OPERATION Hug-A-Hero Press Release – January 2009

OPERATION HUG-A-HERO™

THE GENEROSITY OF OTHERS IS HELPING THE CHILDREN OF
DEPLOYED SERVICE MEMBERS

WHO WE ARE: Operation Hug-A-Hero™ www.OperationHugAHero.org
WHAT WE DO: Provide FREE Hug-A-Hero™ Dolls to Military Children with Deployed Parents
WHERE: Across the Globe
WHY: To Ease Separation for the Children of ALL Active Duty Service Members
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Make Others Aware of Our Inspiring Cause

CONTACT: Tricia Dyal (910) 333-1502
Tricia@OperationHugAHero.org
Lisa Berg (910) 546-3127
Lisa@OperationHugAHero.org

Jacksonville, NC 2009 – It’s been over 4 years since the first Hug-A-Hero™ doll, bearing the likeness of a deployed servicemember, went out to his child in Jacksonville, North Carolina from Tricia Dyal’s home. Now, she and co-creator Nikki Darnell are awed by the reception that their Hug-A-Hero™ dolls have gotten all over the globe. They created the dolls to fill a need in their own children’s lives when their husbands were deployed to Iraq in 2005. Hug-A-Hero™ dolls are a simple design; a full body picture of a loved one sewn into a soft, washable doll. Their purpose, however, is far from simple. Easing the loneliness and anxiety of deployments for children of service members, the Hug-A-Hero™ dolls are now filling a void for other military children. Hand sewn and individually produced in the United States, these dolls bridge the gap between those deployed and the families left at home. When it became obvious how beneficial the dolls were to their children’s emotional well-being, Dyal and Darnell knew they had to share their creation with the world. So, the two Marine Corps wives began making dolls from their homes, formed Daddy Dolls®, Inc., launched a website, and while juggling their own military moves and deployments, have watched their business grow. “We’re so proud to see Hug-A-Hero™ dolls touching so many lives all over the world” says Dyal.

From day one, it has been Dyal and Darnell’s dream to gift their Hug-A-Hero™ dolls to every military child faced with the stresses of a deployment. “We know first hand that they help the child cope, and that, in-turn, helps the parents cope,” says Darnell. Shortly after they formed Daddy Dolls®, Inc., they developed a special fund – financed through the generous donations of individuals, organizations, and companies. The fund, Operation Hug-A-Hero™ provided dolls to children who had lost a parent in the line of duty or to children whose families couldn’t afford a doll. Already, the organization has been able to help thousands of children, but limited funds require that recipients come recommended by Chaplains based on need.

Experience has shown that America is filled with amazing people who are willing to support US troops by supporting the families left behind. With their Hug-A-Hero™ dolls and other resources designed to help military families get through long deployments, Dyal and Darnell plan to do just that. In an effort to make donating easier, and provide generous donors (any amount is generous) with the tax benefit of a non-profit donation, Operation Hug-A-Hero™, Inc. was formed on August 6, 2008. Dyal also brought on Lisa Berg to act as her Director of Development as they get  Operation Hug-A-Hero™ fully functional.  It is currently in the Not for Profit application process. Dyal and Berg hope that the formation of the non-profit organization will encourage corporate sponsorships and someday soon allow them to gift Hug-A-Hero™ dolls to every military child who wants one.

“It’s truly inspiring to see people open their hearts to the children of our deployed service members. One woman from Massachusetts actually posted a sign in her gym for donations to Operation Hug-A-Hero™ and raised over $500!” Dyal relates. “It’s so heart-warming to see people who don’t even have a connection to the military stepping forward and saying, ‘this is a small way that I can help that soldier, sailor, airman, marine or Coast-guardsman who is defending MY freedom — by doing something for his or her child.”  Berg relates, “There is also a dentist in Louisiana that is reaching out to our cause by allowing his patients the option to donate at the time of their visit to his office.  This dentist served in the LA Army National Guard with two tours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

Donating to Operation Hug-A-Hero™ is as simple as going to the newly designed website: www.operationhugahero.org and clicking on the “Donate” button.   On the website you will also see testimonials from families who have benefited from a free doll and how the dolls are currently helping children.  We also have an area on our site which allows families to share their own tips on how to get through deployments as well as areas to see us in the media and a list of our sponsors.

Please contact Tricia Dyal or Lisa Berg for more information.