It is October, but you could not tell from the weather we have been enjoying here in the Pacific Northwest!! I wonder what Punxsutawney Phil would say about this weather.
While the summer has been busy, all roads have led to the USO Northwest and our largest fundraiser of the year – our 2022 5-Star Gala & Auction. Here we will honor the six local Military Members of the Year and also honor and hear from this year’s Guest Speaker, Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee. Our Advisory Board Members have also worked hard to identify more than 20 live auction items and over 400 silent and spirit auction items as well. While this is truly an event to honor our military, we believe it should be fun and noteworthy – hence come and have a great time and bid on a few items.
If you cannot attend this amazing event, please know we will miss you. Some have told me, “I wish I could go; how else can I support the USO?” Based on feedback like this, we have allowed everyone to still participate in our gala and support our mission. Please click on the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page where we invite you to “Make a Donation.”
Your support makes a difference every day to our military or their family members, so thank you for making a difference.
Finally, please read and share this newsletter and visualize how you could get involved with the USO Northwest. It will be a rewarding experience for you, and we invite you to include us within your circle of friends. Since 1941, the USO has supported our service members and their families through community engagement as we are not government-funded. We could not do all we do without support from the community, so a “special thank you” to each of you. Until next month!
Cheers,
Don Leingang
Commander, US Navy (retired)
Executive Director, USO Northwest
USO Northwest’s Five-Star Gala & Auction scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington
Join USO Northwest and more than 600 guests as we gather to honor the six Military Members of the Year for the Pacific Northwest and support the work of the USO Northwest.
The event will feature silent and live auctions, entertainment, a keynote speaker address, and inspiring messages from distinguished military guests.
To register, or see more information about this event, CLICK HERE.
MILITARY FAMILIES:
WIN A VACATION AT GREAT WOLF LODGE!
Here's your chance to be featured at our upcoming Five Star Gala in October. We are looking for 50 families to tell us how the USO has impacted them and one family will be chosen to receive a paid vacation to Great Wolf Lodge!!
To enter, send an email to cgibson@uso.org, with "USO Impact" in the subject line. Be sure to include a family photo!! Entries will be accepted until Oct. 10.
Military members and their families stay on average for 16 hours at the SeaTac USO Center before their flight leaves the following morning for their next duty station overseas.
Our Camp Lewis center stayed busy as always, hosting a Macho Nacho Day with Chef Jennie serving a long line of hungry soldiers and airmen. Our awesome volunteer chef Mary was joined by Jaime from Omni Financial for the monthly Wings Wednesday lunch, and spouses came together for another Coffee Connections event.
USO Northwest partnered with the Children’s Museum at JBLM during a fun, informational brunch for military families. Families connected with other military families while enjoying beverages and snacks provided by Starbucks. Information on USO programs was passed, and children participated in the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program through story time and were able to record a keepsake reading with their parents.
USO Northwest attended a pre-deployment resource fair with other JBLM supporting agencies at the Children’s Museum at JBLM. Information on transition and program resources was passed while military families enjoyed hotdogs and snacks from the USO mobile canteen.
Soldiers returning home to JBLM received special USO Northwest care packages upon their return.
Brigadier General Jeremy C. Horn, Washington Air National Guard (Ret); Director of Security, Alaska Airlines
Master Chief Petty Officer George A. Knobloch, USNR (Ret); Chair, Stars & Stripes Golf Tournament (Portland); VP, Maintenance and Engineering, Horizon Air
Keith Leverkuhn - Chair, Programs/Facilities and Red, White and Blue Golf Classic; Former Vice President/General Manager, Propulsion Systems, The Boeing Company
Senior Master Sgt Barry W. Sherman, USAF (Ret) - Chair, Security Executive Director, Puget Sound Chapter NECA, Board Members
Major General Thomas F. Cole, USA (Ret) - Major General, US Army Retired
Nathan Fahrer - Real Estate Practice, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
TJ Fase - Director of Sales Development and Co-Chair, Red, White and Blue Golf Classic, Heritage Distilling Company, Inc.
Tammy Hemmie - Branch Manager, Veterans United Home Loans of Puget Sound
Lauren LaRoche - Branch Sales Manager, Fairway Independent Mortgage Company
The USO Pathfinder Transitions Program supports military spouses and service members at every stage of their military career. From taking your oath, to well into your journey to civilian life. Let’s face it; military families are constantly in transition. Moving, being between PCS’s, leaving friends and family, prepping to move, deployments, training, remote tours, TDY’s, new additions to the family, graduates heading to college, and everything in between! Having support is a beautiful thing. That’s what the USO is all about!
USO Transitions provides professional development services. Your USO Transition Specialist connects you to the resources you need, no matter where you call home. Core areas of support: employment, education, financial readiness, VA benefits, and mentoring. USO Transitions is a focused, tailored experience. Our objective is to provide you with a detailed action plan for the resources you need to obtain your personal and professional goals. Everything we do is free of charge!
Our program is a fantastic fit for spouses who focus on their families and those transitioning out of the military, preparing to pivot and join the civilian workforce. The USO Transitions Program is not just for active duty Service Members. In fact, one in five JBLM Action Plans created were actually to assist a military spouse. Schedule time on your calendar to dedicate to your future success and register at www.uso.org/transition.
The USO 1941 Legacy Society recognizes those friends of the USO who make a gift through a will, trust or other estate plans to continue the USO's long tradition of connecting service members back to family, home, and country.
The generosity, dedication, and patriotism of our 1941 Legacy Society members allow the USO to continue its mission. We deliver critical programs and services that promote a healthy, resilient, confident, and prepared military as our dedicated service members continue to deploy far from their communities and family.
Among the benefits of membership include:
Exclusive invitations to VIP events
Exclusive invitations to USO educational and programmatic seminars
Recognition on the USO's planned giving website
Subscription to the USO eNewsletter
Special USO Legacy Society pin
You can join by completing the USO 1941 Legacy Society pledge form or mailing a copy of your estate planning paperwork to our address: USO Northwest, 17801 International Blvd., PMB 313, Seattle WA, 98158.
THE USO IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND NOT PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD). THE APPEARANCE OF DOD VISUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT IMPLY OR CONSTITUTE DOD ENDORSEMENT.
