USO History
• United Service Organizations
(USO)
• Created in 1941 at the request of
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Six founding organizations:
• Salvation Army
• YMCA
• YWCA
• National Catholic Community
Services
• National Travelers Aid Association
• National Jewish Welfare Board
• Over 160 locations worldwide
USO San Diego
USO San Diego’s mission is to lift the
spirits of America’s troops and their
families.
• Has a staff of 6
• Serving Active-duty, Reserve,
Guard and military families
• More than 260,000 instances
of service and support in 2014
• Volunteers donated more than
34,000 hours in 2014
• 2 centers, operating 365 days
each year
USO Neil Ash Airport Center
Hours: 0600-2400, 365 Days a Year
Free Services & Programs
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Wifi, computers, TVs and couches
XBOXs, Ping Pong Table, Pool Table
Meals and beverages
Unlimited domestic calls
Meeting Center
Children’s Play room
Bathrooms with showers
7,000 sqft enclosed patio with BBQ
Homecoming & Deployment Support
Quiet room for Families of the Fallen
Shuttle service to bases (at most $25)
3707 North Harbor Drive, San Diego
Feed Our Troops
• Weekly or a minimum of once a
month
• USO Neil Ash Airport Center
• Homemade meals served to new
recruits and those traveling
through the center
• Serves 300-600
• New menu each time
• Sponsored by individuals and
companies
• Examples: Gary Sinise
Foundation, Northrop
Grumman
USO San Diego Downtown Center
Hours: 11am – 9pm 365 Days a Year
Free Services & Programs
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Wifi, computers, TVs and couches
Video game
Snacks and beverages
Unlimited domestic calls
Meeting Center
Board games & Pool Table
Social Hall available to large groups
Children’s Play room
Bathrooms with showers
Tuesday Night Dinners & Food Pantry
Holiday programs
303 A Street, Suite 100, San Diego
Tuesday Night Dinners
• Every Tuesday Night
• USO San Diego Downtown Center
• Dinner served between
1800-1830
• Seating for 215
• New menu each week
• Examples: Mexican, BBQ,
Italian, Chinese
• Sponsored by individuals and
companies
• Examples: IKEA San Diego,
Navy Recruiting, Raytheon
Food Pantry
• The first and third Saturday of
every month
• ACE Lot #12, across from USO San
Diego’s Downtown Center on 3rd
and A Street
• Program runs between 0900-1000
• For single service members, and
military families
• New participants must fill out a
form prior to arrival
• www.usosandiego.org
• Participants bring their own bag
to fill with items available
Community Chest
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Every other month, 3rd Thursday
USO San Diego Downtown Center
Program runs between 1300-1500
For single service members, and
military families
• Pick from Costco donations given
to USO San Diego, amount varies
• Upon arrival, ticket is given for
lottery, when number is called the
representative for the household
may go pick items
• Participants bring their own bag
to fill with items available
“With You All the Way” kits
To help address the stresses of
military life, the kit is designed for
children who have a family member
deployed.
Inside the kit:
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Postcards for mailing
Interactive journal
A set of keepsake dog-tags
Stuffed animal named Cuzzie
DVD “With You All the Way! Dealing
with Deployment”.
Available for distribution by FRGs,
Key Spouses, and Ombudsmen,
e-mail director@usosandiego.org
Marine Corps Trials
• March 1 – 12, 2015, Camp
Pendleton was open to the
public
• 350 Wounded Warriors
compete in 8 sporting events in
the qualifying rounds for the
fall Warrior Games in Quantico
• USO San Diego provides:
• Welcome reception + bags
• 2,500 full meals
• Great American Experience
• Sports drinks, water, snacks
and much more!
Every Moment Counts
Every moment leading up to a
deployment counts and so does
every moment in between. USO San
Diego provides programs enhancing
the wellbeing of our military
families.
• Evening Out
• San Diego Padre for a Day
• Family Day at the Bay
• Ticket Distribution
• Community Chest
United Through Reading
• Service Members, leaving for
deployment or training, choose a
book to read aloud and then are
recorded on DVD
• USO San Diego mails the DVD and
Book to the family at home once
service member has left
• All recording equipment, books,
packing, and shipping materials
are provided by USO San Diego
• For appointments or more info.
contact Nichole at
utr@usosandiego.org
Welcome Home bags
“Welcome Home” bags are
distributed by either USO San Diego
Volunteers or commands to single
service members.
Inside the kit:
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Snacks
Water
Thank You note
Toiletries if available
To request bags, e-mail
nicholeduarte@usosandiego.org
with the filled out the request form
available at www.usosandiego.org
Holiday Programs
Holiday programs are held from October
through December.
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Halloween Festival
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Community partners such as San Diego
Harley-Davidson
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Trick – or – treat, 400 families
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Fun activities such as face painting and
rock climbing.
Thanksgiving
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Meals served at both centers
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Arts & Crafts activities
Santa Store
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Children pick out gifts for
parents/guardians
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Dinner served and photos with Santa
Giving Tree
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Select families pick out multiple gifts for
children in the family
Transition 360 Alliance
Initiative to help service members
and military families successfully
transition into civilian life after
service ends
Partners:
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Hire Heroes USA
Stronger Families
Comfort Crew for Military Kids
Rally Point/6
Workshops on: financial planning,
resumes and interviews, building
networks, and improving
relationships
5th Annual Golf Classic
• Tuesday, November 3, 2015
• Crosby National Golf Club
• Rancho Santa Fe
• 10:30 a.m. Shotgun start
• Companies have option to have a
service member on their team
• Free shaves and haircuts from V’s
Barbershop will be on the green
and many more fun activities!
How We Exist
• Private and Corporate Donations:
Money stays local
• We receive no government
funding
• Foundation grants
• Special Events
• Gala
• Golf Tournament
• Holiday Campaign
• Our volunteers
Follow us! USO San Diego
• Facebook.com/usosandiego