Worldwide Groove Corporation, a pop music production team, are putting out a challenge to all indie artists with CDs to donate a box of 30 to Operation Gratitude [opgratitude.com] where they will be included in care packages for the U.S. Troops overseas.

"One of the most common requests from the troops is for music CDs, they particularly love hearing new artists and sharing CDs with each other,” says Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. “Donations from independent artists are a great way to provide entertainment and put a smile on their faces, while at the same time expressing appreciation and thanks to our troops."

Ellen Tift, producer for Worldwide Groove Corporation, has already received CDs from several indie artists spanning a wide spectrum of music. “We’ve got pop, rock, and instrumental. I would love to see musicians from all genres contribute to this effort,” says Tift.

The most unique title they are sending so far is Flatulina’s Fabulous Holiday Spectacular, a comedy Christmas CD featuring “orchestral music beds enhanced with the effervescence of flatulence and singing fish.” [flatulina.com] “We figure the soldiers could use a good laugh, and this title has been ordered online by several in the military already. But we are mostly sending CDs from mainstream and Christian artists.” Some other artists who have donated CDs are Jeff Slaughter, Michael Ripoll, Jeni Varnadeau, Buddy Greene, and Nashville radio personality Bob August.

"Troops appreciate music CDs sent to them while on deployment. Nothing calms a military member down better in a combat zone than some music -- no matter what type it is." says GySgt Carl Mahler, a U.S. Marine who just recently returned from deployment.

Worldwide Groove Corporation’s effort is only a small part of the response Operation Gratitude has seen. “I have been overwhelmed at the thoughtfulness and generosity of the independent artists! We still need LOTS more CDs though. We will send 25,000+ packages and ideally, I'd like to include 2 CDs in each box,” says Blashek.

“Our challenge goes out to indie artists everywhere,” says Tift. Worldwide Groove Corporation will even ship the CDs for the artist if they will drop them off at WGC’s studio in Nashville, but they request that artists who don’t live in Nashville ship their box of CDs directly to Operation Gratitude at 16444 Refugio Road, Encino, CA 91436.

Operation Gratitude is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible. Artists should include all contact information on the inside of their box. The cost of sending each care package is $15-$30, so cash contributions are also always appreciated. “As long as the U.S. Military has a serviceperson deployed anywhere in the world, Operation Gratitude will continue to send packages.”

Look at:
http://www.opgratitude.com
http://www.worldwidegroovecorp.com
http://www.flatulina.com