USO Background: The USO’s mission is to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. For over 75 years, the USO has been the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform.
Today the USO provides programs, entertainment and services at more than 180 locations worldwide, which handle more than 7 million visits annually from troops and military family members. Learn more about our scope and reach here: http://www.uso.org/annual-report.
USO Gulf Coast Snapshot: USO Gulf Coast provides a touch of home to nearly 80,000 and military families annually who pass through the USO Centers at Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport, Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport (NCBC). We also provide morale-boosting and family-strengthening programs, services, and support to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and their families who are based in the state of MS and the Gulf Region of Louisiana and Alabama. The USO is here for those who need us the most: our service members and military families, our wounded, ill and injured troops, and our families of the fallen. More than 250 volunteers and an Advisory Council help two full-time staff members deliver goodness to our service members and their families year-round.
USO Gulf Coast Locations:
• USO Center: Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport, Sun-Sat, 8am-6pm
• USO Center: Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport (NCBC), Sun-Sat, 11 am-10pm
• Administrative Office: Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport, Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm
2017 Quick Facts:
• USO Gulf Coast served over 78,000 service members and their families in 2017.
• Over 1,400 service members and their families benefited from fitness & physical activity programs designed to enrich their lives physically and emotionally.
• Families of the Fallen received discreet and compassionate escorts and over 100 wounded, ill, or injured troops were assisted through USO Gulf Coast programs and services catered towards those with special needs.
• Over 1,500 service members benefited from our food and meal centric programs.
• Entertainment, outreach, and mobile services provided to over 53,000 service members and their families.
• USO Gulf Coast center support, communication and connectivity provided to over 25,000.
• 250 USO Volunteers made the USO’s support possible, by contributing a grand total of 8,848.31 service hours.
Major Donors: USO Gulf Coast services are made possible by individual and corporate donors to include Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport, IP Casino Resort and Spa, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Northrop Grumman, Kroger, Shipcom Wireless, Keesler Federal Credit Union, AT&T and Coke.
Advisory Council: A group of volunteer advisors help sustain USO Gulf Coast’s local operations by spreading awareness of our programs as well as generating donor support. Advisors are nominated by the Center Director and approved by the USO Board of Governors. See our current Advisory Council and learn more here: http://us.uso.org/GulfCoast/Advisory-Council.
Financials: The USO is a 501(c)3 organization and is highly rated for fiscal transparency by Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau, and GuideStar. USO Gulf Coast is an organic part of the USO, with a local operating budget of approximately $215,602(per year). The USO’s most recent financial statements are available publicly at www.uso.org and our tax ID number is 13-1610451.
Staff: Felice Kelly Gillum, Senior Director
fgillum@uso.org
228-363-4449
Nicole Lewis, Senior Programs Manager
nlewis@uso.org
228-363-0664
