Soldiers' Angels Unveils New Text-to-Donate for Military Support

/PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit Soldiers' Angels today announced a new way to support the troops just by using a cell phone. Patriotic Americans can now text "Soldiers" to 20222 to donate $5 toward care packages, assistance for wounded warriors, and support for veterans and their families.

A volunteer-based nonprofit awarded the prestigious Spirit of Hope by the Department of Defense, Soldiers' Angels has a long history of using high tech and social media platforms to motivate volunteers and donations. From raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through military and political blogs to winning a Twitter-based "Social Media Makeover" competition last summer, Soldiers' Angels has demonstrated a continuing commitment to using all available technological resources in its mission to support the troops.

"We are so excited to give Americans this great, cutting-edge way to help make sure our heroes receive the support they need in this time of war," said founder Patti Patton-Bader. "Five dollars really is a modest amount of money, but it adds up so quickly and means so much to our efforts. With text-to-donate we are continuing to use the latest technology to draw more Americans into this important work."

Along with text-to-donate, Soldiers' Angels is rolling out its new Mobile Support Club. Members of the club will receive up to four monthly alerts and updates on events, projects, soldier stories, support needs and much more, right on their mobile phones. Supporters can sign up automatically by texting "Soldiers" to 20222 to donate $5, or by visiting www.soldiersangels.org and clicking on the "Stay Connected" graphic.

Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is an award-winning 501(c)(3) with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families through a wide variety of hands-on projects and volunteerism. For more information, visit www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415

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Showing Troops America Cares - Soldiers' Angels Send Holiday Care Packages

/PRNewswire/ -- American military personnel stationed in the war zones will soon receive Holiday care packages from nonprofit Soldiers' Angels. This holiday season, Soldiers' Angels aims to ship 140,000 Wrapped in Holiday Spirit gifts to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and is calling on all Americans to join the final push to that goal.

Each Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care package includes a handmade "Blanket of Belief," snacks, socks, holiday cards and other treats with a personal note of thanks and support. Troops in the most remote regions of Afghanistan will also receive beautiful stainless steel coffee mugs. The "Blankets of Belief" forming the heart of the care package tell America's service men and women, "We believe in you." When they receive a Blanket of Belief, service members know that somebody back home remembers them, that somebody labored over a handmade item with love and belief in them.

Founder Patti Patton-Bader describes how important it is for the troops to know America believes in them and supports them, especially during this time. "Holidays away from home are very tough on our deployed troops," she says. "Please help us show them America cares--be there for a hero this holiday season."

Soldiers' Angels is soliciting donations, as well as offering a 15% discount at www.AngelsStore.org on Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care packages that allow patriotic Americans to order a package for a specific soldier or have their gifts sent to "Any Soldier" with a personal note of gratitude and support.

Donations for the Wrapped in Holiday Spirit project can be made online at http://soldiersangels.org/holidays-for-heroes.html, or sent to Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104.

Care packages at www.AngelsStore.org are offered as a convenience for those who support America's troops, giving them an easy way to send a personal message with a gift especially designed to meet the needs and interests of deployed service members. The cost includes shipping, and any payment above the base cost of the contents helps to fund the many military support projects of volunteer-led non-profit Soldiers' Angels.

SOLDIERS' ANGELS is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) non-profit providing aid and comfort to U.S. military personnel and families. Over 200,000 volunteers also provide assistance to the wounded, support for veterans, comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. www.SoldiersAngels.org, TAX ID #20-0583415.

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Military Support Organization Reaches for Christmas Miracle

/PRNewswire/ -- For the last two years, James Ward and his family have sent a bit of Christmas cheer to deployed American service members in Iraq and Afghanistan through Operation Christmas Tree, but this year that could change. Last year they sent 5,000 live Christmas trees. Now a goal of 2,000 may be out of reach, even with the efforts of fellow military support organization Soldiers' Angels, which contributed $2,000 to the cause yesterday.

In years past, the spirits of soldiers deployed during the Holidays have been buoyed by an extraordinary gift--a live Christmas tree complete with tiny ornaments and lights from Operation Christmas Tree. One soldier wrote, "I couldn't believe what I found in that little box. Wow. And it even smells a little like a Christmas tree!" Another exclaimed, "I am so moved and filled with joy. Thank you multiplied by a billion isn't enough for this simple act of kindness."

The recession has hit Operation Christmas Tree hard, with only five percent of the donations coming in that they've had in the past. "If we can't bring in more, there will be no trees going out this year," reports Ward, with a catch in his voice. "But I have faith that Americans will come though once again. Last year we got our last $10,000 needed on the day we packed the trees!"

Soldiers' Angels is calling on other organizations, companies and individuals to make sure that once again this year, deployed servicemen and women will have the experience of opening up a box in the sands of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan and finding a piece of Christmas inside. Says founder Patti Patton-Bader, "When our heroes are serving in dangerous places far from home on our behalf at Christmas, we owe them so much. A piece of home like this is a treasure."

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 info, see www.soldiersangels.org or call (615) 676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415

Operation Christmas Tree is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a singular mission: sending live Christmas Trees to the deployed "until our troops are home." For more info, see www.operationchristmastree.com or call 410-984-7300. Tax ID# 84-1722360.

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Soldiers' Angels and Spirit of America Cooperate to Support the Troops

/PRNewswire/ -- The need to encourage and support America's fighting men and women around the world remains strong, and nonprofits Spirit of America and Soldiers' Angels are sharing their contacts and working together to ensure every service member has support to complete the mission and return home safe.

Soldiers' Angels (SA) "adopts" deployed Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, while Spirit of America (SoA) provides those same service members with directly-requested materials for locals in need. In a spirit of cooperation, SoA lets their deployed contacts know homefront support is available for soldiers and their families through SA, while SoA flyers in Angel care packages tell service members where to get assistance for their local outreach activities. The two organizations are also prominently linked on each others' websites.

Together, Soldiers' Angels and Spirit of America provide comfort items and necessities, love from home, and material assistance for America's military personnel in their role as ambassadors to the local population. Material support for people caught in a war zone helps "win hearts and minds," encouraging locals to provide intelligence and reduce conflict. Meeting locals' needs also helps them resist insurgents who bribe or threaten them into terrorist activities.

"Soldiers' Angels is an outstanding organization with a total commitment to supporting America's soldiers. We are proud to be working with them," said Jim Hake, founder and chairman of Spirit of America. "This cooperation and putting our troops first is exactly what's needed to make sure they are successful and safe."

Soldiers' Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader expresses similar sentiments. "Spirit of America is amazing. Their ability to provide exactly what units request to build relationships and improve communities in the warzones helps make our troops safer and more effective. They are a perfect complement to our efforts in bringing home healthy heroes."

As Internet-based entities, Soldiers' Angels and Spirit of America recognize the importance of social networking and word-of-mouth in meeting their missions. The cooperative spirit they demonstrate has been a significant factor in placing them among the largest and most effective of the newer military-related nonprofits that developed after 9-11.

By helping meet troops' emotional and physical needs and making their jobs easier, Spirit of America and Soldiers' Angels help bring home healthy and successful warfighters. From shipping 500 pairs of boot socks for tired Infantrymen's feet to sending 5,000 toothbrushes to a Marine unit teaching Afghani villagers dental hygiene, SA and SoA's complementary missions remind the troops that America has their back.

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Soldiers' Angels Receives Combined Federal Campaign Approval

/PRNewswire/ -- National military support nonprofit Soldiers' Angels proudly announces its inclusion in the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), an effort to encourage philanthropy among United States Government employees. This opportunity increases the organization's visibility and respectability, building on its growing reputation for providing a wide variety of powerful and personalized support for service members, military families and veterans of all branches.

During the yearly "campaign season" of September 1 through December 15, CFC provides federal civil servants, military personnel, political appointees and elected politicians with a list of verified and respectable charities they can be confident in supporting. Donations are collected through payroll deductions, offering employees the chance to make gifts that add up to substantial support over a twelve-month period.

Soldiers' Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader is excited to be included in the upcoming campaign. "We've been working very hard to meet CFC's guidelines and we are so thrilled to be a part of the campaign this year. It makes it so much easier for people to donate to Soldiers' Angels and will help us continue the important work of taking care of our military and their families."

As a CFC-approved charity, Soldiers' Angels has been subject to extensive review of its financial and governance practices, auditing performance and program activities, ensuring federal employees can be confident in supporting the organization. The approved status also gives Soldiers' Angels the opportunity to participate in meetings, exhibits and other events hosted at federal agencies and departments during campaign season, including providing speakers and other representatives.

Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families through a wide variety of hands-on projects and volunteerism. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415. CFC# 25131.

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Documentary 'Brothers at War' Partners With Soldiers' Angels to Energize Military Supporters

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Military support nonprofit Soldiers' Angels announced its partnership today with the award-winning documentary Brothers at War, currently screening in cities across America. Directed by civilian Jake Rademacher, who followed his two military brothers to document their combat deployment and return home, Brothers at War is an intimate portrait of a military family during wartime.

Volunteers from Soldiers' Angels will be in attendance at each screening location for Brothers at War to invite viewers to bridge the military-civilian divide by actively supporting service members and families like those portrayed in the documentary. A grassroots non profit with unique and effective ways of supporting the troops, Solders' Angels and its army of volunteers have received widespread praise and numerous awards for the hands-on assistance they offer to military families, the deployed, wounded, families of the fallen, and American veterans of all ages.

Soldiers' Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader welcomes the opportunity to connect average Americans with those who protect them. "Fewer people serving in the military means fewer Americans have personal knowledge of the sacrifices and challenges of military life," she explains. "Brothers at War helps bridge that divide. The story of these heroes needs to be told, and our soldiers need to know their service is appreciated and that they are not forgotten."

Military spouse and Soldiers' Angels volunteer Greta Perry agrees that Brothers at War can help the rest of America understand the experience of military personnel and their families during wartime. "No other footage since Bad Voodo's War has portrayed anything so real and unbiased about the war and the soldiers who serve in it," she recently wrote after screening the film. "Jake left [Iraq] with a better understanding of the conditions his brothers lived in and he shared that with us effortlessly on the screen."

Brothers at War was produced by Norman S. Powell (American Valor, 24), and Gary Sinise (CSI New York, Forrest Gump). Sinise is also a recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal for his extensive activities in support of America's military men and women. More information is available at www.brothersatwarmovie.com.

About Soldiers' Angels: Established in 2003 by the mother of two soldiers, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501( c )(3) nonprofit providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415.

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Wounded Veterans to Get Laptop Computers

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three hundred soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon receive specially-adapted laptop computers, thanks to military support nonprofit Soldiers' Angels and The San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAF). The laptops will be funded through SAAF's Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD), which has awarded Soldiers' Angels a $210,000 grant to fund Project Valour-IT in the San Antonio area.

The grant is expected to purchase at least 300 laptops, which will be distributed as gifts to wounded veterans undergoing treatment at San Antonio's Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) or living in the surrounding area. The computers will be used for communication, post-military employment preparation and physical and occupational therapy, and will be fitted with adaptive technology from the Department of Defense for severely injured users, including voice-control. As one of the largest treatment facilities for wounded veterans in America, BAMC is a major hub for Project Valour-IT and Soldiers' Angels works closely with caseworkers there to identify recovering service members in need of a laptop.

Wounded veteran and Valour-IT co-creator Chuck Ziegenfuss knows firsthand the power of Valour-IT. He reports that using a voice-controlled laptop while he recovered was "the first time I felt whole since I'd woken up wounded."

This is the third SAAF/TRIAD grant for Soldiers' Angels, forming a growing bond between the two organizations and furthering the reach of Project Valour-IT, which has already distributed 3,000 laptops nationwide. "With the money from this grant we will be able to touch many more heroes who need Valour-IT Laptops," says Soldiers' Angels Veterans Support Team leader, Twyla Choate. "Soldiers' Angels is thrilled to once again be given the opportunity to help those who have done so much for us."

About SAAF: The San Antonio Area Foundation aspires to significantly enhance the quality of life of our community by providing outstanding service to donors, producing significant asset growth, strengthening community collaboration and managing an exemplary grants program. A publicly supported philanthropic institution, the San Antonio Area Foundation is governed by a board of private citizens chosen for their knowledge of and involvement in the community. For over 44 years, it has successfully administered funds from individuals, agencies, corporations and others who contribute or bequeath assets for the betterment of the community. For more information, visit www.saafdn.org.

About Soldiers' Angels: Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415

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