ARLINGTON, Va., June 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, one hundred military moms-to-be were celebrated at the USO's "Special Delivery" baby shower in New Jersey. The one-of-a-kind celebration is designed to keep military families connected to home and to build strong community bonds. Hosted by Liberty USO, the celebration included games, food, giveaways, as well as a Q &A session, book signing and photo opportunity with Murkoff.
"Having a baby is an exciting time, and it is important to share that excitement with loved ones," said Liberty USO Director of Operations Jo Anne Schultze. "Many women at this baby shower have and extra challenge in connecting with loved ones during this time because they are far from their family and friends. For the USO, this is a special day because we are able to give expectant military spouses and service women a traditional baby shower, which many of them have not yet experienced."
Whether it's due to deployments or relocations, military families miss countless milestone moments with their loved ones. The USO "Special Delivery" program brings the time-honored tradition of celebrating a new family addition with a baby shower to military families around the world.
In a room filled with laughter and decorated with storks, balloons and baby bottles, military moms found a place to connect, share their pregnancy concerns and excitements as well as build new bonds. In between baby shower fun and games, the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" author encouraged the moms to be a support system for each other and to share and learn from each other's experiences.
"For military moms-to-be, far away from their immediate family and friends, these baby showers are more than gift bags and cake," said Murkoff. "They are about connecting and sharing a common bond and creating friendships with women experiencing the same mix of emotions during one of the most important milestones of their life. Many of these beautiful mamas will be without their families during the holidays...and I'm so happy to spend time, lend support and my favorite part... give hugs!"
Since launching in 2013, "Special Delivery" has supported more than 1,100 military spouses and active-duty mothers. In 2015, the USO and What to Expect Foundation will host a dozen showers across the U.S. as well as overseas in the Pacific and Europe. The What to Expect Foundation has one mission: to educate and empower moms in need so they can expect healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries and healthier, happier babies. Co-founders Heidi and Erik Murkoff have taken that mission one step further – partnering with the USO to create the "Special Delivery" program and supporting the needs of military moms.
Click here to view photos from the event. For more information about the USO and to find out how you can show your support, visit us online at www.uso.org.
About the USO
The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transitionand families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services 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: American Airlines, AT &T, BNSF Railway, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, Grand Canyon University, JCPenney, Jeep, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, Northrop Grumman Corporation and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: BAE Systems, BIC, The Boeing Company, ConAgra Foods, FedEx, Harris Teeter, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Procter & Gamble, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG and Wawa Inc. 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 What to Expect Foundation
The What To Expect books, that all began with the iconic What To Expect When You're Expecting have sold more than 45 million copies and are published in over 30 languages.Established in 1997, the What To Expect Foundation is dedicated to helping underserved families and empowering moms in need so that they can expect healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries and healthier, happier babies.
In 2005 the What To Expect brand expanded online with Whattoexpect.com - the interactive companion to the What To Expect books and home to a vibrant, vast yet close-knit community of over 11 million parents.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34072
