CONTACT: Sears Public Relations And Communications Former P.O.W. Jessica Lynch and the National Military Family Association Kick Off New Camp Program for Children of Deployed Military Camp Funding Provided by Sears and the Jessica Lynch Foundation
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Military Family
Association (NMFA) and Sears, Roebuck and Co. today unveiled a new summer camp
program for children of deployed military parents. Announced by Jessica
Lynch, former P.O.W. and program spokesperson, Operation Purple is the first
camp program of its kind, bringing together children from all branches of the
armed forces to interact with each other and address deployment-related
stress.
Lynch made the announcement at a grand opening ceremony in Wernersville,
Pa., home of Camp Keystone Courage, one of the camps in the program.
Operation Purple will run 11 week-long, overnight camps across the United
States and one in Guam. Nearly 1,000 children, ages 6 to 17, will attend the
camps from June through August 2004.
Sears provided funding for the camps as part of a $2 million contribution
to the military community through NMFA. The company's support for military
families is part of the Sears American Dream Campaign's commitment to
strengthening families, homes and communities nationwide. This funding, along
with a donation from the Jessica Lynch Foundation, will allow the children to
attend the camps free of charge. Preference will be given to children who
have experienced, or are experiencing, long periods of separation from a
deployed family member.
"With record numbers of military personnel deployed, military families
will welcome this valuable opportunity for their children. Fear for a
deployed parent's safety and personal loneliness is often internalized by
children with deployed family members," explained Candace Wheeler, president
of NMFA. "That is why we have designed activities at each camp to address the
emotional needs of the children with an emphasis on team building, therapeutic
art projects and other group activities that will engage children and
encourage them to share their emotions. NMFA is pleased that Sears, along
with the Jessica Lynch Foundation, wanted to be involved with this program."
"Kids are my thing. I realized that I could help military children from
all services by lending my support to the Operation Purple program. It is
important that children realize they too are serving our country by supporting
their moms and dads while they are away," said Lynch, whose Foundation assists
children of soldiers who have served in the military.
"Operation Purple is the perfect example of what Sears hoped to accomplish
when it provided NMFA with $2 million to respond, in part, to some of the
needs of military families," said Robert J. O'Leary, senior vice president of
public relations and government affairs for Sears. "We recognize that
military service often is accompanied by an emotional impact on the children
of those who serve. We hope these camps will make a profound and memorable
difference in their lives."
In addition to Lynch, representatives from the Department of Defense, NMFA
Board of Governors and Sears attended the opening ceremony for the camps.
For more information about Operation Purple camp locations, dates and
activities, visit the NMFA Web site at http://www.nmfa.org .
About NMFA
NMFA is a predominantly volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization with a dedicated group of volunteer Representatives, based around
the world. These representatives are the "eyes and ears" of the Association.
Through their daily lives they embody the military lifestyle, including active
duty, reserve, Guard and retirees. They also interact, educate and inform
military families of their benefits. In so doing, they contribute to the
Association's mission: to improve the quality of life for all military
families through education, information and advocacy.
About the Sears American Dream Campaign
Sears' partnership with NMFA is part of the Sears American Dream Campaign,
the company's multi-year, $100 million commitment to strengthen families,
homes and communities. From helping low- and moderate-income homeowners
nationwide outfit and maintain their homes, to assisting victims of natural
disasters, to providing thousands of children with new apparel, the Sears
American Dream Campaign is making a meaningful difference in communities
across the nation.
SOURCE National Military Family Association; Sears, Roebuck and Co. |