USO Florida

Congratulations to Air Force Gaming team for taking home the USO Commander's Cup two years in a row. It is an honor to host the Commanders Cup at our USO Gaming Center at Eglin Air Force Base!

We were delighted to join our teammates and partners Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USAA in celebrating our local military service members and their families as part of Military Day presented by USAA at 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp this past Wednesday, August 7th, 2024. Special thanks to military veterans Pete Hidalgo, our newest USO Florida Advisory Council Member, and Cappy Surette the Senior Manager of Corporate Communications with Disney, for joining us in celebrating our local military community in Tampa during this event. Together, we are strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families through our shared love of NFL Football and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. GO BUCS!

As summer draws to a close, families across the nation are preparing for the back-to-school season. For our military families, this transition can be especially challenging due to frequent moves and deployments that come with military life. Recognizing these challenges, our local USO Florida Center staff and volunteers at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Tampa have stepped in to provide invaluable support to military children through programs, events and school supply distributions. Thank you to Freedom Mortgage for supporting our USO Center in Jacksonville Florida again this year, helping collect and distribute 1,000 bookbags filled with school supplies to our local military families. Read more by following the story link: https://lnkd.in/e386up7n Aaron Bowman, Laura Hersperger

Thank you and congratulations to PCS Pools for being recognized as one of the USO's extraordinary military supporters of 2024! As a Veteran owned business, PCS Pools is committed to strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families across the globe, and in their own back yard in Tampa, Fla. PCS Pools offers special pricing for military veterans, law enforcement, first responders, and educators. To learn more about PCS Pools and how they give back to the local community and other notable charities, please visit www.pcs-pools.com today.   

We are excited to announce the recent appointment of Pete Hidalgo, Global Advisory Services Leader for MagicOrange as USO Florida’s newest Advisory Council Member! Pete is also a successful entrepreneur via his role as Founder and President of PHJ Management, Inc., where he invests in local companies and assists them in scaling their businesses and improving their operations. As a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Pete proudly served in the U.S. Army as an Air Defense Artillery Officer, and he is no stranger to the many challenges our military service members and their families face. “As a West Point graduate and successful businessperson, I want to give back to those who serve and protect our country,” said Pete. Pete’s decades of leadership and expertise in public communications, information technology and financial services will help to bring greater awareness of the USO’s programs and services throughout Florida and the local Tampa area, while supporting the 300K+ service members and their families who call Florida home. Also, in his new role as an advisory council member, Pete will actively seek development and fundraising opportunities to support the USO’s mission of strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.

We are excited to announce the recent appointment of Jon Fay, Director of Surplus Solutions with Airline MRO Parts (AMP), as USO Florida's newest Advisory Council Member. Jon brings significant expertise to our council with his Naval Aviation, Capitol Hill, Blue Angels Executive Officer, and now corporate accomplished background. Our USO Florida Advisory Council guides the mission and vision of USO support of 33 Department of Defense installations in Florida and Alabama, and eight USO centers throughout the state of Florida. Thank you, Jon, for your service to our country and your continued service to the men, women, and family members of our Armed Services.

We were excited to join Wawa, Inc. for their annual Hoagie Day tradition at Naval Air Station Jacksonville earlier today! Over 1,000 stores chainwide honored our everyday heroes, celebrating Hoagie Day® by building and donating more than 30,000 hoagies to local first responders and military service members in our local communities. Thank you Wawa, Inc., for supporting the USO’s mission in strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families.

Thank you to Lockheed Martin and Hilton Grand Vacations for supporting our USO mission delivery during this year's 2024 DoD Warrior Games, being held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla., June 21 - 30. The USO is dedicated to serving our nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members, helping to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families, and we are honored to be part of the Warrior Games again this year.

Thank you WWE Superstars Montez Ford, Chelsea Green and Angelo Dawkins for visiting our Sailors aboard Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla., this past week in partnership with USO to celebrate Military Appreciation Month! https://lnkd.in/eUAXb23F

Thank you again to our sponsors Lowe's Companies, Inc., Kroger, Wawa, Inc., and Coca-Cola Beverages Florida for supporting our local USO Central Florida team to include our USO+Kroger Mobile Canteen teammates in direct support of Fleet Week Miami, as they provided refreshments, snacks, and activities in a cool/air conditioned space for all the Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen attending Fleet Week Miami this year. It is because of great partners like you, the USO is able to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America's military and their families, no matter where their service takes them. #FleetWeekMiami, #ForThePeopleWhoServe