Enterprise in Your Community
Car Sales team helps USO welcome soldiers traveling over holidays
By Rhonda Sciarra : Senior Writer, Employee Communications
Members of the Corporate Car Sales team helped the James S. McDonnell USO welcome more than 4,500 military personnel from Fort Leonard Wood as they passed through Lambert St. Louis International Airport on their way home for the holidays.
Car Sales Senior Vice President Tim Walsh, Assistant Vice President Chris Kossmeyer, Corporate Referral Manager John Wilmesher and Business Development Manager Marianne Chanda volunteered at Exodus, the annual event when military installations release their personnel for the holidays Dec. 21.
"Being a part of Exodus was a great experience. My job was to serve cookies and candy, and it was great to see how appreciative the soldiers were for a bite to eat," says Marianne. "Volunteering was just one small way I could express my thanks to the men and women who serve in our military."
The USO is a non-profit organization that doesn't receive any government support. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life of those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families across the world, and to build relationships between local and military communities.
"Serving those who serve sums up what the USO is all about," says Tim, who is on the USO's board of directors. "It's providing a hot meal, a place to rest and a smiling face – the small gestures that mean so much," he says. "Despite the sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces make regularly for us, they have such humility and appreciation for these small gestures."
Along with past donations from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, Enterprise actively supports other USO projects such as its annual golf tournament and its "Salute to Heroes" gala. Additionally, Car Sales works alongside Navy Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union to serve the car-buying needs of military families.
"Partnering with the USO is a natural fit for Enterprise given our Founder Jack Taylor's military heritage and our appreciation of all the sacrifices of those who serve in the Armed Forces," says Tim.
Visit the James S. McDonnell USO Web site for more information.
