{"id":11376,"date":"2025-05-29T17:15:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T17:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=11376"},"modified":"2025-05-29T17:15:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T17:15:10","slug":"exchange-and-army-emergency-relief-roll-out-special-army-250th-birthday-donation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/29\/exchange-and-army-emergency-relief-roll-out-special-army-250th-birthday-donation\/","title":{"rendered":"Exchange and Army Emergency Relief Roll Out Special Army 250th Birthday Donation"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS<\/strong> \u2013 As the Nation celebrates the Army\u2019s 250th birthday, the Army community can make a big difference with a small symbolic gift<\/a> while shopping at the PX in June.<\/p>\n

In recognition of the oldest U.S. armed service branch\u2019s 250th birthday on June 14, authorized shoppers can make a $2.50 donation to Army Emergency Relief at Army & Air Force Exchange Service in-store registers, including self-checkout, throughout the month of June.<\/p>\n

Army Emergency Relief was founded in\u00a01942\u00a0by then-Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Army Chief of Staff Gen.\u00a0George Marshall and supports the well-being of Soldiers, retired Soldiers and Army Families by helping alleviate financial stress and promoting economic stability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough zero-interest loans, grants, and educational scholarships, AER assists Soldiers facing financial hardship,\u201d said retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston, AER CEO. \u201cAs the Army marks 250 years of bravery and service, AER is \u2018Honoring the Past \u2014 Securing the Future\u2019 and encouraging all Soldiers and Soldiers For Life to make a special $2.50 donation on their next visit to the PX.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2024, Exchange shoppers donated more than $2.7 million to AER, the Air Force Assistance Fund and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Since 2017, donations to all three have totaled nearly $11.8 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s modern Exchange benefit began as the Army Exchange Service,\u201d said Tom Shull, Exchange Director\/CEO. \u201cOur connection to the U.S. Army mission, and the heroes and families that serve in its ranks, goes back nearly 130 years. We are truly honored to do our part to offer this special donation option as the Army celebrates 250 years of sacrifices, achievements and the true spirit of American warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Exchange\u2019s support for military assistance funds, visit\u00a0https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/Community\/give<\/a>. To learn more about AER, go to\u00a0https:\/\/www.armyemergencyrelief.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>Celebrate the Army\u2019s 250th birthday while supporting Soldiers, retired Soldiers and their families with a $2.50 donation to @AERHQ throughout June at @shopmyexchange in-store checkout. Learn more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-2Xu<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 52nd<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, the Exchange benefit has provided $15 billion in value to the military community, including through contributions to critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a> or follow us on X at https:\/\/x.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Travis Day at 214-312-3534 or daytra@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 As the Nation celebrates the Army\u2019s 250th birthday, the Army community can make a big difference with a small symbolic gift while shopping at the PX in June. In recognition of the oldest U.S. armed service branch\u2019s 250th birthday on June 14, authorized shoppers can make a $2.50 donation to Army Emergency Relief […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":11378,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[160,174,130,73,507,107,35,528],"class_list":["post-11376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-army-birthday","tag-army-emergency-relief","tag-donations","tag-exchange","tag-military","tag-relief-fund"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/29\/exchange-and-army-emergency-relief-roll-out-special-army-250th-birthday-donation\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Exchange and Army Emergency Relief Roll Out Special Army 250th Birthday Donation","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/29\/exchange-and-army-emergency-relief-roll-out-special-army-250th-birthday-donation\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2025\/05\/29\/exchange-and-army-emergency-relief-roll-out-special-army-250th-birthday-donation\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/AER_Donations_e7712b.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/AER_Donations_e7712b.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Travis Day"}],"creator":["Travis Day"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","army birthday","army emergency relief","donations","exchange","military","relief fund"],"dateCreated":"2025-05-29T17:15:10Z","datePublished":"2025-05-29T17:15:10Z","dateModified":"2025-05-29T17:15:10Z"},"rendered":"