USO Supporter,

It's Christopher Plamp, COO at the USO. I don't like reaching out like this, but I'm worried that our programs for service members could be at risk. Summer is the slowest time of year for our fundraising, and the needs of our service members and their families are greater than ever.

That's why we've set a goal to raise $50,000 through emails and text messages in the next 72 hours to get back on track with our fundraising and provide our service members around the world with the supplies and support they need. Will you please make a gift of $29 or more now to help us reach this urgent goal?

As an Air Force veteran who was deployed when my kids were very young, I understand the immense sacrifices our military families make. I also understand the incredible difference your support through the USO can make for them.

More than 250 USO Centers around the world are a home away from home for those who serve. The care packages we send out are absolutely essential on difficult deployments. The warm meals we prepare for service members are sometimes the only celebration they have to mark the holidays.

After the Department of Defense specifically requested our support, we recently opened our fifth USO Center on an aircraft carrier to help address the mental health needs of sailors who can spend months living aboard a ship.

In my role as COO, it's very rewarding to be able to see the value of our work and your support — but I'm also the one responsible for making tough budget decisions that could mean planned care packages have to be canceled or that a USO Center has to close.

That's why I'm personally reaching out to ask for your support in making up our summer fundraising gap at this critical moment: Please, rush a gift of $29 or more now to help us reach our urgent $50,000 goal before the end of the month and provide the best for our service members this summer and beyond.

Thank you for supporting our mission for those who serve.

Christopher Plamp
Chief Operating Officer, USO