NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mediaplanet Publishing produced a full color, 24-page advocacy campaign entitled 'Thanking Our Troops' which ran within the newspaper USA TODAY Weekend Edition on Veterans Day Weekend. The glossy, full-color special section spread awareness about military and veteran life while creating a call to action for people to get more involved in community service programs for veterans and military families. USA TODAY distributed approximately 500,000 copies of the campaign in selected markets with the highest population of military families and veterans.

The campaign was distributed in the New York, Washington D.C./Baltimore, San Antonio/Houston, and San Diego/Los Angeles markets within USA TODAY. Additionally, it was distributed at the New York City Veterans Day Parade in partnership with the United War Veterans Council, at Hiring Our Heroes job fairs throughout 2012 and 2013 in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Bands of Brothers live series finale at World Live Cafe in Philadelphia on Veterans Day in partnership with Give an Hour, as well as other military and veteran conferences throughout 2012 and 2013.

The campaign featured sections such as 'Deployed to Employed,' 'Educating our Service Members,' and 'Military Families,' which highlighted the key issues veterans are faced with when they return home. The special section also included an original Q&A with actor and veteran-rights advocate Tom Hanks. According to Hanks, "There is a veteran organization just a short drive or a phone call away." The section also included job searching tips for unemployed veterans and highlighted some of the programs organizations have produced for military, their families and veterans.

Among other feature stories, 'Building a Support Structure' told the story of influential business woman Barbara Van Dahlen, founder of Give an Hour, a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving service men and women adequate mental health counseling.

If you or your organization puts forth efforts to support our troops and veterans and you wish to be involved in next year's campaign, please contact us.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Head Publisher/Project Manager
Shannon Pandaliano
646-755-7962
Shannon.pandaliano@mediaplanet.com       

SOURCE Mediaplanet Publishing