Archive for the ‘Charities/Contests’ Category
November 15, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Charities/Contests
A few months ago, we interviewed Don Hays, owner of Maide Brigade. Don was giving away a franchise and starter money to some veterans on Veterans Day.
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Honoree. Recipient of a Purple Heart, campaign medals for Kosovo and Iraq and numerous Meritorious Service Medals. Those descriptions all apply to Major Philip Thomas Piaget. Now one more honor has been added: Gold Award in the Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway. Piaget, of Crestview, Fla., won the company’s contest in time for Veterans Day 2009. The father of four retired from the Army in September after serving 20 years as an Airborne Ranger and entered the franchiser’s national contest the same month, noting that his life as a leader of infantrymen and that of a quality Maid Brigade franchisee have much in common. Compared to his daunting combat and diplomatic assignments surrounding the efforts to quell sectarian violence and insurgent attacks on Coalition Forces in Iraq, his road to franchise ownership was smooth.
Piaget and the five other veterans who made it to the final phase of the contest underwent intensive scrutiny on Nov. 4 and 5 at Maid Brigade headquarters in Atlanta. Throughout the contest, the company evaluated leadership, management and interpersonal skills, financial capabilities and behavioral profiles. The final phase also included one-on-one and group interviews with a judging panel of four seasoned professionals who earned their own stripes in the military and business arenas. The process was in-depth and sometimes emotional.
Piaget convinced each judge independently that he deserved the Gold Award, valued at more than $45,000, including working capital, equipment, waived franchise fees, training and support — everything he needs to establish a franchise operation in his hometown near Pensacola, Fla., by early first quarter.
“More than 100 veterans entered the contest, and although many would make excellent franchisees, Tom Piaget set a new gold standard for our program,” said Maid Brigade Chairman Don Hay. Along with military veterans and fellow judges Rear Admiral Michael Miller, Vet Jobs Inc. President Ted Daywalt and Maid franchisee Ray Toombs, Hay selected Piaget based on his demonstrated leadership and commitment in the U.S. Armed Forces, which are traits shared with successful franchise owners.
This year’s Silver and Bronze Award winners are, respectively, Thomas McWhorter of Fort Worth, Texas, a former Air Force captain who served for 10 years, and Gerald Zeigler of Virginia Beach, Va., a former chief petty officer who served 20 years in the Navy. They won second and third place versions of the Gold Award, with graduated levels working capital of $10,000 and $5,000, and will open their businesses early next year in their home markets.
The judges deemed the remaining finalists, former Air Force Captain Steven Buchanan of Lantana, Texas, and Air Force Major Michael Braibish of Salem, Ore., also highly qualified to own a Maid Brigade franchise. In addition to waiving these honorable veterans’ franchise fees as indicated in the contest rules, Maid Brigade is awarding them with $3,000 equipment packages when they open their Maid Brigade operations.
Maid Brigade will offer the contest again next year and broaden the eligibility to include the National Guard and the Reserves. After Veterans Day 2009, and until next year’s giveaway contest, Maid Brigade will continue to honor veterans by discounting its franchise fees 25 percent for all qualified and honorably discharged veterans. The program Web site, www.MaidBrigadeGiveaway.com, includes additional information about the contest, finalists, judging panel and award-winning 25-year-old franchiser Maid Brigade Inc.
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November 9, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Charities/Contests, Life in the Military, Spouse and Family, Veteran Benefits
Troops to participate in virtual visits over Thanksgiving dinner for free with Skype
SAN JOSE – (Nov. 9, 2009) Skype today announced the Holiday Military Connection program, which will allow hundreds of American servicemen and women stationed overseas to have the unprecedented opportunity to join their families stateside for virtual visits this holiday season, thanks to a partnership between Skype and the USO.
The Holiday Military Connection program will connect troops in the Guam, Yokosuka, and Camp Hansen (Okinawa) USO centers with their families stateside, through live, face-to-face Skype video call conversations during Thanksgiving dinner. For the first time, deployed men and women will virtually share a holiday meal with the ones they love most, but from whom they are farthest.
In addition, the USO and Skype’s Holiday Military Connection program will enable the estimated 140,000 troops visiting the 18 Pacific Region USO centers to make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls home to loved ones all season long. Troops can also make unlimited[1] calls to family and friends’ cell phones and landlines free of charge through the donation of Skype’s Unlimited World subscription plans.
For some troops, many of whom will be returning from deployments on submarines or aircraft carriers, the live calls will mark the first time seeing their families in more than a year.
Skype’s partnership with the USO and the launch of the Holiday Military Connection program expand upon a successful trial program that started in May 2009, in which Skype donated calling plans to USO Pacific centers.
“The USO is focused on lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families; we are proud that Skype can play a pivotal role with the USO in helping connect military families and in turn make a season that is often challenging for them that much less difficult,” said Don Albert, VP and GM of Skype Americas. “Skype is committed to removing barriers and helping to foster meaningful connections that make a difference in people’s lives. Through the USO and Skype’s Holiday Military Connection program, we are doing just that for thousands of military families.”
As part of the Holiday Military Connection program, Skype is also giving away 2,000 holiday gift sets consisting of a headset, plus Skype calling credit or a Webcam to servicemen and women who visit a participating USO center during the week of Thanksgiving. The gift sets will allow troops to continue making memories with their families even after the holiday season is over.
“The USO is thrilled to partner with Skype on this amazing program. Staying in touch with friends and family is truly the best morale booster for troops who have been deployed. With Skype, we can help troops stay in touch all season long at no cost to them or their families,” said Tom Kolstad, USO Vice President for Pacific Operations. “We cannot wait to see the looks on the faces of the troops and their families when they share their meals face-to-face on Thanksgiving Day.”
Those interested in learning more about the program and how military families can connect with Skype can log onto the Holiday Military Connection program Website: www.skype.com/go/uso. Visitors to the site can also submit their own story of how they use Skype to stay connected.
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By CJ
Posted in Charities/Contests
Your boots have endured everything you’ve thrown at them. Drilling. Marching. Combat. Miles upon miles through never-ending plains, scorching deserts, and urban jungles. Whatever your boots’ story may be, we want to see ‘em.
The Converse Military Boots For Life Contest is searching the planet to find the oldest, most worn-out set of boots. The more battered and tattered, the better. Whether you’ve crawled through swamps or scaled mountains, you could own the winning pair…and score a LIFETIME SUPPLY OF CONVERSE BOOTS!
Submit a photo of your boots along with a brief story telling us why your boots are in the world’s worst condition. Send your entry to contest@militaryboots.com by March 31, 2010.
Show the world what it’s been like to walk a mile or 20 in your boots. And be rewarded for your effort!
Win a free pair of Converse military boots every year for the next 20 years, courtesy of Militaryboots.com.
Check out the site for more details and complete rules.
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November 5, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Charities/Contests, You Served Radio
We here at You Served Blog and Radio are always auctioning items off on the You Served eBay store to help raise money for military charities. The great and popular band Smile Empty Soul who we had as a guest on the radio show a few weeks ago has donated many items to the show to help raise money from signed CDs to T-shirts to posters. The one big thing they donated, which is by far the biggest thing we have ever had on our eBay store is a Schecter Black Omen guitar signed by all the members of the band. This guitar lists for $399.00 retail, when it is not signed by such an awesome band. This one has a starting bid of $99.00 and we hope will go up from there.
The proceeds from this guitar are going 100% to the Valour-IT program which is run by Soldiers’ Angels.
Please check out http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320445244585 to see the item and make a bid.
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November 4, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Charities/Contests, Patriotism
Soldiers’ Angels Volunteers Vow to Shave Heads for $100,000
Pasadena, CA November 3, 2009 – Members of Soldiers’ Angels’ volunteer leadership have raised the stakes on this year’s online Valour-IT Veterans Day fundraising competition, which helps provide America’s wounded soldiers with voice-controlled laptops and other technology that supports their physical and psychological recovery.
Divided among four “virtual teams,” a wide variety of bloggers and other New Media mavens have been competing online since October 26 to inspire the most donations to help wounded troops by Veterans Day, November 11. If the teams of online fundraisers can blast through their collective goal of $140,000 and bring in an additional $100,000 in donations, founder Patti Patton-Bader and National Communications Director Shelle Michaels have promised to shave their heads in honor of the achievement.
In just over four years, Project Valour-IT has given 4,100 voice-controlled laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, and has supplied additional items that may be a surprising fit in a recovery regimen–Wii game systems and handheld GPS devices.
“This project changes lives,” says Patton-Bader. “Wounded heroes say that being able to use a laptop helps them feel whole again. Physical therapists are actually designing therapy sessions around Wii Sports! And something as normal as a handheld GPS reduces stress and helps a hero cope. With all that this project can do for our heroes, I’m happy to shave my head if it will motivate donations!”
Each of the devices Valour-IT supplies helps restore confidence and independence. Voice-activated laptops reconnect the wounded with the world and develop self-confidence by showing soldiers they can continue to be engaged and productive despite their injuries. Physical therapists report Wii Sports and similar programs are extremely beneficial when used in physical therapy settings. Wounded personnel with short-term memory loss due to TBI and severe PTSD use GPS systems to keep from getting disoriented when they move on to more independent living.
Details of the current fundraising competition are available at www.soldiersangels.org and www.valour-it.blogspot.com. Donations can be made online at Soldiers’ Angels, or by sending checks or money orders to Soldiers’ Angels, Valour-IT Fund, 1792 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104.
Established in 2003, Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing aid and comfort to the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, veterans and military families. For more information, www.soldiersangels.org or 623-570-3903.
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October 29, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Charities/Contests
This October, every major television network has agreed to focus on public service, volunteering, and participating in the community. As a part of this effort, ServiceNation – a coalition of 200 organizations committed to promoting public service – has launched an exciting new contest. They are looking to find America’s best “service heroes,” individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference in their communities. I figured that since many who read this blog know someone in the military, that there would be no shortage of potential nominees. It is worth a second to check out the link below.
http://www.servicenation.org/page/s/heroes
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By Claire
Posted in Charities/Contests, Spouse and Family
The 2010 Military Spouse of the Year is accepting nomination for 15 more days. Nominations are open for all spouses of members in all branches of the US Armed Forces. Please see the following for how you can nominate your favorite military spouse:
We’re looking for the best in the community. The leaders, the volunteers, the spouse who commits her time or his voice to our causes.
For the third straight year, Military Spouse magazine will name the “Military Spouse of the Year” (MSOY) on Military Spouse Appreciation Day. As past winners have, the Military Spouse of the Year will represent the sacrifice, patriotism, professionalis and altruism that embody this community of 1.1 million current and 20 million former military spouses.
Nominate yourself, your best friend or the person you admire most.
Please see their website for nomination instructions and applications.
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October 19, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Charities/Contests, Life in the Military, Veteran Benefits
Sears invites all active military members to register for the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry program. The Heroes at Home Wish Registry allows America to thank our military heroes and their families by donating to the program. All donations will be evenly distributed in the form of Sears gift cards amongst all military families and members accepted into the program. Registration will be open between 8:00AM CT - 6:00PM CT each day, so register and review program details at www.sears.com/wish today.
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October 17, 2009 By Claire
Posted in Charities/Contests, Spouse and Family
I found the following at the Baby Designers… if you know someone, or if you are someone who qualifies for the contest, enter today! Let us know if you win!
We’re looking for 15 very deserving pregnant military wives. We understand that it can be stressful having their husbands so far away at such an important time. That’s why we want to help! This is a way of saying Thank You to our soldier’s and giving back to the community so all services that we are offering to the military wives are free of charge. The package includes customized birth plans, product shopping, clothing shopping (mom and baby), product demonstration, hospital preparation, full baby shower planning, diva day makeover, birthing classes, car seat installation, c.p.r. classes, 24/7 support, referrals, and reminder service.
If you know a pregnant military wife who deserves all that we have to offer please email us today.
militarywives@thebabydesigners.com
DO TO THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN THIS CONTEST WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE PHONE CALLS REGARDING THIS CONTEST. PLEASE SEND EMAIL TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.
· Customized Birth Plan – We want to make sure that you are fully prepared and the hospital room is set up to your liking. We prepare a customized birth plan just for your wants and needs.
· Product Shopping – With new products coming out daily it’s easy to get confused on what’s really needed. We are the experts who can show you the latest products and trends.
· Baby Shower Planning – We will handle the tedious task of planning your baby shower. Invitation preparation, assistance with gift registry, gift return, product demonstration, and thank you notes.
· Hospital Preparation – Where will my other children go? Who’s going to get me to the hospital? What should I pack? Calm down and relax. Let us do the work for you.
· Diva Day Makeover – We want to make you a diva…hair, nails, makeup, and clothing.
· Reminder Service – No need to forget an important appointment because we do all of the remembering for you.
· 24/7 Support – It doesn’t matter if you have a question about childbirth, or need a listening ear, we are here.
· Birthing and C.P.R. Classes – These are classes every parent should take. It will make your life easier.
· Referrals – From infant play classes to a new doctor in the area, we can help.
The value of this package is $1,500.
Do to the popularity of this contest we have decided to extend our end date. Our new submission date will end 10/31/2009.
Winners will be picked by 11/30/09
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September 30, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Charities/Contests, Patriotism, You Served Radio
The other day I wrote about the band Smile Empty Soul and the free download of the song This is War which they wrote in honor of the troops. Well they have given me both the original explicit version and the clean version for any and all troops or troop families to download. You can grab them from:
CLEAN VERSION
www.bouhammer.com/download/This_Is_War_acoustic_CleanRev.mp3
EXPLICIT VERSION
www.bouhammer.com/download/This_Is_War_acoustic_Explicit.mp3
They were supposed to be on the You Served Radio show last week, but Sean Danielsen broke his leg last week and was laid up in the hospital. Well being the real trooper he is, Sean wanted to get back on the show and make good on his commitment to us. So he will be on You Served Radio this week (Oct. 1st) which airs from 7-9PM EST at www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved as it always does.
Not only is Sean coming on the show as a representative of the band and offering the download for free, they have agreed to send You Served some signed posters, CDs and a brand new signed Schecter guitar for us to auction off at our You Served Ebay Store in order to raise money for Soldier’s Angels.
So if you have not checked out our You Served Ebay Store lately, you better start keeping an eye there.
You can learn more about the band at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_Empty_Soul
You can follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/_smileemptysoul
You can become a fan of theirs on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SmileEmptySoulOfficial
You can follow them on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/smileemptysoulmusic
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