Elmo to Return to Capitol Hill for USO Service Project On Eve of Sesame Street/USO Tour Kickoff at Minot Air Force Base

2016 Sesame Street/USO tour will visit more than 50 U.S. military bases and debut a brand new military-to-civilian show during its stateside tour starting May 18

ARLINGTON, VA., May 11, 2016 -- 
 
WHAT:    USO Service Project in celebration of the USO's 75th anniversary
 
WHO:       J.D. Crouch II, CEO and President, USO
                 Cynthia Barron, Vice President of U.S. Social Impact, Sesame Workshop
                 Elmo and Rosita, Sesame Street
                 Representatives from:
                                    • U.S. Senate
                                    • U.S. House of Representatives
                                    • USO Congressional Caucus

WHEN:    Tuesday, May 17, 2016
                10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE:   Rayburn House Office Building Foyer
                  Washington, D.C. 20515
                  Cross Streets: Independence Ave & 1st Street
 
Notes. (1) Media planning to cover must RSVP with USO PR consultant Karen Hart at (202) 492-6492. (2) Media attendees should enter through Independence Avenue entrance of the Rayburn building. (3) USO photos available following event.
 
WHY:       The USO will partner with long-time friend Sesame Street as well as members of Congress to assemble 1,500 USO Care Packs for deployed service members at its Service Project on Capitol Hill May 17. Elmo and Rosita, who kick off their six-month stateside tour May 18, will be onsite to celebrate the USO's 75th anniversary.

The event will commence at 10 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building foyer, and will include the announcement of the 10th installment of the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families. The free, traveling tour kicks off at Minot Air Force Base on May 18 and makes its stateside debut of a brand new show centered around military-to-civilian transition. This year marks the third time Sesame Street has participated in the USO Service Project.

February 4th marked the USO's 75th anniversary and the official kick off of a yearlong celebration around the world. The Sesame Street/USO tour's six-month long run throughout the U.S. is part of that celebration. For 75 years, the USO has served the men and women in the U.S. military and their families throughout their service; from the moment they join, through their deployments and as they transition back to their communities. The Sesame Street/USO tour is also a big part of that rich history and plays a major role in fulfilling the USO's mission of strengthening America's service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country throughout their service.

About the USO
The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: AT &T, the BNSF Railway Foundation, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, FedEx, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, NFL and Four-Star Partners: Advisors Excel, BIC, ConAgra Foods, GEICO, JCPenney, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, TKS and the Wawa Foundation. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.
 
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder since 1969. Today Sesame Workshop is a global educational force for change, with a mission to reach the world's most vulnerable children. We're in more than 150 countries, serving kids through a wide range of media and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, all grounded in rigorous research and individually tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. Sesame is a beloved household name in dozens of languages, and it means learning - and fun - in all of them. For more information, please visit sesameworkshop.org.

CONTACT: Karen Hart
         (202) 492-6492
         [email protected]