Operation Warm Wraps Millionth Child in New Winter Coat

CHADDS FORD, PA--(Marketwire - Mar 13, 2012) - Operation Warm reached a major milestone Feb. 27, by giving its millionth coat to a child in need. The nonprofit organization that was founded 13 years ago by Richard (Dick) Sanford is still the only national effort exclusively providing new winter coats to at-risk children in the United States.

"Dick is the one who propels everyone to excellence for this cause," says Carey Palmquist, executive director of Operation Warm. "With each obstacle he never gives up and always finds ways to provide more coats for the children we serve. His dedication is infectious."

The milestone moment was celebrated at The Salvation Army Kroc Center of Philadelphia where Sanford personally donned the millionth coat on a very excited, local 6-year-old girl.

Many of Operation Warm's distribution partners attended including Major Hester Dixon, director of operations at The Salvation Army; Margarita Mirkil, executive director of La Comunidad Hispana; and Adam Schall, planning and analysis director of Wawa. The partners make it possible for Operation Warm to identify families in the most critical need and effectively distribute the coats.

"A million is a big step but there's so much more we want to do," says Sanford. "Some of the goals for our next million involve bringing more of our coat manufacturing into the United States and using recycled materials whenever possible for production so we can have a social venture that is sustainable and impactful."

Operation Warm's fundraising goes into full swing during spring and summer in order to launch new coat distributions for the fall. The organization's Next Million campaign aims to raise approximately $3 million a year for the next five years in order to distribute a million more coats. Sanford says the coats not only provide warmth and wellbeing for the children but also serve to alleviate a major financial burden to struggling parents. To donate visit: www.operationwarm.org.