Listen to "American Soldier"

To All Supporters of Operation Pittsburgh Pride and our American Troops:

Friday March 28, 2008…I Struggle tonight…..

Decisions are often difficult to make.   As I sit here, a Co-Founder of Operation Pittsburgh Pride, with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye, it has become necessary to suspend our operation.  Partially due to the difficult economy, more because of  difficult challenges ahead of me.  In a time where wall street demands profitable growth, I am concerned.  I have a responsibility to my family to accept and conquer this “challenge.”  The difficulty will require 110% of my attention to fulfill the responsibilities of my career and to continue to provide for my family.  At this time, I have been given NO choice!

Operation Pittsburgh Pride is an incredible organization that grew from 4 emails into a city wide, state wide and country wide group of caring, generous and dedicated people, selfless with admiration to our Troops in Iraq and around the world.  We set out in October 2006 and created a goal of 5000 care packages to be sent to our deserving Troops in Iraq.  I am ever so humbled by the intense out pouring from all the people that helped attain that magical number…it was not always easy!!!!  I have many people to thank, please don’t be offended if I accidentally do not mention your name.  There are MANY!, and we appreciate ALL our supporters and volunteers.  We have had the overwhelming opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.  Again please understand that the “challenge” to continue providing for my family is the main reason we must suspend our operation. 

I’m not sure how to address our Thanks.  Everyone’s generosity dedication and love overwhelmed us while our Son, PFC Jordan Fox, was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq and even more was shared when news of  Jordan’s IED incident injured him in May 2007 –
He continues to improve.

Our thanks are many, please feel free to pass along this email as we did so often over the past 18 months.  Our email list now approaches 800 addresses, we know it is not complete so please pass this on…

Special thanks go to everyone especially Rita Licnerski and Jack Zacharias with the “Friday night” crew that helped keep us organized and did a Bang-up job at the “Soldiers Boys and Girls Bash” last April.  Marty Griffin of KDKA radio, who without we never would have succeeded---JOIN HIS ARMY! At kdkaradio.com or from our website Operationpittsburghpride.org. Kristine Sorensen of KDKA-TV who made me cry on TV; our first interview; Veteran’s Day 2006!  GO STEELERS!!!;  “Santa Claus” (we all know who you are) who chose to stay behind the scene, by the way, the 2 families in Columbus GA were speechless with thanks and so were all of the families of deployed Soldiers from Ft Lewis, WA; you are incredible!; My Lovely Wife Suzi who created OPP, you are beyond words,  Alison our Daughter who endlessly helped package “hugs from Pittsburgh” even though she would have rather been on the computer;   PFC Jordan Fox who put his life on the line to protect the USA and the reason OPP started; Mike Profeta my partner at Allstate Carnegie Agency who took and ownership pride in OPP as box after box shrunk our offices;  US Congressman Jason Altmire for drafting bill 3793, The Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, and arguing to get it passed 12/18/2007, 405 yea to 0 nay, it was our pleasure to assist….thank you!;  US Congressman Tim Murphy for being a friend, a conduit to the Pentagon and President Bush, and a listening ear; all of the Anchors at CNN, FOX NEWS, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, all of the newspapers and magazines that carried our stories across the USA; PA Senator Jane C Orie Auditor General Jack Wagner, Attorney General Tom Corbett, Rep’ Nick Kotick and Matt Smith; Councilman Peduto,  Mayor Pascoe, Chief Harbin, St Louis QB Marc Bolger, Chromalox Inc., All the companies around Pittsburgh, the many Allstate agents and management of the NE region, Lenny Cefalo, The incredible people of Carnegie, and especially
All of our Commanding Officers and Troops across the US and around the world,
All of the generous folks that put on drives, collected money, made cards, and packed care packages --- THANK YOU!!!  We know our Troops say THANK YOU also.

Please remain assured, if the responsibility to my career and “profitable growth” improves and eases, we will once again continue our mission.

In the mean time, please continue to support our Troops by contacting The Yellow Ribbon Girls or Operation Troops Appreciation—both are wonderful organizations.

“NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.  INDEED, IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS.”  Margaret Mead 1901-1978.

May God Bless you all and GodSpeed ALL of our Troops

I remain humbled

Ron Wardezak
Co-Founder OPP

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What is Operation Pittsburgh Pride?

Operation Pittsburgh Pride is a Carnegie based non-profit organization that has been established to show our hometown support to our active service members serving in the Middle East during this difficult time.

Our count of "care packages" mailed to the middle East so far is 5000!!!

Thank you for showing your PITTSBURGH PRIDE in our American Soldiers!

The Soldiers of Army, 1st Calvary 3rd Brigade, 1-12 Bravo Company, of which our Son is a member, recently back from Baghdad, Iraq, joining thousands of our other brave service members already serving in the Middle East.

We have learned that our soldiers do not have access to many of the things we take for granted here in America.  We call them ‘Sniffle items”, common everyday things like band-aids, vitamins, soap and even towels and blankets are just not available in Iraq.  In addition, western books, magazines and music that would so help boost the moral of the troops that are far from home are also needed. 

We are discovering that folks from all over are interested in supporting Operation Pittsburgh Pride. That is why we have put up this Website to allow us to reach across the Internet so other folks can help. We are seeing a snowball of donations pouring in for our troops.

Thank you on behalf of our soldiers

Best regards,
Operation Pittsburgh Pride
Susan Wardezak, Chairwoman

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" -Margaret Mead

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