Operation Gratitude

MISSION: Our mission is to honor the service of our military and first responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude. VISION: We envision a future where all who serve believe the American people care. VALUES: We believe in honoring the Service of our military and first responders and embracing the spirit of Volunteerism. PRINCIPLES: We will provide opportunities to express gratitude, ensure attention-to-detail in everything we do, work to earn and uphold trust, and share stories to inspire acts of gratitude. After 9-11, founder Carolyn Blashek began volunteering at the Los Angeles airport military lounge. In March 2003, a soldier came into the office and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother’s funeral, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant—he had no one else in his life. It was then he told her, “I’m going back over there. I know I won’t make it back this time, but it really doesn’t matter because no one would even care.” Right then, Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, troops must believe that someone at home cares about them as an individual.