USO South Texas receives donation to renovate its NASCC facility

The USO of South Texas received a donation of $283,000 from a local non-profit organization during a check presentation event on board NAS Corpus Christi (NASCC), May 8.

The donation was provided through a grant by the Charity League of Corpus Christi, a non-profit organization comprised of 40 women who raise funds for charitable projects in the Corpus Christi area.

Each year the Charity League chooses a different charity and its members spend months raising funds and awareness for the selected charity.

According to the organization’s website, 100 percent of every dollar raised is donated to the chosen organization. Since 1983, Charity League has raised over 4.9 million dollars for organizations in the local community.

“This is the first time USO South Texas has been chosen to receive the Charity League Grant,” said USO South Texas Executive Director Sarah Banta.

“USO South Texas cannot exist without donations. We are a local (nonprofit) organization that is completely self-funded and we do not receive money from corporate USO or any government agencies. All of the free services and programs we offer our military members and their families are funded through grants and generous donations from business and community leaders.”

The donated money will be used to renovate and refurbish portions of the USO facility on NASCC later this year in an effort to expand the services offered to local military members and their families.

USO South Texas is the world’s second oldest USO, chartered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 4, 1941, and is the only chartered USO center in Texas.

“100 percent of the funds will be used to renovate the second story of our building. Currently the space is not usable,” said Banta.

“However, with the grant we will be able to provide a movie theater, meeting room, a gaming area, a small concession stand, new bathrooms, a laundry area, two nursing mothers rooms, two kids play areas, and a large library/study room.”

USO South Texas has been serving the military community in the Coastal Bend for more than 75 years and every dollar it receives benefits the service members at NASCC and NAS Kingsville as well as local Coast Guard and National Guard units in an effort to maintain its mission of strengthening America’s military by keeping them connected to family, home and country throughout their service to the nation.

“It is my goal to continue to grow USO South Texas and be able to offer our military members and their families an outstanding home away from home,” Banta said. “I am grateful to the donors that will make this possible and to the staff and volunteers who are truly dedicated to the mission.”

For more information on USO South Texas, visit www.usosouthtexas.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usosouthtx.

For more information about the Charity League of Corpus Christi, visit www.charityleagueofcorpuschristi.com.