Local radio station launching care package campaign to give back to troops deployed- asking Austinites to give

Contact: Ashley Kamrath                                                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cell Phone: 254-226-0556

Email: ashleykamrath@yahoo.com    

 SOLDIERS DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN FACING LONG HOLIDAY SEASON

Local radio station launching care package campaign to give back to troops deployed- asking Austinites to give

Austin, TX (November 1, 2012) The Holiday season is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but for those not able to be with their loved ones, it can be the loneliest.  Thousands of American men and women will be spending their Christmas in Afghanistan facing hard weather and terrain but more importantly, holidays away from their families, friends and comforts of home so that each of us can be with ours.

“This time last year I was in Afghanistan with nothing by my assault rifle. I was all alone while my family was trying to have a normal holiday back home” said LT Rick Tackaberry, “I was trying to pretend it was just another day but I could only deny it for so long and everyone has that moment when they realize.” Tackaberry,a 27-year-old U.S. Army Lieutenant and single father of five adopted children, is currently stationed at Fort Bliss, TX and continued “getting packages in the mailhelped me feel connected to home, even if they were from strangers.”

Each Saturday this Fall, ESPN Austin (104.9 The Horn) has featured a military hero that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their series, The Real Heroes. This November, they’ll be collecting supplies and monetary donations to send care packages to soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in time for Christmas with their Real Heroes Care Campaign.

Deployed soldiers are in need ofbasic items, always welcome comforts from home and truly enjoy cards and letters from home. Requested items include: travel-size toiletries, eye drops, chapstick, hand and feet warmers, socks, beef jerky, hard candy, coffee, etc. (a full list of acceptable items can be found at www.espnaustin.com).

“It should be a high priority for any American to remember and give back to those that protect our freedoms to live in this great country, and what better time to do that than the Holiday season,” says Ashley Kamrath, Host of The Horn’s Real Heroes.

Austin and surrounding area residents are asked to drop off their donations at The Range Golf Center and Sports Bar (10910 Domain Dr., Ste.120, Austin, TX 78758) or any of the ESPN Austin live radio remotes in November. 

The Real Heroes Care Campaign will run the entire month of November with a special all-day live remote and drop-off event at The Range Golf Center and Sports Bar on November 23^rd (Black Friday, 9am-7pm).

There will also be a special invite-only VIP/Media event on December 3^rd from 6-8pm at The Range Golf Center and Sports Bar to package up items received with special guests.

For more information on “The Real Heroes” radio series on ESPN Austin, visit: http://www.espnaustin.com/page.php?page_id=341 or the facebook page: www.facebook.com/therealheroesmilitary

Email: ashleykamrath@yahoo.com; Phone: 254-226-0556 or 210-360-9199.

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CCMK Bracelets Are On Their Way!

Just in time for the holiday season, The Comfort Crew will soon be selling our very own bracelets! Two versions will be available, a long, wrap-around version (pictured below) and a shorter version. Both will each have a Cuzzie button clasp (with his trademark goggles!), and a CCMK dog tag charm.

Profits from CCMK Bracelets will go toward sponsoring Grief Kits for military children who have lost a loved one. Read more about the Grief Kit here. These unique pieces of jewelry will be a perfect gift for the holidays, giving the recipient as well as the giver the knowledge that they've helped a military child in need.

If you'd like to be informed when CCMK Bracelets officially go on sale, make sure to sign up for our newsletter today!

Wrap-around CCMK Bracelet - so cute!

John Mayer Announces Tour And Programs To Benefit U.S. Military Vets

We read this article about John Mayer and his support of the troops who are reintegrating into civilian life this morning, and it reminded us of our Taking Care of You! Support for Kids of Injured Heroes Care Kits, which provide support to children who have a loved one returning from deployment, often with visible and/or invisible injuries. To sponsor a Care Kit for a military child, please visit our Sponsorship Page.

(from http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/102848/john-mayer-announces-new-u-s-tour)

February 27, 2012 at 11:49 AM (PT)

Artist With A Heart

Seven-time GRAMMY AWARD-winning singer, songwriter and musician JOHN MAYER launches his first U.S. tour in two years on APRIL 9th, stopping in 18 cities through May 6th. The tour leads into MAYER’s upcoming fifth album "Born and Raised" -- co-produced with DON WAS -- which will be released soon thereafter. He debuts his new album with a performance at SXSW on MARCH 17th.

MAYER became passionate about supporting U.S. war veterans following a visit to the MARINE CORPS’ CAMP LEJEUNE in NORTH CAROLINA four years ago. He has since spent time with active military and veterans while touring, and partnered with the NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (NCIRE) to provide veterans with a healthy reintegration into civilian life.

Concertgoers can join Mayer in his support of veterans in two ways: A block of third-row orchestra seats will be made available for sale at a premium price exclusively through Tickets-For-Charity, with proceeds going to MAYER/NCIRE programs. And at celebrity.ebay.com/john-mayer, MAYER fans can bid on four front-row tickets, plus a chance to meet him, with proceeds also going to MAYER/NCIRE programs for veterans.

In 2011, through his partnership with NCIRE, MAYER was able to launch the first of several pilot programs to benefit the young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Programs include a mobile exercise and wellness program; the development of a program of integrative medicine for traumatic stress; a study on veterans’ readjustment to civilian life which aims to develop new therapeutic tools to aid the transition; and a first-of-its-kind screening and intervention program for women suffering from eating disorders triggered by post traumatic stress related to combat.