5 EYEWITNESS NEWS & KSTC.TV raise money for military 1/12/06

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTC.TV, Channel 45 joined forces with the VFW for a third consecutive year to support Operation Uplink during the holiday season. 

The two stations generated over $163,000 total in their fundraising efforts over the past three years.

“We'd like to thank Hubbard Broadcasting for everything they've done over the past three years to support this initiative for us,” says Linda Ferguson, national VFW Operation Uplink Manager.

The stations hosted three days of in-studio news hotlines to raise money during December.  Checks were also accepted at the television stations throughout the month.

Operation Uplink, a program that distributes free 15-minute phone cards to military personnel overseas, is funded entirely by donations from the public and private sector.  Donations are collected by the national Veterans of Foreign Wars, who then purchases phone cards in bulk and distributes them.  All local donations go to military personnel from Minnesota and western Wisconsin. 

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTC.TV, Channel 45 were the exclusive media sponsors in the region, and partnered with the national Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Minnesota VFW on this community service campaign.  Operation Uplink was created in 1996 by the national VFW and is one of their ongoing programs.

For more information about Operation Uplink, visit www.operationuplink.org or call 800-479-5228.

For more information contact Heather Belair, 651.642.4374 or hbelair@kstp.com.