Support Vin Contento Competing in Ironman Mont-Tremblant in Montreal Canada in honor of Operation Hug-A-Hero!

Vin Contento is an age group triathlete who has been competing in long distance endurance events for the last seven years. He began running to get into shape and live a healthier lifestyle, running half and full marathons, but soon was eager for a new challenge. Triathlon was that next challenge; he began with shorter distance triathlons and soon worked his way up to full ironman distance races. His next race will take him just north of Montreal, Canada for the inaugural Ironman Mont-Tremblant. Iron distant triathlons consist of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. He completed Ironman Florida in 2010. This will be his second Ironman race.

Vin lives in Camden, Maine with his wife Alison, and two daughters Sarah and Caroline who love to cheer him on.  Vin is also the brother of one of our Board of Directors, Mrs. Carla Olivo, our Communications Director.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Vin for selecting Operation Hug-A-Hero to benefit from your hard work!  We wish you the best of luck and we are honored you have chosen us to support!  Good luck, Vin!  We are rooting for you!

 

To donate in support of Vin’s awesome challenge, please head on over to our Donations page and simply add a note reflecting VC-Tri.

News 92FM Houston Features Operation Hug-A-Hero

Executive Director, Lisa Berg was interviewed with Laurie Kendrick of News 92 Houston about Operation Hug-A-Hero.  We appreciate News 92FM helping to spread awareness so we can help more of our Littlest Heroes on the homefront. You can listen to their interview here.

Grey Oaks Country Club Supports Operation Hug-A-Hero

The wonderful community of Grey Oaks Country Club is holding their 4th golf tournament in support of Operation Hug-A-Hero on Saturday July 21st.  Our Executive Director, Lisa Berg will be present to personally thank the community and golfers for their generosity.  Their continued support and participation is a testament to the SW Florida community – rich in patriotism and home to many retired service members.

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero volunteer, Michael Cox, whose son-in-law is a United States Marine, has led the effort to establish the tradition of a series of golf tournaments to benefit OPERATION Hug-A-Hero at premier golf courses in SW Florida.  Cox’s goal is to continue to support non-profit organizations who provide resources to our military.  We are honored to accept their support once again, helping our little heroes left behind.

For more information, please contact us at info AT operationhugahero.org!

Way to go Mike and our thanks to all of the players for their support!

Operation Hug-A-Hero Salutes America’s Dads!

Someone once said, “A Dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again.”

Fathers’ Day is a day set aside for honoring Dads and celebrating all that they mean in our lives. For military children it can be a sad day when Dad is an ocean away deployed to a foreign land. Special days like Father’s Day, Christmas and Birthdays are especially hard when a parent is deployed. Operation Hug-A-Hero seeks to pay tribute to these special kids as they cope with separation. Military children go through a range of emotions when Dad is away, everything from fears about his safety to worrying about the reunion when he returns. While the deployed or fallen parent can never be replaced, a Hug-A-Hero doll can offer solace during their most trying times such as a holidays and special occasions.

The Hug-A-Hero doll features the head-to-toe photograph of the child’s active duty parent (usually dressed in uniform), with a pocket in the back to save pictures or letters from their loved one.  This one-of-a-kind doll is incredibly durable and washable so it can survive many deployments.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to Operation Hug-A-Hero today.  Your $20 gift can alleviate the worry and suffering of a small child missing their deployed or fallen parent. These brave children deserve the admiration and steadfast support of all Americans.

Individuals who wish to donate directly can do so via the Operation Hug-A-Hero website: www.operationhugahero.org. Corporations, Civic Groups, and Community Groups are encouraged to contact OHAH Director of Communications, Carla Olivo at 540-847-1467 or Carla.Contento-Olivo@operationhugahero.org or Executive Director Lisa Berg at lisa@operationhugahero.org.

 

Bill Compton 4th Annual Support Our Troops 5K and 1M Family Fun Walk in Walled Lake, MI

WALLED LAKE, MI, May 27, 2012 – The Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will hold 4th annual “Bill Compton Support Our Troops 5K Run and 1M Fun Walk” Memorial weekend on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at E. Walled Lake Drive and Ferland Street in Walled Lake’s Historic Lakefront District.

If you are in the Detroit, MI area this Memorial Day weekend, please come out and support our cause!  Executive Director of Operation Hug-A-Hero, Lisa Berg will be at the event to personally thank the Walled Lake Community and Downtown Development Authority. We are proud to align ourselves with this amazing community again.

To see our Press Release, please click here.

Girl Scouts Council Louisiana East – Honorable Mention

We are proud to be featured in the Newsletter for Girl Scouts Council – Louisiana East during our Month of the Military Child campaign.  We know firsthand how important volunteers are to our mission and to important organizations like the Girl Scouts.  Thank you for featuring Operation Hug-A-Hero, Council Louisiana East!  To read more, click here.

Allstate Insurance Company adds Operation Hug-A-Hero to their Annual Giving Campaign

Operation Hug-A-Hero® is proud and humbled to announce its selection by Allstate Insurance Company to be part of the company’s annual Giving Campaign.  This provides Allstate Insurance employees and agents the option to donate to the Operation Hug-A-Hero® cause. Any donations made to the organization from April 2-20 by Allstate’s employees and agents will also be matched up to 15% by the nation’s largest public insurer. This comes at a perfect time as April is nationally recognized as the Month of the Military Child, which allows us all to pay tribute to our Littlest Heroes on the homefront.

Thank you for keeping us in Good Hands, Allstate!

Operation Hug-A-Hero Salutes America’s Littlest Heroes during Month of the Military Child

Operation Hug-A-Hero supports our military children and the children of our fallen public safety officers by providing a free Hug-A-Hero doll to those in need. April is Month of the Military Child but we also salute them all year long.  See our Press Release here.

Operation Hug-A-Hero 3rd Annual Holiday Hugs Campaign

 

There is still time to participate in Operation Hug-A-Hero’s 3^rd Annual Holiday Hugs Campaign. Local businesses, schools, churches, military spouses’ clubs and other interested organizations are invited to adorn a holiday tree with Holiday Hug ornaments. A $17 donation ensures a Hug-A-Hero doll will be gifted to an eligible child. Donors can write a personal message to the recipient on the back of their ornament which will be used as a gift tag for the Hug-A-Hero doll that will be sent to the child.  See our Press Release here

Happy Veterans Day – We Honor You

As we prepare to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, service and sacrifice, Veterans’ Day serves as a stark reminder that America’s sons and daughters are still in harm’s way half a world away and their sons and daughters are waiting and wishing for their parent to come home safely.  View our Press Release here.

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