HBO Rallies Brands for Troop Care Packages
Jul 22 2008
HBO is spearheading a Troop Drive this summer to deliver care packages to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Military families, friends and consumers are encouraged to show their support to the troops, free of charge, by visiting a product gallery at www.genkilltroopdrive.com and selecting items from participating brands to add to the care packages. HBO and its brand partners will cover the cost of the contributions, giving consumers an easy way to show their support by sending items in their name.
The troop drive is scheduled to coincide with the July 13, 2008 premiere of the HBO Films’ original miniseries, Generation Kill. The seven-part series airs on Sundays, at 9PM through Aug. 24.
Following Generation Kill screenings for veterans and active duty soldiers who were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, HBO compiled an authentic list of goods that soldiers request while overseas –an authentic Marine “Wish List.” Some items are familiar from as far back as WWII, such as socks and razor blades. Others show a new generation at war: DVDs, CDs, video games, and calling cards. Based on this “Wish List,” HBO is collaborating with corporate partners that will donate items for care packages. The network will supply DVDs and CDs for the care packages.
Brand partners for the troop drive are AT&T, BAND-AID, BENGAY, Blender Magazine, Degree MEN, Duracell, HBO Video, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Johnson & Johnson, Lever 2000-Vaseline, Lipton Tea, Maxim Magazine, NEOSPORIN, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., PURELL, Random House Inc., Sports Illustrated, Subpop and Vaseline.
*A note about privacy- HBO asks for your name and email when donating an item to the troops. The email is to ensure that only one item is donated per person/email.
A name is requested because you also have the ability to generate an email forward to your friends, asking them to join the campaign, too. The email will include a line like: “MOAA Webmaster thought you might be interested in this opportunity.”
We have been assured by HBO that names and emails are not being collected for marketing purposes by the companies with which HBO has partnered.
