Upper Deck Goes All Out to Show Support For the Troops This Veteran’s Day!

Upper Deck donated over 8,000 packs to Operation Gratitude and handed out hundreds more packs as company staff marched in the San Diego Veteran’s Day Parade.

Carlsbad, CA (November 12, 2012) – For a number of years Upper Deck has been donating trading cards packs to Operation Gratitude; a non-profit organization that sends 100,000-plus “care packages” annually to U.S. service members deployed in hostile regions across the world. Today Upper Deck is pleased to share the company created a special Goodwin Champions pack that consists of two base cards and one “Military Machines” insert card to be used with the troops. Upper Deck donated 8,000 of these packs to Operation Gratitude to be included in future care packages to those serving our country.

Additionally, Upper Deck staff personally handed out hundreds of additional packs to the thousands in attendance today at the San Diego Veteran’s Day Parade. Everyone in attendance swarmed around staff to get a pack or Upper Deck branded whistles the company was also giving away. Upper Deck team members left a trail of smiles (and whistles) as they moved through the parade route.

“You will not find another trading card company that is as dedicated to giving back to the troops and their families than Upper Deck,” said Chris Carlin, Upper Deck’s sports marketing manager. “We hope packs included in Operation Gratitude’s packages help provide a piece of home and welcome distraction for the brave U.S. military men and women serving overseas. Additionally it was great to be able to march in the Veteran’s Day parade today and hand out packs while personally thanking veterans for their service.”

“Trading cards are a reminder of home for those serving America abroad,” said Carolyn Blashek, president and founder of Operation Gratitude. “It is refreshing to see a company like Upper Deck create something special for member of our military. Delivering these ‘Military Machines’ cards along with traditional sports cards will certainly be a welcome surprise to those who open care packages from Operation Gratitude in the coming months.”

And Upper Deck is not stopping there. Tomorrow night company staff with be attending a special USO dinner with several hundred members of the military and their families. There Upper Deck will be sharing more of these packs, but also giving away some other unique collectibles as a way of saying thank you to the troops.

Collectors who are in the military are beginning to realize that Upper Deck is definitely the trading card company that is most interested in supporting the troops both at home and abroad.

About Upper Deck

Upper Deck is the leading sports and entertainment trading card and collectibles company. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com.

About Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude (www.OperationGratitude.com) annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm's way, to their children left behind, and to Veterans, Emergency First Responders and Wounded Warriors. The organization's mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Military and their families the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at $75-100 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 865,000 packages to American Military members and their children.