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USO OF ILLINOIS AND FREEDOM MUSEUM HOST OPERATION SEND SUPPORT FUNDING DRIVE FOR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

One-Day Event During Michigan Avenue Lights Festival Targets Goal of Raising $5,000 for Care Packages and Holiday Meals

WHEN: Saturday, November 22
10 am-6 pm
WHERE: McCormick Freedom Museum
445 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
WHAT: Warm your hands and your heart during the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Join the USO of Illinois and the McCormick Freedom Museum, part of the McCormick Foundation for a oneday funding drive to support USO Care Packages. Experience the true meaning of giving this holiday season by sponsoring care packages for deployed Illinois military units and holiday meal support for their families here at home. All money raised during this one-day event will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $5,000, by the McCormick Foundation.

Care packages included items the entire unit can enjoy. These items include:
• international calling cards
• current DVD movies
• video games
• snacks
• footballs
• baseballs
• gloves
Photo Opportunities: • Miss Illinois 2008, Katie Lorenz
• USO Carolers, in festive holiday costume, sing carols outside the entrance to Museum
• Kids writing holiday cards to troops
WHY: During the holidays the USO services are needed more than ever. Military personnel and their families face unique and tremendous challenges all year round and these challenges are magnified during the holidays.
WHO: The USO of Illinois touches the lives of over 270,000 active duty military and their families, with over 300 volunteers giving almost 20,000 hours of service. The USO is a civilian non-profit serving the needs of the military community since 1941 through the generosity of the American People.

The Freedom Museum, part of the McCormick Foundation, is the nation’s first museum dedicated to helping people—especially teenagers—understand freedom, with a focus on the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The Museum offers highly interactive exhibits that engage, excite and encourage all visitors to learn, ask questions and answer one important question: Where do you stand?
CONTACT: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Abby Taylor, McCormick Freedom Museum: 312 222 3188 or aylor@McCormickFoundation.org or Alison Ruble, USO of Illinois Community and Entertainment: 773 350 4336 or arubleuso@ameritech.net.