U-Haul Hosts the 2011 Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride Phoenix, Join U-Haul in Saluting America's Real-Life Heroes!

PHOENIX, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix-based U-Haul, founding partner of Soldier Ride™, is reaching out to the Valley for support in saluting the 2011 Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride Phoenix, as we welcome riders to the Valley during the official landing ceremony on Friday, October 21, 2011, at 11 a.m., at U-Haul corporate headquarters,  2727 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz.

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Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) recognizes the incredible sacrifices these service members have made, and this event helps raise public awareness and support for wounded warriors and their families. All donations go to support the programs and services of WWP, which provide comfort, aid, counseling, rehabilitation and family assistance to the wounded throughout their hospital recovery and readjustment to civilian life.

All donations collected at this event and online will be matched dollar for dollar by U-Haul.  Donations can be made online at http://store.uhaul.com/soldierride.

Special guest speakers this year include: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, along with executives from WWP and the United War Veterans Council. The ceremony will include a USO-like performance by United We Sing, and lunch will be provided after the ceremony for guests who made a $5 donation in support of Soldier Ride.

"Wounded Warrior Project is thankful for U-Haul Company's continued and generous support of Soldier Ride," affirmed Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director Steve Nardizzi. "We believe strongly in the ability of rehabilitative activities to profoundly impact a warrior's ability to heal in mind, body and spirit."

"U-Haul is honored to salute these heroes who have given life and limb to defend our freedom," stated Joe Shoen, chairman, U-Haul International, Inc. "These young people have sacrificed so much in duty to their country and yet they are still willing to give even more to support those who continue to serve. Soldier Ride is a way in which U-Haul is able to thank our veterans for their service, and we are thrilled to be able to do this."

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 16,300 locations in all 50 States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the Company to maintain the largest rental fleet in the do-it-yourself moving industry with approximately 101,000 trucks, 82,000 trailers and 33,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 415,000 rooms and 36.7 million square feet of storage space at nearly 1,115 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. The Company supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as one of the nation's largest retailers of propane.

U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up during the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."  Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel-efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100% biodegradable.  Learn more about these facts and others at uhaul.com/sustainability.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

Contact:
Joanne Fried
Ashleigh Wagner
U-Haul Public Relations
(602) 263-6194
[email protected]

SOURCE U-Haul