RYE, NEW YORK September 13, 2011 – HYDRIVE Energy LLC, marketer of better-for-you energy drinks, has partnered with Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization that sends care packages to deployed troops, wounded veterans, and military family members left behind. From now through December 31, 2012, HYDRIVE will donate one packet of their energy drink mix to the organization for each new fan that joins the HYDRIVE Facebook community. At the end of the campaign, the donated energy drink mix will become part of the care packages that Operation Gratitude sends out to US service members over the next several months. HYDRIVE has guaranteed a minimum of 10,000 packets will be donated.
“This is an effort to help energize our troops and we’re calling on our current fan base to pitch in” explains Brian O’Byrne, HYDRIVE’s Founder and CEO. “We’re happy to be helping a great organization and we hope that through this campaign more people will learn about the wonderful efforts of Operation Gratitude” says O’Byrne. Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members and their families.
“We are extremely excited to be part of this campaign and know that our troops will appreciate a product like HYDRIVE, especially those currently deployed who are in constant need of an energy boost throughout their day.” says Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude Founder & President.
About HYDRIVE ENERGY
HYDRIVE ENERGY LLC was founded in 2006 by beverage executives Mike Weinstein (former CEO Snapple Beverages) and Brian O’Byrne (former CEO Yoo-hoo/Orangina). The company is headquartered in Rye, N.Y., and is focused on bringing healthier energy drinks to market. HYDRIVE products are primarily distributed by Dr Pepper Snapple Group [NYSE:DPS] and Polar Beverages, both of whom have a minority interest in the brand. For more information, visit www.hydriveenergy.com.
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude, a 501(c)(3), non-profit, volunteer-based organization, annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm”s way, to their children left behind, to Veterans, to Military families and Veterans in financial distress due to unemployment, to Emergency First Responders and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in transition units. The organization”s mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member”s face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 800,000 packages to American Military members and their children.