AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Mother's Day and Memorial Day, the Chrysler Group today announced the launch of "Our Troops Are Calling On You," a sweepstakes designed to help our military personnel keep in touch with their families. Based on the number of customer sweepstakes entries, Chrysler Group will donate up to $50,000 to the USO's Operation Phone Home program, which distributes free prepaid international and domestic phone cards to active duty military personnel.
Throughout May, customers can visit participating Chrysler Jeep(R) or Dodge dealerships to enter the sweepstakes. The sweepstakes will be held in five markets where many of the country's largest military installations are located: Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California/Oahu, Hawaii; San Diego, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Norfolk, Virginia. A single sweepstakes winner will be selected from each of the five markets and can choose a brand new Chrysler Sebring Sedan, or Jeep(R) Patriot, or Dodge Ram 1500.
USO president and CEO Edward A. Powell said, "The USO thanks the Chrysler Group for their support of the USO and our men and women in uniform. This promotion will help the USO continue to make a difference in the lives of service members and their families around the world."
"This gift from the Chrysler Group is our way of saying 'thank you' to our U.S. servicemen and women," said Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda. "It's just one more way the Chrysler family, including its dealership network, is giving back to local communities."
The USO will distribute the calling cards in five of their domestic centers in the same cities where the sweepstakes will be held. These cards will reach service members deploying for duty and those arriving on rest and recuperation (R&R) flights.
Since 1941, the USO has been dedicated to providing morale-boosting programs and services to service members, and expressing the gratitude of the American people. The USO operates more than 130 centers worldwide, offering free e-mail and Internet access, international phone cards, libraries and travel assistance to U.S. military personnel and their families. Special programs include Operation USO Care Package, USO Operation Phone Home(R), the USO Mobile Fleet, United Through Reading(R) and Operation Enduring Care.
ABOUT CHRYSLER
The Chrysler Group, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., produces Chrysler, Jeep(R), Dodge and Mopar(R) brand vehicles and products. The company sold about 2.7 million vehicles worldwide in 2006. Its product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Commander and Dodge Charger. The Chrysler Group is a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's fifth largest automaker, which produces passenger and commercial vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, smart and Freightliner brands.
ABOUT THE USO
For more than 66 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T Inc., BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, DRS Technologies, Inc., Military Channel, S & K Sales Co., TriWest Healthcare Alliance and The Walt Disney Company. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at www.uso.org.