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For more information,
donate or volunteer visit our website:
333 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 2226
Chicago IL, 60601
(312) 822-6699
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USO of Illinois
annually
serves nearly 325,000 service members and their families at 5 USO Centers and through hundreds of programs and services.
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Military Spouses Form Lifelong Bonds at USO Rock Island
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 Military Spouse Night provides fun, interactive and social events that are opportunities for military spouses to connect, establish supportive networks and build lifelong friendships. On August 1, USO Rock Island welcomed 12 military spouses, including 7 new-comers who just moved to the Rock Island Arsenal, to USO Game Night. The spouses enjoyed a tasty meal and then joined teams for a winner-takes-all Corn Hole Competition. The winners received gift cards to Texas Roadhouse.
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Mobile USO Comes to Camp Dodge
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 Currently serving as the headquarters for the Iowa National Guard, Camp Dodge is located in Johnston, Iowa and is home to nearly 1,000 service members and their families. USO Rock Island staff and volunteers helped to bring the Mobile USO to Camp Dodge on August 14
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Acting as a USO center on wheels, Mobile USO offers service members the same great resources that are found in USO airport or installation locations. These large, mobile centers travel to military exercises to provide a place for troops to relax during down time, offering USO services to areas without a brick and mortar USO center. Mobile USO offers laptops, large screen televisions, video game consoles, Wi-Fi, microwaves, movies and more. The Mobile USO was at Camp Dodge on August 14th through August 16th to provide support for service members attending a 2-week training.
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USO Great Lakes Ends the Summer with Hawaiian Luau
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For the second year in a row, USO Great
Lakes hosted an end of the summer Hawaiian Luau. Members of the local Elks Club roasted succulent pigs, Texas Roadhouse provided side dishes, and volunteers helped to secure both a shaved ice truck and authentic purple sweet potatoes from Hawaii to nearly 350 service members and their families. People in attendance were treated to a traditional Hawaiian dance show, corn hole games, and festive competitions.
Thank you to the USO volunteers and donors who made this event possible.
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USO O'Hare Supports Soaring Valor
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 On Wednesday, September 5
th, USO O'Hare welcomed 50 World War II veterans for the Gary Sinise Foundation's Soaring Valor Flight to New Orleans. A one-of-a-kind experience, Soaring Valor includes a tour of the National WWII Museum, entertainment as well as meals while capturing first-person accounts of the war. USO O'Hare volunteers helped send the heroes off with thunderous applause and manned hospitality tables at the gates.
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USO Midway Welcomes 4
th Generation Naval Graduate
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USO Midway welcomed Naval Station Great Lakes boot camp graduate, Garrett, along with his father Michael; Michael's wife, Debra; and his grandfather, William. Both Michael and William served in the United States Navy and Seaman Garrett will be the fourth generation to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Michael and William regaled USO staff and volunteers with stories of their time in combat, including during the Korean and the Vietnam Wars. USO Midway salutes the Garrett Family and was honored to host them at the USO Midway.
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USO Diaper Division and USO Discovery Kids
at The Ball Factory
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 On Sunday, June 10, two hundred military family members packed The Ball Factory in Mount Prospect for a private USO Diaper Division and USO Discovery Kids event full of fun! Families explored a 4-level play structure, built robots and forts in the Imagination Playground, ruled the Ball Blaster Arena, raced down the giant slides and more! USO Military Family Programs build bonds and provide cultural, recreational and educational activities for the currently serving military community.
Thank you to the Chicago Blackhawks for their continued support of USO Military Youth Programs.
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Military Unit Summer Family Days
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This year, USO of Illinois supported 23 military unit summer parties with in-kind donations, including Gatorade, Propel, Girl Scout Cookies, Disney DVDs, Chicago sports merchandise, and Shure headphones. Unit parties also utilized USO Stateside Care Packages, which are footlockers filled with fun, family-themed recreational items and a choice of a silly bounce house or water toys!
Thank you to Wintrust for powering our USO Military Unit Family Day Programs.
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Naval Chief Petty Officer Selects Complete U-505 Program
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USO of Illinois U-505 Naval History Program commenced its seventh year on August 14th with 37 Navy Chief Petty Officer Selects from Naval Station Great Lakes conducting research and docent training about the only captured German U-Boat, the U-505. In cooperation with the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, (MSI) and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, the U-505 program placed Navy Chief Petty Officer selectees as volunteer museum docents at MSI's famed U-505 Submarine exhibit as part of their Chief Petty Officer advancement training. 
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USO BBQ for the Troops Raises $182,000
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 On July 14, over 100 local, new car dealers fired up their grills and hosted individual community fundraising events for USO of Illinois, collectively raising $182,000. Participating dealers gathered at USO of Illinois' Clark After Dark to formally present the check.
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Local new-car dealers continue to up the ante each year at the USO BBQ for the Troops program," said CATA Chairman Tony Guido. "While I am awed by its growing success, the fact that the USO Barbecue for the Troops program continues to gain momentum each year doesn't surprise me. As a dealer myself, I know firsthand the impact dealers have within their communities; they rally others like not many can. While it's true dealers compete for business, they put that rivalry aside and band together to achieve a common goal, which is to support the USO of Illinois and local military."
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USO of Illinois' 10th annual Clark After Dark block party on August 16th was indeed the last "Hoo-ah!" of the 2018 summer! The event raised $197,500 thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and attendees. Thank you to our sponsors Constellation Brands, Leopardo Construction, Dover Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the Boeing Company, First Trust Portfolios, BBMC Mortgage, FE Moran, MB Financial, Sucker Punch Gourmet, Avison Young and Bub City and all of our other great supporters!
The 2nd Battalion 24th Marines attended and brought a custom, Marine Corps Humvee and a U.S. Marine Corps HMMWV. The Marines provided patrons a special glimpse inside and aboard a military vehicle allowing people to go into the emptied-out gunner section of the vehicle. Guests rocked out to three of Chicago's favorite cover bands, the LowDown Brass Band, Liquidated Damages and Sixteen Candles.
Chicago's River North district hotspots, Chicago Cut and Bub City generously catered the VIP tents. Once again, this year, Clark After Dark was sponsored in part by Boss Bar, a staple in the neighborhood since the 1980's, who provided a deluxe, indoor VIP experience to show their support for local military and the mission of the USO.
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