Partnership Unites More Than 60 Million Americans in Nationwide Military Support Network
Silver Spring, MD – The Military Channel, the only cable network to go "behind the lines" on military subjects, and Military.com, the nation's largest online military destination, and subsidiary of Monster Worldwide, Inc., today announced a joint partnership to support men and women in uniform and give voice to veterans and current servicemembers through Reconnect America. This new national campaign will help raise awareness for numerous national organizations that support the U.S. armed forces, veterans and families nationwide, giving citizens everywhere the information they need to get involved. Reconnect America unites 50 million Military Channel and Military.com viewers and visitors with more then 10 million Americans in military-focused organizations such as Operation Gratitude, the Armed Services YMCA, the National Military Family Association, the Fisher House Foundation, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and many others.
Beginning this holiday season and continuing throughout 2007, the Military Channel and Military.com will spotlight a different military-focused charity through monthly on-air and online promotions. United under one banner, www.ReconnectAmerica.com will serve as a portal to all charities in the program, and provide the tools people need to make a difference in the military community. Visitors to the site can make online donations, send e-cards to servicemembers, post their thoughts on message boards, watch video postings from the frontline and access a "military-buddy" locator database.
"With the number of service casualties in the Iraq war and thousands stationed around the world, we are honored to align our efforts with Military.com in creating a one-stop resource for tens of millions of viewers and users to find qualified, deserving and vital military-focused charities," said Jane Root, Executive Vice President and General Manager, the Military Channel.
"We are proud to be part of this national effort to Reconnect America to its military community," said Christopher Michel, Chairman and Founder of Military.com. "This effort will enable millions of Americans to directly support our men and women in uniform and keeps with our mission of connecting servicemembers, veterans and their families to all the benefits of service."
Operation Gratitude is the first of 12 national charities that will be highlighted as part of Reconnect America. Founded after 9/11 as a means to lift troops' morale, Operation Gratitude brings a smile to servicemembers' faces by sending care packages overseas. Filled with an assortment of nonperishable foods, entertainment items, personal care products and messages of appreciation, care packages are sent anywhere troops are deployed, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Africa, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Guantanamo Bay and ships in international waters.
Following Operation Gratitude, the following charities are scheduled to be spotlighted on ReconnectAmerica.com in early 2007:
- Armed Services YMCA: The Armed Services YMCA has provided services to the military community for over 140 years, offering essential programs such as childcare, hospital assistance, spousal support, health & wellness services, holiday meals and many others.
- Fisher House Foundation: Since its inception in 1990, the Fisher House Foundation has provided over 2 million days of lodging to military families in need, offering a "home away from home" that enables family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful time---during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.
- The National Military Family Association (NMFA): NMFA is dedicated to providing information to and representing the interests of family members of the uniformed services. NMFA sponsors a military spouse scholarship program, the NMFA Very Important Patriot Award, and the NMFA Family Award.
- The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. (TAPS): TAPS is a one of a kind non-profit Veteran Service Organization offering hope, healing, comfort and care to thousands of American armed forces families facing the death of a loved one each year.
In addition to the support received from visitors to ReconnectAmerica.com, the Military Channel and Military.com will make monetary and other in-kind donations to each organization throughout the year. Furthering exposure and penetration for the Reconnect America program, the Military Channel will also work with its distribution partners in communities nationwide to build customized local citizen involvement in this charitable effort.
The Military Channel brings viewers compelling, real-world stories of heroism, military strategy, technological breakthroughs and turning points in history. The network takes viewers "behind the lines" to hear the personal stories of servicemen and women and offers in-depth explorations of military technology, battlefield strategy, aviation and history. As the only cable network devoted to military subjects from around the globe, it also provides unique access to this world, allowing viewers to experience and understand a world full of human drama, courage, innovation and long-held traditions of the military. For more information, visit http://military.discovery.com.
Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company with operations in 170 countries and territories reaching 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 29 trusted brands including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and COSMEO, a revolutionary online homework help service, as well as Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. Discovery brings the real world to the whole world through its global multiplatform initiatives including Discovery Travel Media, Discovery Mobile and multiple broadband services. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman. More information about Discovery and its businesses can be found at www.discovery.com.