USO Phone Card Distribution Tops One Million Mark

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The USO has distributed more than one million prepaid international phone cards to service members in its ongoing effort to help troops stay connected to their families. More than 404,000 have been included in the popular care packages the USO distributes through Operation USO Care Package. An additional 711,000 have been distributed through USO Operation Phone Home, a program begun in April 2003.

Through USO Operation Phone Home, the USO purchases bulk quantities of prepaid international calling cards. The cards are distributed to service members, especially those stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to wounded service members recuperating at various military hospitals stateside and overseas. The USO also distributed phone cards to troops participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

"Many of our service members are stationed far from home and loved ones, and getting through the holidays can be especially difficult. USO Operation Phone Home helps us bring them a little closer to 'home,' if only through a phone call," said Edward A. Powell, USO president and CEO.

To support USO Operation Phone Home and other USO programs and services, individuals can log on to the USO World Headquarters' Web site at http://www.uso.org/ or phone 1-800-USO-7469 and specify the donation is for Operation Phone Home.

For nearly 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by World Partners AT&T Corporation, Avon Products, Inc., BAE SYSTEMS, Bass Pro Shops, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Military Channel, National Football League, S&K Sales Company and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including Walgreens and the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org/.

  Contact:
  Donna St. John, (703) 908-6458
  dstjohn@uso.org