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.

Hittin’ the Links for OPERATION Hug-A-Hero – SOLD OUT

Friends of OPERATION Hug-A-Hero in Naples, FL are hosting their inaugural golf tournament in the SW Florida area at the Grey Oaks Country Club on Saturday, June 18, 2011.  It is only fitting that this tournament coincide with Father’s Day weekend, as so many of the heroes that we honor at OPERATION Hug-A-Hero are fathers that are deployed in harm’s way.  The tournament’s capacity of 80 players was quickly reached – 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 organize at least 2 more tournaments in 2011.

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® 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.

Update on Family Fun Run in Walled Lake, Michigan

Just a reminder that the 3rd Annual 5K and Family Fun Run in Walled Lake, Michigan will be held Saturday May 29th.  This event supports Operation Hug-A-Hero and The Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund.  It should prove to be a fun event! The Support Our Troops 5K Run will begin with a grand opening celebration that includes an Honor Guard flag raising ceremony and the national anthem performed by local singer Gracie Jessup. All runners and walkers will enjoy a healthy brunch after the event provided by Uptown Grille and Great Harvest Bread in Commerce Township.

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

Press release for 3rd Annual 5K and Family Fun Run

Serving the Home Front

“It’s not easy hearing the challenges that other military families are facing.  I’ve talked to families struggling with the loss of their loved one, children having a hard time sleeping while daddy or mommy is deployed, kids staring out of the window each night waiting for daddy and not understanding why he doesn’t come home from work, and so many other heart-wrenching stories.”

Operation Hug-A-Hero’s Executive Director, Lisa Berg was recently asked to write an article for publication in the Christian Military Fellowship November Newsletter. Lisa does a great job discussing the difficulties that parents of deployed service members often encounter and how her own power of prayer gets her through the difficult moments and which led her to a rewarding association with Operation Hug-A-Hero.  Here is Lisa’s introduction and a few snippets from the article. To read the entire Newsletter please click on the link above to the Christian Military Fellowship website (CMF).

Greetings Operation Hug-A-Hero supporters!  I was asked by Christian Military Fellowship to write an article for their newsletter about my personal journey as a Christian and why I chose Operation Hug-A-Hero as a non-profit organization to be involved with. I thought you might be interested in reading it. After doing so, I also encourage you to add your comments and thoughts on this Blog post.   Thanks!

“Many military parents worry that their kids won’t remember them when they get back from a deployment (which is often 6 to 12 months or longer).  Seeing photos of their kids interacting with their Hug-A-Hero doll and including them in family events such as Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, and so on, shows these parents that they are not forgotten.”

10 Connects Hero – Operation Hug-A-Hero

Operation Hug-A-Hero and the Dorr Family were spotlighted today by Tampa Bay’s 10 Connects and recognized as local heroes.  The feature interview describes the challenges the Dorr Family faced with the deployment of Brian Dorr to Afghanistan.  Operation Hug-a-Hero was there to hear how their Hug-A-Hero doll helped their daughter Paisley and how it kept Daddy close throughout his time overseas.  The video and article can be found here.