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USO Northwest celebrates 50 years in a big way

Organization to celebrate today at Sea-Tac

The new and improved USO Northwest, housed at Sea-Tac, will kick off their 50th Anniversary today, celebrating the donors that made the updated facility possible. Photo courtesy of USO Northwest

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The USO Northwest hits a historic milestone, celebrating 50 years in our community and is planning to kick off this historic event in a big way with a celebration today at 1 p.m. at the USO Sea-Tac Center.

This event will recognize the contributors of the $1.6 million Enduring Support Campaign that, according to Kevin Iriarte, USO Northwest's Communications Manager, is said to be the most ambitious fundraising endeavor in the USO-NW's 50-year history.

"We will have guest speakers commemorating our fifty-year anniversary and have the unveiling of the donor plaque which honors the numerous donors that made the building of the new Sea-Tac Center that opened in February 2015 possible," said Donald Leingang, the USO Northwest Executive Director.

Since opening the new USO Sea-Tac in February 2015, the size has increased dramatically, from 3,408 square feet to 7,592 square feet, allowing for a 180-person max capacity, up from the 67-person capacity before.

In the theater, where there was once room for only four couches, now holds 40 custom made couches and recliners, courtesy of La-Z-Boy of Seattle. Guests can rest in the sleeping quarters or lounge in the family room, which is two and a half times larger with nine televisions. With four showers, those coming and going can clean up without having to worry about toiletries. Families can take advantage of the toys in the play room, with the cribs and free diapers and the children can find quiet time in the United through Reading Room, with books galore.

One of the newer features of the center includes 1,500 square feet of flooring from the original teakwood decking of the World War II Battleship, USS Colorado (BB-45).

"Our growth in the last seven-and-a-half years has been tremendous.  Not only have we increased the number of military and their family members we assist - 150,000 in 2008 to over 600,000 in 2015 - but we also remodeled our JBLM Center in 2012, opened a first-ever USO Center at Portland International Airport, and have two Mobile Canteens which we drive throughout Oregon and Washington in support of our military," said Leingang.

As far as plans for the future, "we are currently working with leadership on JBLM and America's Credit Union to open a new center near Waller Hall.  Subject to approval, we would love to open that center this summer," Leingang said.

To find out more about the USO Northwest, visit www.usonw.org or call 206.246.1908. You can also follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usonw.

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