USO Newsletter: Spring Highlights

YOUR USO AT WORK: JUNE 2023 ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏

DONATE NOW »     YOUR USO AT WORK Issue 113 / Jun. 2023         As summer goes into full swing, it's more important than ever to remember and honor our troops who may not be able to spend this precious time with their families.   We can't thank you enough for helping our service members stay comfortable and connected to home during this time. Check out the updates below to learn a little more about the work you've helped make possible this past spring!   USO FRONT LINES     How a U.S. Soldier and USO Volunteer in Honduras Helped Lay the Foundation for a New USO Center USO centers typically have teams of volunteers working alongside USO employees to deliver crucial support to service members stationed far from home. But for locations that are too remote or dangerous for permanent USO staff to live and work there, we rely on the service members deployed to these particular locations to serve as USO volunteers and run their own centers. These heroes use their downtime during deployment to support their fellow troops, and we couldn't be more thankful for them. Click here to meet the U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class and USO volunteer who helped establish the USO's first-ever center in Honduras. »     A Veteran and His Service Dogs Are Supporting Injured Service Members in Germany, Alongside the USO Meet a U.S. Army veteran and his team of dogs at the USO Warrior Center in Germany: where they provide wounded, ill and injured service members with comfort and a boost in morale — all through a well-placed paw shake and the happy sight of a dog walking down the hall, coming to brighten your day! See how we're supporting military members facing PTSD and mental health through dog therapy and other initiatives. »   GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT     Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim Host Special Preview Screening of Guy Ritchie’s "The Covenant" at Fort Irwin This past spring, Academy Award–nominated actor and producer Jake Gyllenhaal and actor Dar Salim joined forces with the USO to visit Fort Irwin, California, the home of the U.S. Army’s National Training Center. Gyllenhaal and Salim toured the National Training Center, met with service members at the USO Center and hosted a special preview screening of their movie, Guy Ritchie's "The Covenant." Read more about their visit and the moving story between a U.S. service member and his interpreter.  »   EVENTS         Partnering with the NFL to support our heroes: 2023 NFL Draft For over 55 years, the USO has partnered with the NFL to support our heroes. This year, the USO joined the fun of the NFL draft by supporting a second round pick from Ramstein Air Base in Germany and working with the NFL to select Tech. Sgt. Ricardo Miranda-Navarro to announce the 133rd pick live from Kansas City, Missouri. Tech. Sgt. Miranda-Navarro said the opportunity was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Football connects service members to their community, and we thank the NFL for its continued support of service members and their families!         2023 Boston Marathon and Care Package Recap Alongside our corporate partners at SNHU, Service Credit Union, Delta Air Lines, and Prudential, USO took part in the excitement of the Boston Marathon this year through our Team USO runners and other special events. We are so grateful for the over 100 volunteers who came out for the USO Care Pack event at the USS Constitution to assemble care packages for service members. The Team USO runners helped raise funds that will assist the USO in achieving its mission of keeping service members connected to family, home and country throughout their service to the nation.         BY THE NUMBERS 13 That's how many years we've had the official uniform of military supporters! Check out the limited edition 2023 USO T-shirt here. »                   VOICE OF THE USO   "I was finally able to talk to my children by using their free Wi-Fi, and I enjoyed my time checking [out] a variety of local cultural opportunities while having snacks in their lounge. It made me [feel] at home!" — A U.S. Army Spc. and military mom deployed to South Korea               CORPORATE PARTNERS       2023 MilVet Forum: Lockheed Martin leadership, military relations managers and the veteran/military spouse workforce supports the USO! Lockheed Martin is an essential partner in supporting USO programs and opportunities for service members and military families. This spring, Lockheed Martin hosted its annual MilVet Leadership Forum to support the many military veterans and spouses in its workforce. The forum featured community-building activities, including the assembly of 3,100 USO Care Packages for deployed service members.       Kroger celebrates Military Appreciation Month and the launch of USO Mobile Food Kitchens Last month, Kroger announced the launch of two new USO Mobile Food Kitchens to support military service members. Through this collaboration, the USO and Kroger provide nutritious meals to military members, whether they are supporting natural disaster relief, serving in remote locations or at basic training. More than 100 Kroger associates helped celebrate the launch by assembling 2,500 care packages that the USO will distribute to service members as they head out or return from deployments in the coming year.   OTHER WAYS TO GIVE   PLANNED GIVING AT THE USO You can help service members draw strength from connecting to the things they love and fight for, while earning an income from your gift. Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) offer a secure, fixed payment stream for yourself and/or a loved one for your lifetime(s). You will also receive tax benefits and the satisfaction of creating a lasting legacy through the USO. Learn more »       From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO) is a nonprofit 501(ϲ)(3) organization (EIN/Tax ID: 13-1610451) and not part of the Department of Defense (DOD). The appearance of DOD visual information does not imply or constitute DOD endorsement.   ©2023 USO, Inc. All Rights Reserved P‌O Box 96‌860 Washi‌ngton, D‌C 20‌077-7677 1-888-484-3876 Click Here to Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | State Disclosures