SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Shoppers eager to find the perfect gifts on Black Friday are invited to take a moment to extend holiday greetings and thanks to U.S. military members and veterans by writing cards that will be delivered around the nation and abroad. Join the American Red Cross at the Legends at Sparks Marina on Friday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to participate in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
“It’s an honor for our community to help make the holidays special for American heroes,” said Caroline Punches, executive director of the Northern Nevada Chapter. “The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans and their families by providing emergency communications, comfort and assistance each day. The Holiday Mail for Heroes program continues the Red Cross tradition of service to the armed forces.”
Shoppers will be encouraged to sign holiday cards at the Red Cross table, located in the courtyard behind Scheels, or they can bring their own stamped, addressed cards. For those who wish to write their own cards, they are encouraged to address the card to “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran” to make them meaningful to more recipients. Cards should be addressed to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. For reasons of processing and safety, participants are asked to refrain from sending “care packages” or monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards.
Now in its third year, Holiday Mail for Heroes is a joint effort of the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes. The cards will be screened for hazardous materials, sorted and delivered to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals and other locations during the holidays. Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge. The Red Cross will utilize hundreds of volunteers to sort and box cards for delivery to service men and women, veterans and family members in November and December.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Red Cross on the Holiday Mail for Heroes program,” said Lisa Bates CMD, marketing consultant at The Legends. “We are proud to provide an outlet for people to show their appreciation for the members of our military and we hope these letters and cards of encouragement brighten their holidays.”
Visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail for more details about the program and a full list of guidelines.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization—not a government agency—and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information on the Northern Nevada Chapter, call 775-856-1000 or visit its website at www.nevada.redcross.org.
The Legends at Sparks Marina
The high-end outlet center has completed phase one construction of the two-million-square-foot destination. The site is designed to feature a unique mix of entertainment venues, restaurants and retail offerings that will attract both locals and visitors alike. The retail center opened in summer 2009 and features 47 stores, 37 of which are new to the market.
Located at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Sparks Boulevard, The Legends is anticipated to bring more than 800,000 new tourists to the Reno-Sparks area and generate $600 million in taxable sales annually.
RED Development, LLC
Formed in 1995, RED Development, LLC, has co-headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., and Scottsdale, Ariz. RED develops, leases, manages and owns shopping centers throughout the nation. RED has more than 30 centers open, in development or under construction, totaling more than 19 million square feet. The company primarily focuses on open-air, lifestyle centers and destination retail and entertainment developments. To learn more, visit www.reddevelopment.com.
