Operation Hug-A-Hero® Joins Hilton HHonors Giving Back Program

OPERATION Hug-A-Hero®, whose mission is to help support the children of our deployed or fallen American Heroes by providing free Hug-A-Hero® dolls to these children in need has joined the Giving Back program from Hilton HHonors, the loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 distinct hotel brands. The Giving Back program supports and empowers communities worldwide by offering Hilton HHonors members the opportunity to redeem their points toward a cash donation to a variety of charitable organizations. For every 10,000 Hilton HHonors Points donated to OPERATION Hug-A-Hero, Hilton HHonors will send a US $25 donation to help place a doll into the loving arms of one of our Little Heroes—the children of our deployed military or fallen heroes.

“There is nothing quite like a Hug-A-Hero doll,” said Lisa Berg, Executive Director, Operation Hug-A-Hero. “These children are able to hug their missing Mommy or Daddy when they’re sad or unwell, see a face they might not have seen in months (or even years) and involve the deployed parent in special events like their first day of school. It is a way for the child to stay connected to their parent during the deployment, and it’s also a way for the deployed parent to see that their child hasn’t forgotten them and still wants them to be involved in their day-to-day lives. Not being needed or being forgotten by your kids is one of the biggest concerns for a deployed parent.”

“The Hilton HHonors Giving Back program has been an important part of our business since we launched the program in 2006,” said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president, customer marketing, Hilton Worldwide. “We’re proud to welcome OPERATION Hug-A-Hero to the list of organizations we support.”

To donate points to OPERATION Hug-A-Hero, Hilton HHonors members can visit www.HHonors.com/givingback or send an email to HHonors_Giving_Back@hilton.com detailing the number of points to be donated (donations must be in increments of 10,000 points) along with the member’s name, address, Hilton HHonors account number, and REQUEST REWARD CODE HUGAHE. To donate by phone, call 1-800-HILTONS to reach the Hilton Reservations and Customer Care center.

About OPERATION Hug-A-Hero:

Operation Hug-A-Hero, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, (ID # 26-3006655), serves the children of our military heroes— both deployed and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice—by providing a free Hug-A-Hero doll to these children in need. Hug-A-Hero dolls are custom made in the image of the child’s deployed Mommy or Daddy to help keep the child and parent connected during lengthy separations of months, years, or a lifetime. Each Hug-A-Hero doll is one-of-a-kind, lovingly made in the USA by military-affiliated individuals. The head-to-toe image is dyed into the fabric so the doll is durable, machine washable and able to withstand long-term use over multiple deployments. For more information about Operation Hug-A-Hero, our mission, and our fundraising efforts, visit www.operationhugahero.org.

About Hilton HHonors:

Hilton HHonors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s ten distinct hotel brands, honors its 28 million members by allowing them to turn earned points into experiences worth sharing. In addition to redeeming HHonors Points for complimentary hotel stays, HHonors members can use points to purchase unique experience rewards, merchandise and vacation packages, make charitable contributions, and more. HHonors is also the only guest-loyalty program to offer ‘Points & Miles’ and ‘No Blackout Dates’ at more than 3,700 hotels worldwide, including participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by HiltonTM, Embassy Suites HotelsTM, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hampton Inn® Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, Home2Suites by Hilton® and Hilton Grand Vacations®. Membership in HHonors is free, and travelers may enroll online by visiting HiltonHHonors.com.

About Hilton Worldwide:

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 92 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,700 hotels and 610,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels® & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by HiltonTM, Embassy Suites HotelsTM, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hampton Inn® Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, Home2 Suites by Hilton® and Hilton Grand Vacations®. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonorsTM. For more information about the company, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.