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.

SERvice TO MAnkind Award from Tampa Gem SERTOMA Club

Operation Hug-A-Hero is humbled to receive the SERvice TO MAnkind award this week from the Tampa Gem SERTOMA Club on Thursday, Sept 22nd in Tampa.  Executive Director Lisa Berg and Key Volunteer Ellen Kluver will accept the award on behalf of our entire Operation Hug-A-Hero team.  The Tampa Gem SERTOMA Club has helped place many dolls into the arms of children in need by their continued generous donations to our cause.

Operation Hug-A-Hero Supports our Nation’s Fallen Heroes

The Operation Hug-A-Hero family extends their heartfelt prayers and sympathy to the families of the 30 U.S. Special Operations Troops killed over the weekend in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. These fallen heroes will always be cherished by their loved ones and their bravery and service to their country will never be forgotten by a grateful nation.

Operation Hug-A-Hero would like to offer each child affected their own custom-made Hug-A-Hero Doll of their fallen hero, their daddies. We believe our special dolls can provide a tangible, comforting connection for these children in the coming transitional months.

If you know a child directly affected by this recent tragedy who might benefit from a Hug-a-Hero doll, please contact Operation Hug-A-Hero at (888) HUG-0329, ext. 101 (484-0329).

If you would like to help Operation Hug-A-Hero in providing a little comfort to the children of our fallen heroes, please go to www.operationhugahero.org to make your tax-deductible donation.
We have set up Special Monitoring of our phone lines for this so that we can promptly respond to assist the Children (our little Heroes)  in their time of need.

Operation Hug-A-Hero® Joins Hilton HHonors Giving Back Program

Operation Hug-A-Hero announces its FIRST Corporate Partnership with Hilton HHonors Giving Back Program!  Loyalty program members donate Hilton HHonors points for children of deployed or Fallen American heroes to receive their own custom made Hug-A-Hero doll.  We are honored to welcome Hilton HHonors Giving Back Program to Our Family.  You can learn about us on the Hilton HHonors Giving Back program here.

To read more about this partnership, see our Press Release on PRUnderground.

Redbook Magazine features Operation Hug-A-Hero in their May Issue

7 Sweet & Simple Ways to Support Military Families

 

OO RAH to the editors of Redbook Magazine for this amazing feature about how ANYONE can support military families in the May, 2011 issue!  We are thrilled that OPERATION Hug-A-Hero made Redbook’s “sweet and simple” list!  Thank you, Redbook, and thank you to the tens of thousands of Redbook subscribers who will take action because of this article.  We could not do it without you!

3rd Annual 5K and Family Fun Run in Walled Lake, Michigan

Come out and enjoy the 3rd Annual 5K and Family Fun Run hosted in beautiful Walled Lake, Michigan on May 29, 2011.  Walled Lake has supported Operation Hug-A-Hero and The Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund for 3 consecutive years!  We appreciate all their support and You can show your support too by joining this Family Fun day.

For more information please go to the Walled Lake, MI website for more information or to Run Michigan dot com to register!

OHAH Celebrates Month of the Military Child – April 2011

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The Month of the Military Child is an opportunity to recognize military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifices and continued resilience.

For all of us at OPERATION Hug-A-Hero, this entire month is a time to work a little harder and aim a little higher in the hopes that we can put more Hug-A-Hero dolls into the arms of children who are missing their mommies or daddies due to deployment.

There are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18 with a parent serving in the military and about 900,000 with one or both parents deployed multiple times.

These numbers are staggering and we have a long way to go to reach our goal of gifting a Hug-A-Hero doll to every military child, regardless of need.

We will only get there with your help.  Honor a military child this month.  A $25 donation is all it takes for us to provide a Hug-A-Hero doll to a deserving child.  Once you make your donation, tell a friend or a co-worker and invite them to match your donation.

Most importantly, if you know a military child, pull her aside some time this month, get eyeball to eyeball, and let that child know that you are proud of her and her family’s service to our country.  You will feel great…you may even get some goosebumps.  We promise.

Please watch the short video of our First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama and our Second Lady Mrs. Jill Biden as they comment on the support to Military Children for this Month of the Military Child.

St Petersburg Times talks about Operation Hug-A-Hero

Executive Director, Lisa Berg was contacted by reporter Ileana Morales in mid-January to learn more about our cause.  At the time, Mrs Berg was enjoying some family time as her husband, Benjamin Berg, USCG was home for a visit from the Middle East.  Miss Morales and Mrs Berg reconnected and together learned about a local family who is currently without Daddy.

The Brian Dorr Family was gracious enough to let us into their home to allow us to learn more about their lives as an Army Family and their own experiences with Hug-A-Hero dolls while Daddy serves our country.

Please read the St Petersburg Times articles posted on TBO.com: Hug-A-Hero dolls help military children keep deployed parent close.

Press Release December 5, 2010, OHAH Launches 2nd Annual Holiday Hugs Drive

Holiday Hugs 2010 Campaign Begins for Operation Hug-A-Hero

Operation Hug-A-Hero kicks off its 2^nd Annual Holiday Hugs Campaign to provide Hug-A-Hero dolls to the children of deployed military and law enforcement families this holiday season.

Jacksonville, NC (PRWEB) December 5, 2010 — Operation Hug-A-Hero, a 501(c)(3) organization serving the children of our deployed military, law enforcement, and others separated from their families in defense of our country, kicks off its 2^nd annual Holiday Hugs drive this week with the goal of raising $25,000 in 60 days to provide Hug-A-Hero dolls to children separated from their parents this holiday season.

Operation Hug-A-Hero Executive Director, Lisa Berg, reports a tremendous increase in the applications for the Hug-A-Hero doll program in the weeks leading up to and just after the holiday season. Berg explains that this is partly due to the fact that the holidays are very hard for children who are separated from a parent, or, in the worst case, if they have lost a parent serving in the line of duty. “Separation anxiety is often heightened during the holidays—a time that is already particularly stressful for the family back on the homefront or that is grieving a loss.” explains Berg. “Not only do Hug-A-Hero dolls provide tremendous comfort for these children, but they are also a way for the deployed parent to see that they are not forgotten and their kids do want to include them in their daily lives.”

These are excerpts from just three recent Operation Hug-A-Hero applications:

“We have pictures that the kids have posted all around the house and even our 16 month old goes to the door, opens it to look outside and says “Dada Dada… gone.” My husband’s worst fear is that the youngest two won’t remember who he is.”  – Devon Medina, US Marine Corps Spouse

“My husband is on his 3rd deployment, he’s in Afghanistan. We have 3 kids that all have Autism. I saw a child today that had one of your dolls and I loved it! This is something that would really benefit my kids. Autism already affects their ability to connect with us as parents, and being deployed makes it even harder. But having one of these dolls would be a great way to remind them that have a Daddy who loves them!” – Amber Mead, US Marine Corps Spouse

“I just deployed again and would love to be able to give something to my children, especially the twins, so that they don’t forget what I look like… as I have been out of their lives more than I have been in it since they were born. I know that this is something that they will keep for a lifetime and know that their Daddy loves them and is missing them just as much as they miss me.” – Jeremy Spence, Petty Officer 2^nd Class, US Navy

Operation Hug-A-Hero is inviting retailers, businesses, schools, churches, and other interested organizations to adorn a holiday tree with Holiday Hug ornaments. Each $25 donation represents a Hug-A-Hero doll to be gifted to an eligible child, but donations of any denomination are welcomed. Donors can write a personal message to the child recipient on the back of their ornament which will be used as a gift tag for the Hug-A-Hero doll that Operation Hug-A-Hero will send to the child.

All Holiday Hugs 2010 materials are provided by Operation Hug-A-Hero–the sponsors simply provide the tree or other display for the ornaments.  Alternatively, sponsors can initiate a donate-at-the-register campaign and display the ornaments in storefront windows or other prominent location.

“We are thrilled at the early response from organizations and businesses all over the country who are becoming Holiday Hugs supporters,” shared Stephanie Crabb, Director of Development for Operation Hug-A-Hero. “2010 has been a challenging year for fundraising for all non-profit organizations and we have hundreds of children on our waiting list right now. Our goal with Holiday Hugs 2010 is to provide Hug-A-Hero dolls to each of these families on our waiting list as well as fulfill the new requests we know are coming.”

Individuals who wish to donate to the Holiday Hugs 2010 drive directly can do so via the Operation Hug-A-Hero website. Donors may include a personal message to the child recipient and it will be written on a Holiday Hugs ornament on your behalf.

The Holiday Hugs Campaign will continue through January 31, 2010.

PressRelease on PRWeb -

Thanksgiving & Holiday Season message from OHAH CTO

photo © 2010 Jerry | more info (via: Wylio)
The whine of turbine motors and the Whup..Whupp.. Whuppp of the rotor blades from a UH-60 Black-Hawk helicopter swooping over the top of my CHU(Container-Housing-Unit) on this cool pre-dawn morning, mark the beginning of just another day here in Baghdad, Iraq.

It’s most likely the same for troops fighting in Afghanistan, many without the luxury of a CHU, sleeping in tents or wherever they can lie down or find some small bit of concealment and respite from the weather and the enemy.

Today is Thanksgiving Day 2010 and I am reminded by my surroundings that each day, courageous men and women who serve overseas face extreme hardships.

Currently over 250 thousand military members are deployed overseas.

Many troops are deployed in far off reaches of the globe. Some on ships a few on submarines and many in other far off places on foreign lands. Over 130 thousand in Afghanistan, 50 thousand in Iraq and close to 30 thousand in South Korea. The remainder in other far off reaches of the World in support of US Interest’s, protecting our Country and Way of life.

While living conditions are one hardship, the one that is the most difficult is the separation from family. This is not a one way event, as the dependents of our military members suffer from the long separations too.

As a veteran I believe, that everyone that serves their country in time of need is a Hero. Unfortunately, oftentimes overlooked in the process is the littlest Hero’s. These are the children of deployed service members who are missing their mom or dad right now.

Around this time of the year, as many of us begin to celebrate our blessings, often our thoughts turn towards our families and those in need. I think it’s time to remind all and to reemphasize the needs that children of deployed service members have.

Two key reports this year, one from the New England Journal of Medicine and the other by the Rand Corporation clearly show the pain from separation and the need.

The NEJM report along with the RAND report signify that children of military parents are adversely impacted emotionally with a parent who is deployed away from home for significant amount of time. This is the main reason that Operation Hug-A-Hero was created. We can and have made huge positive psychological impacts to the children that are recipients of our FREE Hug-A-Hero® dolls.

Our troops have made the sacrifice. Their commitment to serve their country and the American people is unwavering. We at home have so much to be thankful for even in these troubled times.

May your thoughts be with our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guard and Civilians stationed throughout the world, as is ours.

As today starts the major celebration period for our nation my hope is that from today on and all through the Holidays, you will think of them and help us to bring a little Homeland Security to their little Heroes left behind.

There are many ways that you can help us to meet our mission.

• One simple way is to pass this message along to others; family, friends or co-workers. ( Share Save)
• Email, Tweet or re-Tweet this article,
• join our cause on Face Book
• Subscribe to our News Letter
• Comment on this article.

Of course you can also make a contribution by volunteering or helping to run a fund raising event or even by making a tax deductible donation.

Fortunately, these days, it’s easier than ever to help others. You don’t have do any heavy lifting, or even make any trips  With just a couple minutes and a few mouse clicks, you can donate and save money while you’re doing your Holiday Shopping.  Please remember us on Black Friday and Cyber Monday by visiting igive.com

Our Holiday Hugs event for 2010 will launch within the next week – Hug-A-Hero is inviting retailers, businesses, schools, churches and other interested organizations to adorn a holiday tree with OHAH Holiday Hug “ornaments.” Each ornament represents a Hug-A-Hero doll for a child, for a small donation.

If you are into Social Media and want to help with Fund Raising you can also start your own campaign to support OHAH via Crowd rise.

Whatever avenue you choose to assist us in getting our message out, we will all be eternally grateful for your kind gesture and assistance in helping to support our troops and the little Heroes.

Sincerely,

Thomas Townsend

CTO

Operation Hug-A-Hero

Baghdad, Iraq

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