Press Release December 2, 2009

Afghanistan troop surge:

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero® offers public opportunity to support ‘littlest heroes’

Members of the public are invited to join OPERATION Hug-A-Hero in easing the burden of separation from military parents to be deployed in Afghanistan troop surge.

Jacksonville, NC (PRWEB) December 2, 2009 — With the recent announcement that an additional 30,000 troops will be deployed to Afghanistan, OPERATION Hug-A-Hero has stepped forward to help provide comfort to America’s “littlest heroes,” the children of America’s service men and women who will soon deploy.

A 501(c)(3) organization serving the children of military, law enforcement and first responder families, OPERATION Hug-A-Hero provides durable, washable high quality dolls with a full-body photograph of a parent to children of America’s heroes.

With the news that additional service members will deploy in support of the Afghanistan troop surge as early as next month, OPERATION Hug-A-Hero is determined to do its part to honor and support the children left at home.

“It is very easy for the public to lend their support,” said Lisa Berg, OPERATION Hug-A-Hero Executive Director. “Donations may be made online by going to our website, www.operationhugahero.org/. It’s that simple, and givers will have the pleasure knowing their contributions have added to the quality of life for one or more of those children in need.”

“Though a doll cannot solve every issue a child may face while their parent is deployed, it certainly goes a long way to providing an emotional security blanket for the littlest heroes at home,” said Tricia Dyal, OPERATION Hug-A-Hero Co-Founder. “We’ve even heard of children keeping their parent in the circle of family life by photographing the Hug-A-Hero doll at every significant family event, such as a birthday party or holiday celebration.”

Anything that can reduce stress, relieve anxiety and bring comfort to the child of a deployed service member is an important endeavor, said Berg.

“If you have been wondering what you can do to give back to America’s heroes, then now is the time to act. Please consider putting a service member’s mind at ease by doing this kindness for his or her child. I have seen the impact these dolls have made on the lives of the children and families who have received them,” said Berg. “I know we can get a Hug-A-Hero doll into the arms of every child in need.”

Note: Members of the media interested in covering this story may contact Lisa Berg via e-mail at lisa@operationhugahero.org or by telephone at (910) 546-3127.

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Press Release November 17, 2009

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero® Launches Holiday Hugs Drive

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero kicks off its inaugural “Holiday Hugs for Our Littlest Heroes” Drive to provide Hug-A-Hero dolls to the children of military, law enforcement and first responder families this holiday season.

Jacksonville, NC (PRWEB) November 20, 2009 — OPERATION Hug-A-Hero, a 501(c)(3) organization serving the children of military, law enforcement and first responder families, kicks off its inaugural “Holiday Hugs for Our Littlest Heroes” drive this week with the goal of providing 2,500 children with Hug-A-Hero dolls this holiday season.

“I will be leaving behind my fiancee and daughter to go to South Korea for a year. I have only spent a few days apart since she has been born. I am hoping this (Hug-A-Hero Doll) will help her remember me while I am gone.”

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. This is due in part, Berg suggests, to the fact that the holidays are very hard for the littlest heroes when they are separated from a parent or other loved one in their lives, or, in the worst case, if they have lost a parent serving in the line of duty. “The 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. In addition, the number of units and individuals across our armed forces scheduled to deploy in the January-February timeframe is high,” stated Berg.

A recent application for the OPERATION Hug-A-Hero program from a service member in the United States Air Force readying for deployment puts the need into perspective. The application stated, “I will be leaving behind my fiancee and daughter to go to South Korea for a year. It will be extremely hard for me considering I have only spent a few days apart since she has been born. I am hoping this (Hug-A-Hero doll) will help her remember me while I am gone,” shared Berg.

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero is inviting retailers, businesses, schools, churches and other interested organizations to adorn a holiday tree with OPERATION Hug-A-Hero Holiday Hug ornaments. Each ornament (a $25 donation) represents a Hug-A-Hero doll to be gifted to an eligible child. Donors can write a personal message to the child recipient on the back of the ornament which will be lovingly included in the package that OPERATION Hug-A-Hero will send to the child. The Holiday Hugs Drive is made simple for the sponsoring organization as OPERATION Hug-A-Hero sends all of the materials – the sponsors simply provide the tree or other display for the ornaments.

Individuals who want to participate in the Holiday Hugs Drive may do so on the OPERATION Hug-A-Hero website. The website will also offer donors the same opportunity to craft a personal message to the child recipient.

“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 OHAH. “Our goal is to have 50 participants in the Holiday Hugs Drive this year, and for each of those sites to display a minimum of 50 Holiday Hug ornaments. If we achieve this goal we will be able to include 2,500 more children in our program.”

The Holiday Hugs for Our Littlest Heroes Drive will continue through January 31, 2010.

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Press Release November 10, 2009

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                      November 10, 2009

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero® Veterans Day American Flag Tribute eBay Auction

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero launches eBay auction featuring an American Flag flown over an historic military installation, in honor of the winning bidder, on Veterans Day. Proceeds raised from the auction will support OPERATION Hug-A-Hero’s programs and services targeting the children of those who serve in the military, law enforcement and as first responders.

United States (PRunderground) November 10, 2009 – OPERATION Hug-A-Hero®, a 501(c)(3) organization serving the children of military, law enforcement and first responders, launched a very special auction this week on eBay to raise valuable funds and honor those who have served the nation – past, present and fallen – this Veterans Day.

To the highest bidder will go an American Flag, flown specifically in his/her name in honor of those who have served, high and proud over one of the most historically-significant US military installations in the world, on Veterans Day. The unique, one-of-a-kind collectible is expected to generate great interest and a generous bid for OPERATION Hug-A-Hero.

“We are humbled by the individuals who organized this amazing tribute and selected OPERATION Hug-A-Hero as the beneficiary,” stated Stephanie Crabb, Director of Development for the non-profit group. “There is no greater symbol of freedom than the American Flag. To have it fly high and proud, at a US military installation steeped in rich history for our cause, on Veterans Day no less, is incredibly moving for our entire team.”

Once the Flag has been flown, a certificate bearing the name of the winning bidder, the time, location and installation where the Flag was flown will be signed by a commissioned US military officer. Further, the certificate will notify all that the Flag was flown for the winning bidder on behalf of OPERATION Hug-A-Hero and all of those who have served.

The eBay auction is being sponsored by Goin’ Postal in New Port Richey, Florida, a specialist in eBay auction services that donated its expertise and waived all fees associated with the auction as its contribution to OPERATION Hug-A-Hero.

The American Flag Tribute eBay auction for OPERATION Hug-A-Hero will end at 10 pm EST on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. Interested parties may bid on the Flag on eBay, EBay Auction Item number: 180426880681.

For more information on the American Flag Tribute or other OPERATION Hug-A-Hero fundraising initiatives, please contact stephanie@operationhugahero.org

About OPERATION Hug-A-Hero:

Operation Hug-A-Hero® is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization (ID # 26-3006655) serving the children of our nation’s heroes that serve in our armed services, law enforcement and as first responders.

Since its establishment in 2008, Operation Hug-A-Hero has raised funds to launch and implement its Hug-A-Hero doll program. To date, hundreds of Hug-A-Hero dolls have been provided, at no cost, to the children of heroes that are deployed, in harm’s way each and every day, or fallen.

The Hug-A-Hero doll is no ordinary doll. The Hug-A-Hero doll’s design features the head-to-toe photograph of the recipient’s parent or loved one and a personalized message just for them. The doll not only provides comfort in the times of distress or sadness that separation can cause, but also provides a vehicle for the child to share his/her feeling and tell his/her story about his/her hero’s service.

Please visit www.operationhugahero.org to learn more, make a donation or volunteer.

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Press Release November 5, 2009

OPERATION HUG-A-HERO®

SELECTS FEEDBLITZ AS ITS PRIMARY RSS FEED

AND NEWSLETTER AGGREGATOR

WHO WE ARE: Operation Hug-A-Hero® (OHAH), www.OperationHugAHero.org
WHAT WE DO: Provide FREE Hug-A-Hero® Dolls to Children of our American Heroes
WHERE: Across the Globe
WHY: To Help Comfort the Children of our American Heroes
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donate to and Help Make Others Aware of Our Inspiring Cause

Effective November 1, 2009, OPERATION Hug-A-Hero® is using  FeedBlitz services to integrate their RSS feeds to supply Newsletter subscription services to all viewers on our site.

OHAH Board Member and acting CTO Thomas Townsend said,

“We wanted to provide our viewers with an easy option to receive news and updates about our nonprofit organization. As a nonprofit in its infancy, we wanted to  differentiate ourselves from other nonprofits to call attention to our cause. This is the primary reason our website was redeveloped into a Social Content Managed System this last spring. Today’s technology is Web 2.0 based and social by design. Our cause has a huge social element to it, and we needed a venue that would work seamlessly into our new site to allow us to communicate on a more dynamic level, have a wide reach of different social network aspects that would still allow us to maintain a very personal and down to earth feel to it. This is where FeedBlitz uniquely fits in.

As our organization grows, we now have the ability to reach all of our potential demographics with a single service that integrates analytics, subscriber management and data collection facilities all in one service.

We have a dynamic team supporting our fundraising efforts.  In the current economic climate we feel using Feedblitz will help get our message out to more people, help bring awareness to our cause, visitors to our site and hopefully more donations and sponsors so we can help more children.”

About OPERATION HUG-A-HERO®

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero®: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in August 2008, and granted it’s 501(c)(3) designation in early July 2009. Operation Hug-A-Hero® reaches out to families of our deployed military and public safety officers in need. We do this by providing a FREE Hug-A-Hero® doll to the children of families who cannot afford one or who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.

For additional information, photos and back story on Operation Hug-A-Hero® or for local recipients (i.e. military families in your local area that have benefited from our services), contact Lisa Berg or visit www.operationhugahero.org.

CONTACT:
Founder: Tricia Dyal (910) 333-1502, Tricia at OperationHugAHero.org
Executive Director & Media Relations Point of Contact: Lisa Berg (910) 546-3127, Lisa at OperationHugAHero.org

About FeedBlitz

FeedBlitz, LLC was founded in August, 2005 to provide a service enabling marketers, publishers and bloggers to make more effective use of newsletters, RSS and new media technologies by helping subscribers get the information they want in their preferred format. FeedBlitz converts RSS and blog updates into email newsletters delivered daily (or desired frequency) to subscribers’ inboxes, instant messengers or social network site. Managing subscriptions, circulation tracking, real-time analytics, and email Autoresponders, FeedBlitz is compatible with all major blogging platforms and services. More information is available at http://www.feedblitz.com/

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Press Release June 2009 – Father’s Day

OPERATION HUG-A-HERO™
FATHER’S DAY IS A SPECIAL TIME TO REMEMBER THE CHILDREN
OF AMERICA’S 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 of Deployed Parents
WHERE: Across the Globe
WHY: To Ease Separation Anxiety for the Children of ALL Active Duty Service Members
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Make Others Aware of Our Inspiring Cause

Jacksonville, North Carolina, June 2009 – Father’s Day is just a few days away but for at least 100,000
children of deployed military members, it will be another day spent thinking about, but not spending
with, their father. Our proud military forces continue the long vigil of defending the United States
from terrorism while bringing freedom and peace to other nations across the globe. Unfortunately, this
worthy and honorable duty often comes at the sacrifice of time spent with family, and sometimes, even
at the cost of American lives lost far from home. This Father’s Day, in addition to recognizing the
contribution of our own fathers, grandfathers and important men in our lives, we should give pause to
consider the fathers that are missing irreplaceable time with their own families while helping to defend
our own. A small non-profit organization, Operation Hug-A-Hero™, provides a very special way to
recognize and support these heroes by bringing peace and comfort to their children back at home.

It has been more than four years since Tricia Dyal created and sent out the first Hug-A-Hero™ doll,
bearing the likeness of a deployed service member, from her home to a child in Jacksonville, North
Carolina. 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-AHero
™ 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. 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 the beginning, it has been Dyal and Darnell’s dream to give their Hug-A-Hero™ dolls to every
military child faced with the stresses and separation 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 became known as Operation Hug-A-Hero™ and
provides dolls to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty or to children whose families
cannot 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
wherever possible. In some cases, that has meant sending supplies and gifts to the troops overseas.
Even more comforting to fathers and mothers who are deployed is ensuring that there is support and
comfort provided to their families left behind, especially for the children who do not yet comprehend
why the parent must be away. With their Hug-A-Hero™ dolls and other resources designed to help
military families get through long deployments, Dyal and Darnell provide that support to the children
of our military members. In an effort to make donating easier, to provide donors with the tax benefit of
a non-profit donation, and to identify and communicate with those families in need, Operation Hug-AHero
™, Inc. was formed on August 6, 2008. Lisa Berg, Executive Director of Operation Hug-AHero
™, strives tirelessly to match up donor purchased dolls with those children most in need of
support. 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-AHero
™ 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 Coastguardsman 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.
When people realize the numbers of children who are missing a father or mother due to military
deployment, it truly pulls at their heartstrings to lend support.”

Donating to, or learning more about Operation Hug-A-Hero™, is simple and secure thanks to a newly
designed web portal found at www.operationhugahero.org. The website features testimonials and
letters of thanks from families who have been supported from a free doll in addition to blogs about
coping with extended deployments, resources for families, and information about how individuals can
volunteer or kick off fund-raising and awareness in their communities. The site also highlights
Operation Hug-A-Hero’s™ appearance in recent national media and, very importantly, thanks our
generous list of sponsors.

For additional information, pictures and back story on Operation Hug-A-Hero™ or for local points of
contacts (i.e. military families in your local area that have benefited from our services), contact Lisa
Berg or visit www.operationhugahero.org.

CONTACT:
Founder: Tricia Dyal (910) 333-1502, Tricia at OperationHugAHero.org
Executive Director & Media Relations Point of Contact: Lisa Berg (910) 546-3127, Lisa at OperationHugAHero.org

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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.