service, Operation Gratitude, Target and Serve DC  teamed up for "A Day of Service for Our Military," held January 19 at the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. 

With music blaring in a massive tent covering the RFK Stadium field, more than 12,000 volunteers from all walks of life gathered to create care kits for service members deployed overseas.

 The District of Columbia's premier service event, "A Day of Service for Our Military," was a partnership between Operation Gratitude, Target and Serve DC, providing participants the opportunity to express their appreciation to those who serve our nation in uniform. Volunteers gathered inside the heated tent at RFK stadium to assemble care kits for inclusion in the Operation Gratitude care packages to be shipped during 2009.

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102426359508&e=001mI8Hbgsnkn8sVy_XMhFFSFlSlz3Io0rdhGgoMv3EDWu7zeQeIbEXGXBg7AqmLuZ221RDO2S5Y_9cN1cnT6XqkD5bv08Q1m8wfiE_CPzPlNECaodeYUQFGxHsgSEcozQXpK-7JyYlcDiCuitOcaBEWw==
Donated items placed in the care kits included: sunscreen, foot cream, gum, pad and pen sets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, AT&T phone cards, 5-Hour Energy drinks, Before and After mints and personalized Gallery Collection greeting cards written by volunteers at the event.   The items were staged along the Assembly Line in bins donated by Buckhorn, Inc.  Operation Gratitude Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, along with Supervisors Robert Bender and Bob Ramsay coordinated logistics and production of the enormous event.

To the surprised delight of the crowd, First Lady Michelle Obama, with her mom, Marion Robinson, daughter Malia, and Vice-Presidential spouse Jill Biden arrived early in the day to work on the Assembly Line and encourage the Volunteers.  http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102426359508&e=001mI8Hbgsnkn8sVy_XMhFFSFlSlz3Io0rdhGgoMv3EDWu7zeQeIbEXGXBg7AqmLuZ221RDO2S5Y_9cN1cnT6XqkD5bv08Q1m8wfiE_CPzPlNECaodeYUQFGxHsgSEcozQXpK-7JyYlcDiCuitOcaBEWw==

Various elected officials also attended the service event to show their support and join the volunteers: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Chris Dodd (Connecticut) and Jon Tester (Montana), Governors Deval Patrick (Massachusetts) , Martin O'Malley (Maryland), Jennifer Granholm (Michigan), and Chris Gregoire (Washington); Representatives Bobby Bright (Alabama), Christopher Carney (Pennsylvania), Steve Driehaus (Ohio), Jeff Flake (Arizona), and Dina Titus (Nevada); and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Several incoming cabinet members, nominees and advisors worked the Assembly Line as well: General Eric Shinseki, Shaun Donovan, Hilda Solis, Janet Napolitano, Ken Salazar, Tom Vilsack, Peter Orszag, Ray LaHood, Lisa Jackson, Eric Holder, Timothy Geithner, Susan Rice and  Christina Romer.

During the closing ceremony, the volunteers were thanked by Staff Sergeant Ericka Castro,  who recently served in Iraq:  "I know that these care packages are extremely meaningful, particularly when you are serving overseas and are thousands of miles from home.  Care packages made me feel better physically and emotionally when I was in Iraq, because it was a reminder that my service was valued and that people back home thought of me."

Carolyn Blashek, Founder of Operation Gratitude, noted that when members of the Military open the care packages, they will find all sorts of fun and useful items donated by very generous donors.  But, she added, "Equally important as the specific items in the care packages are the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers who pack them.  When our recipients open their Operation Gratitude packages, they will not only see great items, but also feel the love, respect and appreciation of the American people.  That is what Operation Gratitude and "A Day of Service for Our Military" is all about."

Target, a long-time Corporate Donor of Operation Gratitude, and the lead corporate sponsor for "A Day of Service," also procured many of the care kit items and provided wonderful thank you gifts ("Eco-Totes") to the 12,000+ volunteers who attended the RFK event.  "Target has been honored to partner with Mayor Fenty, Serve DC, Operation Gratitude and the generous people around the country, on this day when we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. "This day of service was an opportunity to say "thank you" to the service members from towns large and small across America who are far from home, including our own team members on active military duty." 

At the conclusion of the day, D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced the final tally:
85,000 care kits assembled, 10,000 more than the initial goal set for the event. 
 
"It is an honor and a privilege to bring together volunteers from across the nation to serve our troops while commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr," said Mayor Fenty. "In preparing these care packages, we celebrated an everlasting spirit of public service, and reminded those who have sacrificed the most that they are in our thoughts and in our hearts."

For video footage of the event, see the "Favorites" section of the Operation Gratitude YouTube Channel.
For photos, visit: Operation Gratitude Photo Gallery
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and on military ships at sea.  Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people.  Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 410,000 packages to American military deployed overseas.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation serves guests at 1,684 stores in 48 states nationwide and at www.Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. 
About Serve DC
The mission of the DC Commission on National and Community Service is to strengthen and promote the District of Columbia's spirit of service through partnerships, national service and volunteerism. The Commission focuses on three areas to accomplish this mission:
·         Partnerships: Develops partnerships among civic groups, government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, corporations and small businesses and the faith-based community.
·         National Service: Administers AmeriCorps programs in the District and facilitates collaboration among all national service programs including Senior Corps, Learn and Serve, AmeriCorps*NCCC and AmeriCorps*VISTA.
·         Volunteerism: Encourages citizens of all ages and backgrounds to address a variety of community needs by volunteering. Leads the Citizen Corps initiative, which provides citizens with opportunities to volunteer and make their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to address threats of terrorism, crime and disasters.  
Supporting Sponsors and Product Donors
The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF)
Service Nation
Pfizer, Inc
Comcast
Lockheed Martin
5 Hour Energy
GalleryCollection.com
GreetingCardsDirect.com
Before and After Mints
AT&T 

Celebs and 1000 Volunteers Assemble 400,000th Package

Posted on December 16, 2008 - 10:26 AM

Santa, Celebrities and Volunteers Join Forces
To Assemble Milestone 400,000th Package 

 http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fih6gvcab.0.0.9dmzolbab.0&p=http://www.opgratitude.com/gallery.php&id=preview
Van Nuys, CA - December 16, 2008- 
During a fast-paced and energetic weekend, 1000+ Operation Gratitude volunteers were joined on the Assembly Line by celebrities Kathy Ireland, Ben Affleck and Days of Our Lives stars:  Deidre Hall, Jay Kenneth Johnson and Leanne Hunley as they celebrated the assembly and shipment of Operation Gratitude's 400,000th Care Package.    
 
Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith, Sportscasters Ross Porter and Bonnie Jill Laflin, Mayoral candidate Walter Moore, two Junior ROTC units, dozens of Girl and Boy Scout Troops, church, temple, youth, school and Rotary groups, and high school cheerleaders stuffed, taped, labeled and transported thousands of Care Packages until a cry went out from Director of Operations Charlie Othold that the 400,000th package had hit the Assembly Line on Saturday morning at 11:15am.
 
The vast group gathered as Councilman Smith presented the organization with a check in excess of $11,600, and Kathy Ireland thanked the volunteers for their extraordinary devotion and hard work. http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fih6gvcab.0.0.9dmzolbab.0&p=http://www.opgratitude.com/gallery.php&id=preview
 
Founder Carolyn Blashek reported that this milestone package represents  20 million individual items, more than 2.8 million pounds and $40 million worth of product that Operation Gratitude has sent to troops deployed overseas since 2003. 
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fih6gvcab.0.0.9dmzolbab.0&p=http://www.opgratitude.com/view_album.php?album=71&id=previewSuddenly, in a crowd-pleasing moment, Santa Claus arrived bearing not one surprise item, but a whole sack of special gifts donated by several Operation Gratitude Corporate Sponsors and Supporters.
 
Flanked by Corporate donors and elves, Santa revealed the 20 special gifts (see full list below), including tickets to major sporting events, an all-inclusive vacation at a Caribbean resort with round-trip airline tickets, and an autographed, hand-painted "Golden Fiddle" donated by Country Music icon Charlie Daniels. 
 
The completed package was handed over to Van Nuys Regional Postmaster General, Joel Smith, who helped arrange a special handling process to deliver the care package for a secret presentation to take place on or around Christmas day.
 
On Sunday, Blashek presented Oscar winner Ben Affleck with an American flag flown over Multi-National Corps-Iraq Headquarters in honor of his support of Operation Gratitude.  Affleck, visibly moved, expressed the importance of saying "Thank You" to our troops, especially during the Holidays, when they are far away from home and loved ones. http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fih6gvcab.0.0.9dmzolbab.0&p=http://www.opgratitude.com/view_album.php?album=71&id=preview Noting that the organization needed to raise an additional $200,000 by year-end to send the remaining 20,000 care packages, Affleck urged all Americans to donate to Operation Gratitude as the best way to show appreciation to the troops. 
 
Each care package costs $10 to ship; tax-deductible financial donations to Operation Gratitude are welcome online or by check mailed to: Operation Gratitude; 16444 Refugio Road; Encino, CA 91436

Video footage of the weekend activities can be found on the Operation Gratitude YouTube Channel.
THE OPERATION GRATITUDE 400,000th CARE PACKAGE CONTENTS
 1. Caramoo: All Natural Caramel Candies: a case (12 boxes) of product every month for a year 
 2. BDI: A year's supply of Energy Gum 
 3. Sees Candy: A delicious confection every month for a year
 4. Target: a $500 Gift Card
 5. Gallery Collection: $500 Gift Certificate for Greeting Cards
 6. Courtesy of Gallery Collection, a personalized Holiday card and signed photograph from:
      Al Unser Jr.
      Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
      Jeff Gordon signed No. 24  Camo shirt and hero card
 7. Schering Plough: 12 Schering Plough products (the "Dynamic Dozen")-Recipient's choice. 
 8. Alacer Corp/Emergen-C: A Year's Supply of their new Health and Energy Water
 9. Newhall Coffee: A year's supply of coffee
10. 5 Hour Energy Drinks: A year's supply of 5 Hour Energy
11. Rogers Family Company:  an iPod 
12. Rogers Family Company: The Winning Letter plus 10 additional great letters from the online  "Letters to Our Troops Contest"
13. Maxell: Premium Digital Gift Basket of Maxell products, including headphones, ear bud sets, an assortment of MP3 and iPod accessories
      PLUS: (4) tickets to any 2009 Major League regular season sporting event  
14. WPIX TV/Tribune:  6 Suite tickets to a N.Y. Mets Game
15. Philadelphia Sports Congress: 2009 ARMY-NAVY GAME PACKAGE, including 2 tickets to the Game; 2 tickets to the Tailgate Party, 2 Tickets to the Army-Navy Gala and 2 nights in a hotel.
       PLUS: Gallery Collection will provide round-trip transportation from the recipient's home to Philadelphia.  
16. Dr. Pepper graciously donated another 2 tickets to the Game, to their parties, and 2 nights in a hotel, plus transportation so the recipient can bring along children or buddies!
17. Charlie Daniels, Country and Southern Rock Music Star, Grammy Award winning, Grand Ole Opry Inductee, donated an autographed hand-painted Golden Fiddle-made famous in Charlie's greatest hit song:  "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."  CD included in box.
18. American Airlines: 2 Round Trip Coach Tickets on to any AA destination in the US 48, Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico or Canada.
19. Willett Travel, Pleasant Holidays and Distinguished Resorts:  5 Days at the All-Inclusive Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic.  Includes room, meals, beverages and activities.  
20. Operation Gratitude: Asorted goodies: Shirts, Sweatshirts, bottle, Frisbee. 

OpGrat To Send 400,000th Care Package

Posted on December 3, 2008 - 09:46 AM

Operation Gratitude Hits Unprecedented Milestone December 13
Will Send Last Batch of Packages to Reach Troops in Time for Christmas   
Van Nuys, CA - December 3, 2008 - Following the assembly of over 50,000 care packages in just seven days, Operation Gratitude Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, announced today that the organization will reach a major milestone on Saturday, December 13, 2008:  The shipment of its 400,000th CARE PACKAGE!!
 
Othold expects the 400,000th package to hit the Assembly Line between 11:00am-11:30am on Saturday, December 13th.
 
In addition to regular Wish List items and personal letters provided by more than 150 Corporate Sponsors and Friends, and by tens of thousands of individual donors across the country, the 400,000th Care Package will include several surprise gifts.  A special delivery of the 400,000th package is being arranged. 
 
Three previous Operation Gratitude milestone packages contained the keys to new vehicles.  The 300,000th package was delivered personally in Iraq by Othold and founder Carolyn Blashek.
The winners of the online "Letters to Our Troops" Contest, sponsored by Rogers Family Coffee Company will also be announced and the Grand Prize Winning Letter will be read and placed into the 400,000th package.

An additional 12-15,000 care packages will be assembled and shipped during the December 13-14 weekend.  "This is the last weekend to mail packages that can still reach the troops in time for Christmas," stated Robert Bender, Operation Gratitude Logistics Coordinator.  "We intend to get out as many packages as is humanly possible," he added.
 
 Military and Political dignitaries, along with representatives from many of the organization's Corporate Sponsors will join celebrities and cast members from popular TV shows to assist the Operation Gratitude volunteers assemble thousands of troop gifts, in addition to the 400,000th Care Package.  Fun activities, delicious product samples and a hearty lunch will be provided by Corporate donors.
 
Media and press are invited to attend the Milestone Celebration and the Lunch following the ceremony
 
WHAT:
Operation Gratitude Volunteers assemble the 400,000th Care Package
 
WHEN:
Saturday December 13, 2008: Production starts at 9 a.m.; the 400,000th package assembly and celebration will occur between  11:00 a.m. - 12 Noon
 
Packing will continue from 1-4 p.m. on December 13 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 14th, 2008
 
WHERE:
California National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, Ca. 91406
Corner of Victory and Louise

Volunteers (ages 12 years and older) are welcome to assist in the weekend activities. For additional information, please visit the www.operationgratitude.com  website, email opgrat@gmail.com or call the Hotline: 818-909-0039. 
 
The Troops Respond:
The troops express their appreciation for Operation Gratitude Care Packages through a constant flow of letters, e-mails and pictures, as seen in the Mail Call and Photo Gallery sections of the www.operationgratitude.com website.
 
"On the morning of Thanksgiving we were all a little down. Then later that day, we received your boxes. I can't begin to tell you the gratitude we all felt and the smiles that it put on the faces of all the soldiers here. But the thing that touched us the most wasn't the content of the boxes. The thing we were most proud of and what touched us all the most was the enclosed card with a picture off all the great Americans there waving and smiling at us. The entire mood changed and our Thanksgiving was Thanksgiving again. We all ate "Army Food" for Thanksgiving and talked about everything you guys sent, but again the talk kept going back to the card and the obvious support and love and care that  your group sent.  We noticed young, old, disabled, moms, dads, sons, and daughters. And we could also pick out the ones that have even served themselves, they just have that look!!   Please tell all of them from the bottom of the heart of many soldiers located in an isolated forward operating base in Iraq, we received their gratitude on Thanksgiving day when we needed it the most. We may be serving here in Iraq but you guys are the Heroes.  Thank You Again with the deepest Respect,  Major K.O."

"I just received your package.  I wanted to take this time to thank you for your thoughts, and more importantly your time.  We are doing a job that our country has called us to do, and you are making that job easier.  I am not much of a "candy man."  However, I wanted you to know that I put it to good use.  Today, on mission, I took the candy and gave it to as many children as I saw.  You can not imagine the smiles of these kids who have nothing, and surely have never had candy.  My heart nearly melted completely, when a little girl from Kirkuk blew me a kiss and said thank you!!!!  It is the little things in life that make the difference.  Keep up the work and know that it is making a difference!!!  Thanks again!!  Sincerely,  Specialist B.Q."
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude (www.operationgratitude.com ) is the 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of items and letters addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile overseas regions.  Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 390,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas.

OPERATION GRATITUDE TO ATTEND ARMY/NAVY GAME

Posted on December 3, 2008 - 09:45 AM

Operation Gratitude Collects for Troops at Army/Navy Game with
Help from UPS and GalleryCollection.com

Encino, CA - December 2, 2008
For the fourth year, Operation Gratitude will join thousands of Cadets, Midshipmen, alumni, parents, sponsors and fans at the 109th Army/Navy Game, to be held at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field this Saturday, December 6, 2008. 
As part of the Army/Navy Game festivities, fans and Philadelphians are rallying to give back to the troops through Operation Gratitude.
 
Collection boxes will be located at the entrances of Lincoln Financial Field on game day and at the Army/Navy Salute at Penn's Landing all weekend long. The Philadelphia Sports Congress is teaming with UPS to collect items for the care packages, including non-perishable snack foods, DVDs, CDs and Beanie Babies.  UPS will deliver all donations to Operation Gratitude's headquarters in Van Nuys, California.
 
In addition, Prudent Publishing's GalleryCollection.com, the leading personalized Christmas cards and corporate Holiday cards publisher in the nation, donated 28,000 holiday cards to distribute at the Army/Navy Game, encouraging fans to write personal letters of appreciation to service members.  The cards will be delivered via the Operation Gratitude care packages that will be assembled and shipped the weekend of December 13-14.
 
Holiday cards will also be available for personalization at several Philadelphia hotel welcome tables, the Army/Navy Gala held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on December 5, and Penn's Landing.
 
 "The Army/Navy Game is a great American sports tradition celebrating the skill and courage of the men and women of the U.S. Military-the very people Operation Gratitude serves," said Carolyn Blashek, founder of the organization.  "We are honored once again to be included in the Army/Navy Game activities, and thank UPS, the Philadelphia Sports Congress, GalleryCollection.com and all Philadelphians for their enormous patriotic support and spirit," she added. 
 
The first Army-Navy Game kicked off in 1890 at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, and became an annual tradition starting in 1930. Generally played on the first Saturday in December, the game is considered one of the longest lasting rivalries in college football. To learn more about the 2008 game, visit http://www.PhillyLovesArmyNavy.com/ .
 
Operation Gratitude expects to send more than 70,000 care packages to our brave men and women in uniform during the 2008 holiday season, including its 400,000th Milestone Package on December 13th. Each package costs $10 to ship.  All donations to Operation Gratitude, an all-volunteer organization, are tax deductible.
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude is the 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of items and letters addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in combat zones.  Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 390,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas; the 400,000th package will be assembled on December 13, 2008 at the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, CA.
About The Philadelphia Sports Congress
Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, seeks to attract major sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia area. The PSC produces the Army/Navy Game for the City of Philadelphia in conjunction with the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia will also host the 2009 game.
About GalleryCollection.com
Prudent Publishing's GalleryCollection.com is the leading publisher of premium quality personalized Christmas cards and business Holiday cards in the United States. Established in 1929 and still family owned, the company offers direct-from-the-publisher prices that include customized ink and foil imprints, a large selection of memorable greetings, and matching deckle-edged envelopes made of recycled paper. GalleryCollection.com also offers numerous types of all occasion greeting cards including business birthday cards, thank you cards, and anniversary cards, many of which are FSC-certified (SW-COC-002530) and produced with Green-e certified renewable energy. 

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