A Jeep Patriot for an American Patriot!
250,000th Package Recipient Will Drive New SUV
Operation Gratitude continued the 2007 Patriotic Drive
during the weekend of June 16-17, 2007 and
reached a milestone moment!
At 11:17am on Saturday, June 16th, Volunteer
Supervisor
George "Georgie Baby" Jacobs, the Assembly Line
Starter, announced that the Quarter-Millionth
Package
had just been placed on the line. To the cheers of
more than 400 volunteers, the 250,000th package
was filled and brought to the front of the National
Guard Drill Foor, where the Operation
Gratitude Supervisors and visiting Dignitaries hailed
the accomplishment.
"We could not have reached this milestone
without the generosity of our great
Corporate Sponsors and
Friends, or the thousands of individual
supporters who have generously donated over
the last four years," declared Carolyn Blashek,
founder of Operation Gratitude. Describing the huge
team of volunteers as an "Assembly Line of
Angels,"
Blashek continued: "I am humbled
by your support of Operation
Gratitude and inspired by your dedication
to our men and women of the U.S. Military."
As Blashek displayed the Assembly Line
items included in the special package, the event was
suddenly
disrupted by persistent honking. The crowd shifted
their attention to the roll-up doorway to see a brand
new
Jeep Patriot, donated by the New York
Jeep Dealers' Association driven onto the
Drill
Floor by Ken Lecheminant, General Manager of Star
Chrysler Jeep of Glendale, California. The Jeep
Patriot will be presented to the Service Member who
receives the 250,000th Care Package upon his or her
return home.
Operation Gratitude Volunters look on as the 250,000th Care Package gift, a Jeep Patriot, drives into the National Guard Armory.
Dignitaries Pay Tribute to the Troops
U.S. Congressman Howard Berman, Los
Angeles
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and City
Council
Representatives Greig Smith, Tony
Cardenas and
Wendy Greuel (Council Reps pictured with
Blashek, Georgie Baby and Cardenas' daughter)
along with
representatives from several
Corporate Sponsors, were among the
honored guests on hand to witness this
milestone event.
Congressman Berman presented
a flag that had been flown over the Capitol on
September 11, 2006. Mayor Villaraigosa thanked the
Volunteers for leading the nation in support for the
Military. With much emotion, Councilman Greig Smith
described an email
he recently received from his son, a Naval officer
currently at sea, who missed certain candies from
home that the Councilman was glad to see were on
the Operation
Gratitude Assembly Line. Councilwoman Greuel
noted the astounding growth of the organization in
such a short period of time, and Councilman
Cardenas not only thanked the volunteers, but worked
alongside them for several hours taping boxes!
Councilman Smith then presented Blashek with a
check for $1000 that quickly grew to $3000 through
matching grants by Greuel and Cardenas.
Troops Express Gratitude For Support
As Operation Gratitude Packages Arrive in Record Time
"We have been receiving the Operation Gratitude
boxes all week. I can't begin to tell you how much we
appreciate the packages. We are 9 months into our
15 month tour so we are working hard to keep
Soldiers motivated. When we see the kind of support
that Operation Gratitude provides we remember that
we're loved and appreciated! I admire the dedication
and committment of all the volunteers. Thank you for
all that you do.
SFC D.M."
" I have just had the pleasure of opening up my
first "Operation Gratitude" Care Package. I am
extremely impressed with the amount of
personalization, thought, and care that goes into each
package. As much as the items mean to all the
deployed Service members, I submit that the most
important things are the letters of appreciation,
encouragement, prayers, and genuine caring from
folks all over the country. GOD BLESS YOU all! I
applaud all of you for choosing to care for those of us
who are called to serve this GREAT COUNTRY OF
OURS. What you all are doing means the world to the
Service men, women and their families. Sincerely,
LT G.L.
Record Milestone Achieved Through Volunteer Efforts
Every Volunteer Critical to Operation Gratitude
Marveling that Operation Gratitude had shipped
150,000 packages in just a year and a half, Blashek
exclaimed: "This is an
extraordinary display of
love and respect for every man and woman who
wears the uniform of the United States."
She continued: "The phenomenal pace of our growth
is a tribute to the boundless energy of our superb
volunteers, led by our unflappable Director of
Operations-Charlie Othold, and his group of
50 Volunteer Supervisors."
To ensure that no service member feels left out, the
tireless Operation Gratitude Volunteers will continue
sorting, inspecting, prepping and packing through
July 1.
While the deadline for product donations has passed,
we still encourage and welcome
financial donations, personal
letters, and recycling of cell phones and ink- jet
cartridges
throughout the year.
NEW VIDEOS JUST RELEASED
View the latest Operation Gratitude Videos on
YouTube:
Operation Gratitude-God Bless the
USA
Marine Lcpl Receives Car as
200,000th gift from
Operation Gratitude and Checkers-Rallys
Restaurants
How You Can Help Today
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Donations can be made by check payable to
Operation Gratitude and sent to:
Operation Gratitude
16444 Refugio Road
Encino, CA 91436
Click here to make online donations through Paypal.
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