Operation Homefront Closes Out Another Successful Back-to-School Brigade

Children of military families were able to start off the school year right

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Operation Homefront, the national non-profit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to military families and Wounded service members, has completed yet another successful Back-to-School Brigade just in time for the school year.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110623/DC25541LOGO)

This was the sixth annual campaign by Operation Homefront to give the children of military families in need the opportunity to start school with all the supplies that are essential for success.  In 2011, the Back-to-School Brigade raised over $2 million in monetary donations and filled 30,000 backpacks with school supplies nationwide. This year completely surpassed expectations, and through the generosity of individual and corporate contributors, Operation Homefront was able to collect almost 5 million school supplies and filled almost 40,000 backpacks with these school supplies, saving military families across the nation thousands of dollars in expenses many cannot otherwise afford.

"Military families, especially those in the lower and mid-grade ranks, can see a real money crunch at back-to-school time," said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Homefront. "We are truly grateful for all of the support this program has had from our donors and volunteers in communities across the country so these children can have a bright future."

At a recent Operation Homefront event honoring military kids, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey said, "It's incredible to watch the young men and women of our military families grow up.  We have a lot to be thankful for, and military children are probably right at the top of the list.  Our kids have the unique opportunity to be whatever they want to be."

The national corporate sponsors for the Back-to-School Brigade program included Dollar Tree, Veterans United, and BAE Systems.

For photos from the events and additional information on how to get involved in supporting our nation's youngest heroes, please log on to www.OperationHomefront.net/BackToSchoolBrigade or www.Facebook.com/OperationHomefront.

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence, and has met more than 590,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002.  A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to assist service members.  For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net

SOURCE Operation Homefront