Encino, California; June 8, 2007
Following two productive weekends with hundreds of volunteers shipping thousands of Patriotic Care Packages, Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek, announced today that the organization will reach a great milestone on Saturday, June 16, 2007: the assembly of its
QUARTER-MILLIONTH CARE PACKAGE!!

Operation Gratitude Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, expects to hit this milestone moment during the 11:00am-12:00 noon hour on Saturday, June 16th.

In addition to regular Wish List items provided by more than 125 Corporate Sponsors and Friends, and by tens of thousands of individual donors across the country, the Quarter-Millionth Care Package will feature several exciting special gifts to be announced at the Milestone Event on June 16th.

Operation Gratitude recently delivered a brand new Dodge Caliber car to the recipient of its 200,000th Care Package, courtesy of Corporate Sponsor Checkers/Rally's Restaurants.

"The 250,000th Gift will be equally exciting", hinted Blashek.

Local, state and federal politicians, along with members of the Military, notable personalities and representatives from several of the organization's Corporate Friends and Sponsors will be present to assist the Operation Gratitude volunteers assemble the Quarter-Millionth package and several thousand additional care packages during the Milestone Event.

Media and press are invited to attend the 250,000th Milestone Celebration

WHAT:
Operation Gratitude Volunteers assemble the Quarter-Millionth Care Package

WHEN:
June 16, 2007, 11:00 a.m. - 12 Noon

Packing will continue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 16th and 17th and June 30 and July 1

WHERE:
California National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, Ca. 91406
Corner of Victory and Louise

Learn more...

Operation Gratitude ( www.operationgratitude.com ) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization that sends care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and on military ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. Operation Gratitude receives the names of thousands of troops from commanders in the field who see the positive impact of care packages on their troops' morale; the organization sends ~50,000 care packages during each of two major campaigns every year: A Patriotic Drive in May to reach the troops for July 4th and a Holiday Drive starting the Veteran's Day weekend in November. For safety and security, all assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 230,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas.

Many of the troops who have received the surprise Care Packages express their appreciation through a constant flow of letters, e-mails and pictures, as seen in the Mail Call and Photo Gallery sections of the www.operationgratitude.com website.