Bass Pro Shops Launches Campaign to Raise Funds for the USO

For immediate release: May 1, 2006

WASHINGTON - Bass Pro Shops-America's most popular outdoor store-is proud to announce "Reelin' It in for the Troops," a summer promotional campaign to support the USO. Through this promotion, customers can purchase donation cards, valued at $1.00, $3.00 and $5.00, at any Bass Pro Shops retail location and write a personal message of support to a service member. Customers also can make a donation when calling 1-800 BASSPRO to place an order or when ordering online at www.basspro.com. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will support USO programs for military personnel and their families around the world, with $100,000 earmarked for the Operation USO Care Package program. Messages of support will be included in the care packages

Since 2003, Bass Pro Shops has raised more than $525,000 to support Operation USO Care Package. Initiated in 2001, this program provides men and women in uniform with a "touch of home" to help boost the morale of deployed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and other overseas locations as well as convey gratitude for their service and sacrifice. Care packages contain an assortment of items requested by service men and women, such as prepaid international calling cards, disposable cameras, toiletries and entertainment items.

"Bass Pro Shops continuing support has helped the USO to make a difference in the lives of our men and women in uniform. We are grateful for their contribution and are extremely excited about the new Bass Pro Shops summer campaign," said USO president and CEO Edward A. Powell.

"All of us at Bass Pro Shops are proud to be an official partner of the USO in such a meaningful program and patriotic endeavor as ' Reelin It In for the Troops' and Operation USO Care Package," said Bass Pro Shops president Jim Hagale. "We are looking forward to a very successful summer promotion that will allow us, in some small way, to continue offering a sense of comfort and home to our brave heroes."

A strong supporter of military personnel, Bass Pro Shops hosts various events throughout the year to support the "Reelin' It in for the Troops" program. The company also offers military personnel a 15 percent discount on select merchandise during designated days throughout the year.

About Bass Pro Shop
Unequaled in their award-winning concept and design, Bass Pro Shops current 33 destination retail stores attract some 78 million people annually. Bass Pro Shops, also a major Internet and catalog retailer, is headquartered in Springfield, Mo. For more information, log on to www.basspro.com.

About USO
For more than 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by World Partners AT&T, Inc., BAE SYSTEMS, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S&K Sales Company and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at www.uso.org.

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