'Freedom Bands' Generate Money, Support for Troops

National Guard, Jan 2005 by Cotton, Erika N

Supporters of the troops now have a fashionable way to do a little more for those serving overseas.

Two non-profit organizations, the Share Our Gifts Foundation and Freedombands, Inc., launched similar campaigns last year to honor, recognize and care for U.S. troops and their families.

Kib Jenson, of Provo, Utah, a former Air National Guardsman and president of Share Our Gifts, and his eldest son, Brady, 12, came up with the idea for the Freedomband one hot afternoon in August, while the two were working on a Boy Scout project.

Inspired by the success and popularity of Lance Armstrong's Livestrong bands, they created something similar.

Engraved on the red Freedomband are the words "Life, Liberty and Freedom," each word separated by stars. The Jenson family, including wife, Lisa, Stephanie, 14, Jacob, 10 and Justin, 9, fills orders out their home and have shipped more than 40,000 bands since early October.

"Whether or not you agree philosophically or politically with the wars and conflicts in which America is involved shouldn't matter," Jenson said. "All of us should honor the sacrifices of our brave men and women who serve or have served in the military. Every one of them gives something-some of them have given everything."

The family hopes to raise $25 million from sales and donations to give to A Million Thanks; the Air Force Aid Society; the Army Emergency Relief; the Fisher House Foundation; the Navy & Marine Corps Aid Society; the Red Cross and the United States Service Organization, all charities that support the troops and their families.

Freedombands cost $1 and can be purchased online at www.supportusatroops.com.

In December, another not-for-profit organization, Freedombands, Inc., donated $20,000 to the Armed Forces Relief Trust in support of the troops and their families. The company jumped on the wristband bandwagon in July, when it conceived the concept. The company has sold so far 87,000 bands, Freedomband, Inc. officials said.

The silicone wristbands come in red, white, blue, marbled with all three colors or desert camouflage.

Marked with the word " Freedom," they offer a simple yet powerful reminder of the sacrifices made each day to preserve the American way of life.

Freedomband, Inc.'s Freedom Bands cost one dollar and are available for purchase online at www.freedombands.us. They come in both youth and adult sizes, in packages of 10 for $10, or four packages of three with red, white, blue bands for $10.

-By Erika N. Cotton