Aug 9, 2010: San Jose, CA — HOsted by Neto’s Grill and Market in Santa Clara, CA on Saturday, September 11th from 10:30am to 6:00pm, Operation: Care and Comfort will host TroopFest 2010, a classic rock benefit music festival, BBQ and raffle to raise funds to send care packages to U.S. Troops abroad. Funds raised will also support military families in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In partnership with the City of Santa Clara and Navy volunteers from NOSC San Jose, a one mile commemorative “Freedom Walk” will start the event at 10:30am at Neto’s, ending in a ceremony by the Mayor’s Office and Santa Clara Police and Fire Departments. After, attendees may write letters and help OCC volunteers and soldiers from the 7th Psychological Operations Group of Moffet Field assemble care packages for deployed troops, while enjoying the benefit concert with six hours of classic rock music and entertainment featuring guest emcee Greg Kihn. Music by Midlife Vices, Crimes of Passion, The Cocktail Monkeys, The T CLemente Band and others will rock downtown Santa Clara. Guest performances will include comedienne Tina Allen. Sponsors include 98.5 KFOX, The San Francisco 49’ers, The San Jose Earthquakes, Santa Clara and San Jose Police Officers’ Associations, Santa Clara COunty Sheriff Deputy’s Association, the VEterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and Piperite Systems. All sponsorships will allow OCC to distribute complimentary tickets to military families, and all military branches are expected to participate in the day’s events. Hundreds of sports tickets from the San Francisco 49’ers, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics and San Jose Earthquakes will be given to military families who attend.

Old Navy customers who participate by donating items such as flip flops will receive a 10% discount off their entire purchase in-store that day. In addition, Old Navy will be offering a “Buy One, Send One” special on Old Navy’s famous Flag Tees. For every purchase of an Old Navy Flag Tee purchased in-store between July 1 and July 5, Old Navy will send one to troops overseas, up to 500,000.

“We decided to bring the event back to the South Bay, where it first started in 2005” said Julie DeMaria, co-founder of Operation: Care and Comfort. “Local military members are excited that we are holding this family friendly event to support troops and their families on such a significant day in our country’s history. Although the public will have a fantastic time, our goal is to offer military families and veterans a special day, with complimentary sports tickets and other items given to them as a thank you for their service” added DeMaria.

“The events of September 11, 2001 led to the tragic deaths of many public safety officers. It is fitting that we show our support today for the men and women in the military who fight to preserve our freedom just as those public safety officers did” stated Steve Lodge, Chief of Police for the City of Santa Clara.

Although the events are free, a $10 ticket to TroopFest 2010 supports the cause, and gives you a Neto’s BBQ lunch and a raffle entry. Winners need not be present to win. Tickets may be purchased at Neto’s located at 1313 Monroe Street, Santa Clara, through local American Legion posts, or by logging on to the official TroopFest 2010 web site at www.troopfest.org. Updated information will be posted, so check back often.

For more information on how you may participate in this event, call Julie DeMaria of Operation: Care and Comfort at (408) 373-8635 or via email at troopsupport@comcast.net.

About Operation: Care and Comfort: Since April 2003, the all-volunteer Operation: Care and Comfort program has shipped over 600,000 pounds of monthly care packages for distribution to Marine, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel deployed in conflict regions. OCC also supports military families through their “Tickets for Troops” and “Adopt A Military Family” campaigns. Operation: Care and Comfort is listed on the Department of Defense “America Supports You” web site and has received numerous national and local awards, including the DoD’s Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Citizen Humanitarian Award, and the National AMerican Red Cross’ Service to Armed Forces Award. For more information on how you can support this worthy organization and how you can help support our Troops, please visit www.operationcareandcomfort.org.

Press Contact:

Operation: Care & Comfort
Julie DeMaria
(408) 373-8635
troopsupport@comcast.net