USO News

Kangaroo Express Celebrates Success of Salute Our Troops

Friday, September 16, 2011

Kangaroo Express reached a major milestone in USO history by giving one of the largest donations from a single fundraising campaign. Salute Our Troops, Kangaroo Express' grassroots campaign to raise money for the USO and other military support organizations, raised $2.5 million during the 100 days of summer spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day of which $1.35 million was given to the USO.

To recognize the success of the campaign, Kangaroo Express held a Salute Our Troops Grand Finale Celebration to present the $2.5 million check to the USO and other military support organizations at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina on Thursday, September 15.

A major driving force of the campaign’s success was the Kangaroo Express employees who encouraged their local customers to support the troops. The brand’s 1,650 stores had canisters next to each register to collect pocket change. Thanks to the encouragement of the cashiers to get customers to support the troops, the money from the canisters alone counted for more than 90 percent of the total donations.

"For us it’s personal,” said Kangaroo Express Vice President of Marketing Dave Henninger. “Thirty percent of our associates have family members actively serving in the Armed Forces. Another 10 percent are veterans. And if you look at where our stores are, over half our stores are within a 20 mile radius of a military base.”

The USO Jeep Tour also rallied support for the troops. Stopping by various Kangaroo Express locations in the Southeast region of the U.S., the Jeep crew traveled to more than 130 communities and more than 13,500 miles to recognize local military heroes and engage customers, family members and the local community involved to honor our troops.

Originally, Kangaroo Express aimed to raise $1 million for the Salute Our Troops campaign, but due to the widespread support of the troops, the goal was more than doubled to $2.5 million. The overwhelming generosity and the dedication of the Kangaroo Express employees have helped troops and their families know that there are many supporters standing behind them.