The Deployed Members of the U.S. Armed Forces

Spring 2012 Newsletter

Committed to Our Courageous Officers’ Corner The year 2012 brings new challenges veterans have loaned to us for display. in Iraq remain in Kuwait, waiting and many changes to our military. What better way to learn about their for redeployment to Afghanistan This is also true of Operation Troop service than through their personal where conditions and access to basic Appreciation (OTA) and our efforts to stories? It gives us the opportunity to supplies is not much better than support them. Before we dive into the connect with our community directly. when our troops first arrived there New, let’s take a moment to reflect on And we think that connection is what over 10 years ago. what we accomplished in 2011: differentiates OTA from many other • Reached and surpassed the non-profits. The public gets to see Other service personnel will continue 100,000 troop-mark for those who first-hand how we operate and the their deployment in Kuwait or be have received gifts from OTA! impact our work has on the military. transferred to other countries in and • Raised over $1 million in And that experience simply cannot around the Middle East. Their mission monetary contributions since our be described in words. If you haven’t is far from over and we are prepared inception in 2004. paid us a visit, put that on your to continue to provide support to them • Implemented public visiting resolution list for this year! all, for however long they remain away hours at our headquarters and from . Our hope is that you’ll military tribute space at Century This leads to the final milestone — our continue to support OTA in the III Mall in West Mifflin, PA. efficiency ratio. Our country continues generous manner you have in the past. • Ensured 98.5 cents of every dollar to face economic challenges as we try spent went right to our troops — to recover from the financial crisis. From all of us to all of you, we wish for the 7th year in a row! We are committed to putting as much you and yours a year filled with of your donation dollar as possible much happiness and many blessings! The first two milestones represent the into direct funding for troops. We collective efforts and hard work of realize that many have less to spend the hundreds of volunteers, donors on charity, so it’s important that our and sponsors who work so tirelessly supporters know that 98.5 cents of to show their support. every dollar donated to OTA goes directly to the troops. It’s important to note that our entire organization is comprised Compare us to other non-profits and Left to right: Kristen Holloway Querriera (Founder and CEO), of volunteers. Other non-profits you’ll find very few operate at the Monica Orluk (President), Amanda Thompson (Vice President) supplement their paid staff with level of efficiency we do. It’s because volunteers. OTA has no paid staff of our dedicated staff of volunteers and volunteers do it all – from run- and the countless businesses in the Inside this Issue ning the business, to packing for the community that provide troops, stuffing envelopes, fundrais- pro-bono services to us — from Soldiers March On...... 2 ing and even cleaning our space. We accounting, web design and mainte- Over 100,000 Served...... 3 are grateful for every contribution of nance, to marketing and printing – time, talent and treasure which has that enable us to direct almost Holiday Collections Benefit helped us reach over 100,000 troops 100% of every donated dollar directly Thousands of Troops...... 7 and one million dollars. to the troops like our donors and supporters expect. The Support Our Heros The third milestone represents our Ticket Holders Support Wounded Warriors...... 8 commitment to all those who have Finally, we are very happy that our AADE’s Troop Support Efforts served and who serve our country troops have pulled out of Iraq, but Eagle Scouts Make a Difference...... 9 today. Everyone can share in this concerned about the misconception tribute by visiting our headquarters that our troops are all coming home. Super Troopers and military tribute space and seeing Unfortunately, that is simply not the Y-108 Soldier Salute Concert...... 10 the wonderful personal mementos our case. Many of the troops who were Soldiers March on

moisture-wicking heat gear shirts, Along with their personal effects, the new bedding, sports equipment, TV and video gaming console we sent an acoustic guitar, a video gaming were also destroyed. The men got system and TV. We sent the items together and split up whatever extra right away and the troops were blankets, pillows, and other necessities thrilled! We received emails the six Soldiers needed. Lost in the indicating how much the items fire were two personal Mini Laptops, helped with morale and with mental four iPods, two ebook readers, and decompression after long, dirty, one acoustic guitar. dangerous days on patrol. The loss of these items was more In November, we received the tragic because they also lost the horrible news from our unit’s point- only means of maintaining contact of-contact that their base was attacked with loved ones through email, and Every unit we work with is special. while they were out on a mission. morale-boosting items that help take We delight in finding just the right They returned to discover their Morale their minds off the danger and kind of winter gloves, warm and and Welfare tent, which included loneliness faced every day. comfortable bed sheets, the most housing for six soldiers, had burned useful multi-tools, or the right mix to the ground. Fortunately, no one Through generous donations from of yummy and nutritional goodies was injured. the University of Pittsburgh Staff to make each care package we send Association Council, and other special. We know there are excited groups who sponsored this unit, troops on the receiving end who will OTA was able to replace all of the lost love tearing into the boxes full of their equipment these troops treasured for “wish list” items, and being reminded family connectedness, down time, how many folks back home remember and entertainment. and encourage them every day. Tragically, these soldiers faced an With such dangerous missions, harsh even more devastating loss on living conditions, and long periods Christmas Day when one of their away from home, our troops deserve own was killed in an attack. Our as much comfort and compassion hearts and prayers are with the as we can send. Sometimes a group family of the fallen soldier, and with of soldiers touches our hearts, and his brothers-in-arms who remember one Special Forces group we worked him every day. with twice last year is one of those distinctive units. We can never take away their During the summer, an infantry pain. We can only pray that they battalion platoon conducting counter- will return home soon, safe and insurgency operations were in the sound, to the embrace of their midst of a long deployment to a remote area in Afghanistan. With loved ones after a job well done. no creature comforts and almost no May God bless them. access to basic supplies, we learned these troops could really benefit from

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 2 Over 100,000 Served...

It’s hard to believe that OTA has now The celebration included US Army tremendous efforts of our “Super helped over 100,000 members of the Reserve Sergeant Bob Timney’s Trooper” volunteers and community United States military! And we are moving performance of the National supporters whose dedication has happy to have been able to share this Anthem, and the Keystone Young impacted over 100,000 lives. milestone at a celebratory event held Marines presenting both the colors at our operations center at Century III and a heartwarming tribute to POWs On the following pages, you will see Mall, West Mifflin, Pa. and MIAs. how the letters, emails and pictures from troops on the receiving end of OTA say it all. And the sincerity of their words melts our hearts.

The Keystone Young Marines presented a moving POW / MIA ceremony at the start of the day’s celebration

OTA founder and CEO, Kristen Holloway, provided an update on our efforts, sharing poignant stories of our troops and the units we’ve helped. We also recognized the Troops reading letters included in OTA’s care packages.

Do you have a family member stationed • Add a gift if you wish, like brownies, overseas? Wouldn’t it be nice to create a gift basket or other special items. your very own greeting card with • Hit “Send.” personal pictures, text, message, artwork or other special items to send That’s it! Send Out Cards will then to them or another special someone? print a REAL card, stuff it in a REAL envelope, affix a first class stamp on Well, Send Out Cards allows you to do it, and mail it out the very next day - just that with a few clicks of a mouse! all for about a buck.

• Log in and select one of 15,000 This is NOT an e-card. It is a physical cards from the online card card you can hold in your hand. This catalogue (or create one of your is the same card you would buy in the own using your own pictures). store for $3-$5. • Type a heartfelt message (this can also be done in your own Lieutenant Colonel David Giles (second from left) worked Learn more at SendOutCards.com with OTA to support his troops in Afghanistan. LTC Giles handwriting). is from the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 3 FROM THE FRONT LINES

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 4 FROM THE FRONT LINES

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 5 FROM THE FRONT LINES

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 6 Santa’s Little Helpers 3 Rivers Leatherneck Arrowood at Southwestern Bay Valley Foods Retail Sales Planning Holiday Collections Boston Shoppes Bower Hill Community Church Boy Scouts of Grove city Brownie Troop 54008 enefit housands C.J. Thomas Screening Inc. B T Career Systems Development Corp Chartiers Valley Intermediate School Circleview United Methodist Church City of Bridges Chiropractic Of Troops Clearview Federal Credit Union Commercial Employees Inc. Cub Scout Pack 870 Del Monte Foods Direct Energy Duncan Comics Books and Accessories Enterprise Rent a Car F/K Industries Inc. Fairview Services Plan Foerster Instruments Grove City Area Middle School Holy Angels Church OTA receives requests from soldiers throughout the entire year; however, Homeville Elementary School the holiday season always proves to be our busiest time as we play Santa for Howard Hanna Moon Township Ideal Integrations Inc. thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines at Christmas. Intergroup Communications IUP, Chrissy Young We are incredibly fortunate to have a great support network of corporations, Korean War Veterans Association individuals, schools, churches, and families who sponsored OTA’s troop L.D. Astorino Companies units this past year, ensuring thousands of troops would receive their “wish Lincoln Place Presbyterian Church list” items in time for Christmas. We thank everyone who donated funds and Lincoln School and Jefferson Middle School supplies so generously to bring holiday cheer to our troops so far away! MOAA Pittsburgh Chapter Mohawk Elementary School Although we don’t have room to include everyone who contributed for the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center holidays, we are happy to list a few of the many generous groups who made PPG McCandless Customer Service Dept. Christmas so memorable for the Airmen of 877 EPBS and so many other troops. Prime Communications Private James Perry VFW Post Richland Elementary Squirrel Hill Christian Church St. Mary of Assumption St. Sebastian’s Catholic church Sunnyside Properties The Catanese Group Thorndale United Methodist Church Travis Manion Foundation United Healthcare University of Pittsburgh Staff Association Council UPMC - McKeesport Nurses UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Valassis Direct Mail VFW Post 191 Canonsburg, Pa Mohawk Elementary students, under the direction of Beth Simari, collected a two truckloads of much-needed hygiene, snacks, Walsh Collis & Blackmer LLC entertainment and other items for OTA. The students also made Washington and Jefferson College hundreds of home-made Christmas and holiday cards to include Men’s Team in care packages going to troops in Afghanistan. Waynesburg University, Chi Sigma Iota Westinghouse Electric Company OTA Board member and Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Wiener Goodman and Company PC Matthew (back right) Claycomb celebrated the school’s success Winthrop Management on Veteran’s Day.

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 7 The Pittsburgh Penguins “Support Our Heroes”

The program also benefitted the breakfast, player practice, a visit to Wounded Warrior Project, Ronald the locker room, and were greeted by McDonald House of Pittsburgh Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. and the Penguins Foundation, and Each soldier also received a personal- resulted in over $100,000 in monetary ized jersey presented by members of donations shared by the charities. the team and Coach Balsyma.

The “Support Our Heroes” program ran from October 20th through November 11th, culminating in an Sidney Crosby signs autographs for a Wounded Warrior on-ice check presentation to the recipient charities prior to the OTA is honored to have been selected Penguins game on Veteran’s Day. as one of four regional charities to benefit from the Pittsburgh Penguins Members of the military and Wounded “Support Our Heroes” campaign Warrior Project were invited to games The soldiers wearing their custom Penguin jerseys – held this fall. on October 20th and November 11th in the Penguins’ locker room and were treated to Zamboni rides Personal donations made by hockey during the games. The Penguins also OTA sends a big THANK YOU to game spectators and individuals hosted a number of military members the Pittsburgh Penguins, ATI, First in the Pittsburgh community were and wounded warriors at the Pens’ Niagara, McDonalds, and the matched by Allegheny Technologies, morning skate on Veteran’s Day. Pittsburgh community for your Inc. (ATI) and First Niagara Bank. The soldiers and veterans enjoyed most generous support!

was able Steeler to provide tickets to some Season Ticket wounded Holders Support warriors this past season!

Wounded Those injured in combat face Warriors many challenges when they return home. Going to a through OTA! football game is a rare treat and helps to provide some well-deserved R&R While OTA’s primary mission is to to some very grateful soldiers. help troops who are serving on active deployments, we also work to Thank you to those who donated tick- support the wounded warriors who Photos top to bottom: ets and to our friends who graciously have returned home. And through Dan and Lauren Kernan were able to attend their first shared their photos! These smiles tell the generous support of a number football game. Dan, a National Guardsman, was wounded in Afghanistan. quite a story, don’t they? of Steeler season ticket holders (who Captain Anthony Kennedy served in Iraq on 2 deployments and wish to remain anonymous), OTA is pictured with daughter, Gennaveve.

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 8 AADE’s Troop Support Efforts are Right on Target!

OTA volunteers were on OTA is so grateful for the continued hand to talk to attendees support of the wonderful members of about OTA’s mission, AADE who have helped OTA support and ways to help our troops. Since 2010, AADE has support our deployed donated $30,000 to OTA. service members. OTA In October, Vice President Amanda Thompson the Appalachian and Board Member Staff Sergeant Basin Chapter of the American Matt Claycomb also joined in the Association of Drilling Engineers shooting competition. (AADE) hosted the third “Shooting for our Troops” competition at Anthony Paul Mitsch, OTA’s Director of Arms and Accessories Shooting Business Development, attended AADE’s Fall 2011 business meeting Center in West Mifflin, PA. AADE President John Applegath (right) presents Paul where he accepted AADE’s check to Mitsch (center) with a $10,000 check from the proceeds OTA of $10,000 resulting from the of the shoot to OTA. shooting competition.

One of the greatest opportunities Ben Brownfield from Bethel Park, OTA 13 boxes of much needed sports OTA Officers have is working with PA, concluded his project in October, equipment, hygiene and snack items youth in our community. This past after having collected over $2000 in for the troops, just in time for fall, two exceptional young men donations and 1100 pounds of sup- Christmas. Will also raised over chose support the troops through plies that were shipped to Army and $1,000 in monetary donations which OTA for their Eagle Scout projects. Marine units in Afghanistan. Ben also helped to offset the cost of shipping. collected over 130 cards and letters of appreciation from the community to Both of these young Boy Scouts’ Eagle Scouts Make a Differencesend in his care packages. for Our Troopsprojects greatly exceeded our expectations. OTA is proud to work OTA recognized Ben’s efforts at the with these remarkable young men 100,000th Soldier party in November, who are leading the next generation by presenting him with a Certificate by their selfless example. of Appreciation. Ben also received many Thank You letters from the troops he helped.

Will Sheffield from Tyler, Texas, also did a great job with his Eagle Scout Ben standing in front of the boxes of items he collected for the troops. collection drive project. Will shipped

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 9 OTA says “Thank you” to its Super Troopers

Pictured above are Kim Butler and SSG Matthew Claycomb, two of OTA’s many Super Troopers.

One of the things that makes OTA special is our 100% volunteer staff. Y-108 Soldier Salute Every OTA officer, board member and helper is a volunteer, and in 2011, Concert Featuring OTA volunteers worked over 5,586 hours. Each and every volunteer Uncle Kracker contributes their unique gifts and Y-108, People’s Natural Gas and skills to help OTA run smoothly. the Pepsi Roadhouse joined forces To recognize their hard work and to salute the troops on December dedication to the troops, OTA 16th. This special night featured instituted the “Super Trooper” award. performances by Pittsburgh’s own The Stickers, Chris Cagle and Uncle Recipients in 2011 included: Don and Kracker, and benefitted Operation Bonnie Wilson, Barb Mead, Kathie Troop Appreciation. Gasior, Amy Hess, Barb Shawhan, the Handshue family, Tricia Staley, Sarah Soldiers and their families met with Cannon, Kim Butler, Matthew Uncle Kracker backstage and concert- Claycomb and Carol Hamilton. goers filled a Mini-Cooper with items donated to OTA. Thank you to all Recipients of the “Super Trooper” who made this a wonderful night for award will have their pictures OTA President Monica Orluk presents Uncle Kracker our troops! displayed at OTA Headquarters in with an OTA Certificate of Appreciation for his support the “Volunteer Hall of Fame.” of our troops.

OTA Spring 2012 Newsletter | 10 We proudly support all branches of our military.

Please remember, there are troops deployed all over the world. Operation Troop Appreciation is always in need of donated items to fulfill our troops’ “wish list” requests. If you, your company, church, school or civic group are in the Pittsburgh area and would like to hold a collection or fundraising drive for OTA, please contact us. Groups and individuals nationwide can also sponsor a unit as part of a fundraising effort.

Please contact Vice President Amanda Thompson for a list of needed items, collection guidelines, and sponsorship information at [email protected].

Because of the generous support of our donors, more than 100,000 troops have received “wish list” items from OTA.

OTA is an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead expenses. As a result, 98.5 cents of every dollar we have spent since our inception in 2004 has gone directly to our troops. Very few charities can boast this high efficiency rate.

PO Box 14550 • Pittsburgh, PA 15234 • OperationTroopAppreciation.org