Ok, ok, I know that a big hunk of the Armed Forces are women. Maybe they will slip Governor Arnold in the calendar. The mission and purpose of the calendar seems to be pure. And I must say, the women of the 40’s are much more intriguing than the anorexic models of today.
LOS ANGELES— The Veterans’ favorite pin-up girl is back ! Pin-Ups for Vets, an award-winning non-profit, today announces the release of their 2011 calendar. Available for pre-order on pinupsforvets.com, the calendar features Pin-Ups for Vets creator, Gina Elise, posing in the style of a sultry 1940’s pin-up girl. Calendars can also be ordered on the website for hospitalized Veterans and deployed troops. The proceeds from the sales go to improve health care at VA and military hospitals. The deployed troops have flown 8 flags in honor of this project.
The Pin-Ups for Vets calendar is a volunteer effort started by Elise in 2006. Elise delivers the donated calendars across the U.S., visiting Veterans in VA and military hospitals, spreading cheer and nostalgia, and thanking our Nation’s heroes for their service to our country. Elise visits the hospitalized Veterans decked out as a 1940’s pin-up girl. Beyond visiting Veterans hospitalized in the States, Elise takes care to send hundreds of the Pin-Ups for Vets calendars to troops stationed overseas, complete with personal messages of gratitude. These calendar gifts have greatly served to boost morale.
“The Pin-Ups for Vets project gives me the opportunity to visit and brighten the day of our hospitalized Veterans who are often bedridden for months at a time with few or no visitors,” said Elise. “These hospital visits allow me to not only bring smiles to our service members of today, but to also pay homage to World War II veterans, like my Grandfather Lou, and to our Vets from all generations who served our country.”
Pin-Ups for Vets’ newest fund-raising effort is entering the “Pepsi Refresh Grant” contest. The contest, that rewards the programs with the most votes, runs until October 31st. Elise would use the $50,000 grand prize to travel to visit hospitalized Vets, at their bedsides—in all fifty states! She is working hard to get supporters to vote for the project.
To support Pin-Ups for Vets, in the “Pepsi Refresh Grant” contest, the public can vote once a day, each day on www.pepsirefresh.com/votepinupsforvets, or by texting 103020 to PEPSI (73774).
Gina Elise is currently searching for a corporate or private sponsor to fund her “Pin-Ups For Vets VA and Military Hospital Tour” across the U.S. “Many of our ill Veterans openly weep. The are overcome with emotion during these bedside visits that bring conversation, appreciation, donated calendar gifts, and a hug and a salute from a nostalgic pin-up girl !” says Elise. “My goal is to honor and thank as many of our Veterans as I can. I am hoping to find a tour sponsor so I can keep visiting and thanking our Vets. ”
For additional information on Pin-Ups for Vets and to learn how to buy a calendar for a hospitalized Veteran or deployed service member, please go to: www.pinupsforvets.com
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