Sport Clips Haircuts Connects U.S. Military with Loved Ones through $500,000 Gift to VFW’s Operation Uplink™
'Help A Hero' campaign will increase monthly free call days for service members in 2013
December 10, 2012
Sport Clips
Haircuts will provide deployed and hospitalized U.S. service members the
opportunity to call loved ones free of charge on 13 holidays and 21 additional
days in 2013. The franchise raised money
through its Help A Hero campaign and made a $500,000 donation today in support
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW) Operation Uplink™ “Free Call Day” program.
This is the sixth year for Sport Clips’ Help A Hero, which will provide 17 more
call days in the year ahead over 2012. More than 950 Sport Clips locations
across the U.S. raised funds for Operation Uplink, which provides the free
“talk time” via satellite phone and computer.
Sport Clips representatives presented a check
for the 2012 donation today to VFW National Commander John Hamilton at the VFW
National Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. The contribution breaks last year’s
record donation by $50,000 and was raised by stylists, managers, and
franchisees in-store and through fundraising events in their communities. Since
Sport Clips’ Help A Hero program began in 2007, more than 2 million dollars
have been donated and almost 2 million calls have been made possible to date.
“It’s an honor for Sport Clips to be
able to support men and women in the military through Help A Hero. By helping
our troops stay connected to loved ones, we hope these call days will encourage
them through their physical separation from
friends and family due to hospital stays or multiple deployments far from
home,” said Sport Clips founder and CEO Gordon Logan of the donation. Logan
served overseas in the U.S. Air Force and is a lifetime member of the VFW and a
VFW Foundation Board member.
Sport Weddel, owner
of the Amarillo, Texas store that raised the most money in the Sport Clips
system, believes it’s important to participate in programs that support U.S.
military like Help A Hero. “I love my country, and I am so proud of those men
and women, both present and past, who have made a commitment to keep us free
and safe,” he said. “We must not forget that while the great majority of us are
enjoying friends and family during holiday times, there are thousands of men
and women in uniform around the world who can't do that. I enjoy the
opportunity to help make connections possible through Help A Hero.”
“Sport Clips’ contribution is a remarkable expression of
gratitude to all the brave men and women of our armed forces for their
sacrifice and dedication. Our thanks goes out to everyone who has played a part
in this wonderful and selfless endeavor. VFW is so fortunate to have forged
such a strong friendship with Mr. Logan and his nationwide Sport Clips team,”
says Hamilton.
To find out more
about Sport Clips’ Help A Hero program, visit SportClips.com/Hero
About
Sport Clips Haircuts
Sport Clips Haircuts is headquartered in Georgetown,
Texas and was established in 1995 by founder and CEO Gordon Logan. The
sports-themed salon franchise, which specializes in hair care for men and boys,
consistently ranks in Entrepreneur Magazine’s top 20 “fastest growing
franchises” and in the top 100 in the “Franchise 500,” and in the top 10 in
Forbes’ “Top 20 Franchises To Start.” Sport Clips is the “Official Haircutter”
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), offers veterans preferential pricing on
haircuts and franchises, and was named in the “50 Top Franchises for Military
Veterans” ranking by World Franchising. Our “Help A Hero” program has donated
more than two million dollars to help deployed and hospitalized U.S. service
members call home through the VFW’s Operation Uplink. Sport Clips is a proud
sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and holds partnerships
with several NCAA and professional sports teams. To learn more about Sport
Clips, visit www.sportclips.com.
Photo:Sport Clips Haircuts presents a
$500,000 check to the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Operation Uplink free call
day program on December 10, 2012. The funds were raised by more than 950
locations nationwide through Sport Clips' Help A Hero program. (Front row
from left: U.S. Marine Corps Col. Charles "Chuck" Sides,
representatives from Sport Clips top fundraising store, Cristina Hermosillo and
Crystal Saldivar, VFW National Commander John Hamilton, and Help A Hero program
manager Margaret Allee.
BACK TO NEWS >