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Quinton Wash

February 3, 2015 – The Charlotte Hornets and Family Dollar today announced that for the second consecutive year the two organizations will partner together for the Military Care Event on February 4 at Time Warner Cable Arena. This unique community initiative has members of each organization prepare, package and donate more than 10,000 care kits to military troops overseas. Family Dollar will also present a $10,000 donation to Charlotte Bridge Home for their service with local military personnel throughout the Carolinas. Additionally, the Hornets and Family Dollar are honored to have special guest Major General Jefforey Smith attend this year’s Military Care Event.

“We are excited to participate in this unique event that benefits U.S. Military service men and women around the world and here in the Carolinas,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. “Both the Hornets and Family Dollar have a passion for honoring and supporting our military. Our entire organization, including our players and coaches, are thrilled to assist in this initiative for the second straight year. Our troops sacrifice so much in order for us to enjoy our freedom, and this is one small way that we can show our appreciation for all that they do.”

The entire Hornets team and coaching staff will be joining more than 300 volunteers from Family Dollar and service men and women from various bases in North Carolina to unload, pack and ship over 100,000 items to military troops serving all over the world. The packing of the items, which will include all the players and coaches, will take place tomorrow on the arena floor at Time Warner Cable Arena from 2-3 p.m. Along with personalized notes from players, executives and fans, these care kits will include toothbrushes, aspirin, soap and deodorant among other items. All products were donated courtesy of Family Dollar and their supplier partners: Unilever, Bayer, Coca-Cola, Colgate Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, Energizer, Hanes, Henkel, Blistex, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Jack Links, Urgent RX and AEP Industries. In total, 200,000 items will be included in the 10,000 care kits and Operation Gratitude will then ship the care kits to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the Middle East, as well as ships in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

“Family Dollar is pleased to team up with the Charlotte Hornets again for this meaningful cause,” said Family Dollar’s Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, Jason Reiser. “From all of us at Family Dollar, we thank all of the women and men serving our country and we’re honored and humbled to show our support through this event. We also want to recognize our supplier partners, who share our enthusiasm for this great cause. Their generous donations will make this event a success.”

Highlights of Major General Smith’s distinguished career include command of an infantry battalion (700 Soldiers) in the 101st Airborne Division and an infantry brigade (5,000 Soldiers) in the 82d Airborne Division. He also served as Chief of Staff and later Assistant Division Commander of the 10th Mountain Division. From 2010-2011 he served as the Assistant Commanding General for Police Development, NATO Training Mission, Afghanistan. He has served in combat during Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. More recently, Major General Smith was the Commanding General of the United States Army Cadet Command having oversight of all ROTC and JROTC programs at universities and high schools across the United States.  Currently, Major General Smith is the Deputy Commanding General of the 18th Airborne Corps, the only Airborne Corps in the world, which includes four Infantry Divisions and more than 98,000 Soldiers.

This initiative is built upon four pillars: Leadership, Transition, Community and Health. Through this first-of-its-kind program, NBA teams and members of the military will work side-by-side on panels, workshops, service projects and clinics that make a difference in our communities and hopefully inspire others to give back.

For more than 50 years, Family Dollar has been providing value and convenience to customers in easy-to-shop neighborhood locations.  Family Dollar’s mix of name brands, and quality, private brand merchandise appeals to shoppers in more than 8,000 stores in rural and urban settings across 46 states. Helping families save on the items they need with everyday low prices creates a strong bond with customers who refer to their neighborhood store as “my Family Dollar.”  Headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte, Family Dollar is a Fortune 300, publicly held company with common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDO. For more information, please visit www.familydollar.com.

Hornets Sports & Entertainment owns the Charlotte Hornets and operates Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable Arena.  The Charlotte Hornets are a member of the NBA’s Southeast Division.  Owned by NBA Legend Michael Jordan, the Hornets organization strives to deliver a relentless attack on the court, an unmatched experience in the stands and a positive impact throughout the community.  The name of the city’s original NBA team from 1988-2002, the Hornets moniker returned to Charlotte in May 2014, uniting the rich history of NBA basketball in the Carolinas.  Time Warner Cable Arena is the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas, hosting over 150 sporting events, concerts and family shows annually.  For more information, please visit hornets.com or timewarnercablearena.com.