FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2019
USO NORTHWEST AWARDED $25,000 GRANT FROM
THE WINDOWS OF HOPE FOUNDATION

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA - The USO Northwest (USO-NW) is pleased to announce that it has received a $25,000 grant from the Windows of Hope Foundation, a legacy of the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. Grant funds will support a much-needed facelift to the heavily used 2,800 square foot USO Shali Center located on McChord Field. Established in 1984 to support the Airman and Soldiers stationed at JBLM, the center delivers USO's specialized programs and services to more than 50,000 military service members and their families every year. As a result, the center needs remodeling -- not from abuse -- but from use.  The USO Shali Center has served more than 300,000 service members and their families since the last update to the center -- just seven years ago.
  
To give our military guests the best experience possible, the refresh project will transform the worn Shali Center back to USO's familiar warm and welcoming environment. The needed updates will enhance the service delivery of USO's specialized programs and services designed for the needs and challenges facing today's military and their families . Funds will also support critical upgrades to the center's Internet café. As USO's mission is to strengthen America's military by keeping them connected to family and home throughout their time in uniform, high-speed technology translates into immediate access to home for service members and their families. In addition, the Internet café provides critical resources for transitioning service members and military spouses as they transition from the military back to civilian life.  
   
The USO Northwest appreciates the continued support of the Windows of Hope Foundation in serving our military and their families and our shared commitment to improving the quality of life in our community.

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About USO Northwest
For over 77 years, the USO has strengthened America's military service members by keeping them connected to family and loved ones, throughout their service to the nation. USO Northwest (USO-NW) continues that mission today by serving more than 800,000 service members and their families annually throughout Washington and Oregon. USO-NW oversees two travel-based centers at Sea-Tac International Airport and Portland International Airport along with two installation-based centers on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Shali USO Center and Camp Lewis USO Center. Three Mobile USO Canteens expand our service delivery by offering the military and their families the same best-in-class support we provide at our centers, but in the field during training's, pierside for deployments and homecomings, and throughout military and civilian locations in the Pacific Northwest.
 
USO-NW provides support to those who need it most, including morale-boosting and family-strengthening programs, deployment and redeployment support to help servicemen and women adjusting to the duty ahead, resiliency training for families facing multiple deployments, as well as support for families coping with the loss of a family member, Families of the Fallen.
 
USO Northwest is not a government agency, but a private, nonprofit organization that relies solely on private support from individuals, organizations, foundations, corporations and fundraisers to support its activities. USO is not part of the government and does not receive any government funding. USO Northwest is supported through the Combined Federal Campaign #15348, King County Employee Giving Program #9585, and the WA State Combined Fund Drive #0376776.
Media Contact
Gabriel Bowman
Communications Manager
USO Northwest
P: 360-951-2860

For more information, or to make a tax-deductible contribution to the USO-NW, visit us online at: