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.

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.

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!

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.

Calendar Fundraiser for Operation Hug-A-Hero

Help Support this creative group of women who are now selling their 3rd Annual “Pit Bulls n Pretty Girls” Calendar!  100% of their proceeds goes to Operation Hug-A-Hero!  We are so appreciative of their support!

You can find their calendar at http://www.cafepress.com/rubypress.

Thank you, Michelle and all the volunteers (models and K-9s)!

iGive.com Donates to Operation Hug-A-Hero on your Behalf

Countdown to Black Friday – iGive for the Holidays 2010

This holiday season, buy a gift that includes an automatic donation to OPERATION Hug-A-Hero at not cost to you when you shop at any of over 700 participating online stores (including Amazon, eBay, Toys-R-Us, and many more) through iGive.  A portion of each purchase comes back to support our cause in the form of a donation check when you register OPERATION Hug-A-Hero as your charity of choice!  It is that easy!

It’s free for you, free for us, and you pay the same (or less!) than you would by going directly to the online stores you usually shop at. Plus, there is a $5 donation bonus for your first purchase (within 45 days of registering).

To all you smart shoppers: don’t miss iGive’s treasure-trove of coupons, sales, and free shipping. Save money, save time, and send gifts that give twice. What could be better than that? You can use iGive anytime for any purchase- it doesn’t have to be gifts for someone else, and you can get a tax deduction receipt for the portion iGive donates on your behalf.

If you download the iGive Toolbar, you will donate a penny for every search you make too! Plus, the automatic tracking feature means you don’t have to remember to start at iGive.com when you shop most stores. Check out the 700+ online stores after you register, and watch for special rate donations. For example, right now if you join eBay through the iGive link and place a bid or Buy-It-Now in the next 30 days, an $11 donation will be sent on your behalf to Operation Hug-A-Hero.

Want to get a headstart on planning your online shopping? Check out Blackfriday.info’s Black Friday Deals for all of the online specials from major stores that could be yours.  Then, click on over to  iGive.com to make your purchase count for our littlest heroes! Just don’t forget to search “Operation Hug-A-Hero” to select our cause and bookmark it before you start shopping!

As always, we thank you for your support!