Van Nuys, CA - December 8, 2009 - Operation Gratitude
Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, announced today that the organization
will reach a major milestone on
Saturday, December 19, 2009:
The shipment of its
500,000th CARE PACKAGE.
Othold
expects the 500,000th package to hit the Assembly Line at ~11:15 am on
Saturday, December 19th.
In addition to
Wish List items
and personal letters provided by more than
250
Corporate Sponsors and
Friends, and by tens of thousands of individual donors
across the country, "
The 500,000th Care Package will include a roaring
surprise generously donated by Sands
Resorts," exclaimed Carolyn Blashek, who started the
organization in 2003. A special delivery of the
Half Millionth 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 Blashek.
The winners of the online "
Guess
the Candy Weight and Letter Writing Contest," will also be announced
and the Winning Letter will be read and placed into the 500,000th
package.
A special Guest Star will be on hand to sing the National
Anthem.
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 500,000th Care Package. 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 500,000th Care
Package
WHEN:
Saturday December 19,
2009: Production starts at 9 a.m.; the 500,000th package assembly and
celebration will occur between 11:00 a.m. - 12 Noon
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
on-site care package activities.
For additional volunteer information, click
here:
http://www.opgratitude.com/volunteer_hours.php or email
OpGratVolunteer@yahoo.com
Each care package costs $11 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
Supporters can vote for Operation Gratitude to win cash prizes in
two
online charity contests:
Good
Earth Cares: Vote once a day through Feb. 28, 2010 to win
$10,000 for Operation Gratitude
Chase
Community Giving: One-time vote until Dec. 11, 2009 to win
$25,000 for Operation Gratitude
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.
"Thank you so very much for the wonderful care package. It
means so much to receive anything from home and from people who I will probably
never meet but who gave a bit of themselves to ensure I was taken care of. The
separation from friends and family is difficult at best. But knowing that the
very citizens we defend still care, it makes it so much easier. Thank you for
your prayers and support. Respectfully, SGT
J.M." 
