Operation Just Cause... ...for as long as it takes
Actress to Headline "Operation Starlift," Visit Troops in the Balkans
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
Washington, D.C. (November 9, 1999) General Carl E. Mundy, President and CEO of the USO, announced today that actress Salma Hayek will be spending the Thanksgiving holidays visiting with America’s peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, Macedonia, and Bosnia, as part of the USO’s Operation Starlift, hosted by Hollywood’s Ceremonial Mayor, Johnny Grant. The volunteer tour, which will run November 22-27, will be underwritten by Armed Forces Entertainment, as well as USO World Partners AT&T, USAA, Nicorette/NicoDerm CQ, and Yahoo!.
"Salma is responding to invitations from our GIs, issued during my recent survey tour of the Balkans. She is very popular with them and will turn a lonely holiday into a festive occasion," said Grant. "She is also the perfect lady to help revive the USO’s celebrity handshake program benefiting our troops stationed around the world," he further stated.
Hayek currently co-stars in the Miramax feature "Dogma" opposite Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Rock, and Linda Fiorentino. Her upcoming films include the Warner Bros. feature "Chain of Fools," starring opposite Jeff Goldblum and Steve Zahn and "Time Code 2000" directed by Mike Figgis. Her other feature film credits include "Wild Wild West," "Fools Rush In," and "Desperado."
Other volunteer celebrity handshakers making the tour include Garrett Morris, starring on "The Jamie Foxx Show," Danica McKellar, who grew up with the troops as Winnie on "The Wonder Years," and, at the urging of the female GIs, a young actor will be added to the cast. Grant says the women soldiers told him, "if you’re going to bring these glamorous actresses for the men, you’d better bring a handsome Hollywood hunk for us."
Johnny Grant is the USO’s Ambassador of Goodwill, and is making his 52nd USO overseas trip. For more than 58 years, the USO has provided programs bringing "a touch of home" to our service men and women abroad. The USO is a Congressionally chartered, nonprofit organization, receiving no direct government funding. The USO is supported by World Partners AT&T, USAA, Nicorette/NicoDerm CQ, and Yahoo!, corporate donors such as Northwest Airlines, Coca-Cola, and Anheuser-Busch, the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), as well as contributions from individuals. For more information on contributing to the USO, please call 1-800-876-7469 or visit the USO Website
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