The T. Boone Pickens Foundation focuses grants to organizations that operate in its core giving categories (see “About TBPF”). The current partner spotlight is USO Dallas/Fort Worth, a non-profit organization that serves personnel in all branches of the military — active duty, National Guard, reserve, retirees, and authorized family members.

Since opening the doors of its world-class 2,900-square-foot facility located in Terminal B at Gate 15 (on the secure side) of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on June 14, 2004, USO Dallas/Fort Worth has welcomed more than 254,000 patrons passing through the airport (a second facility in Terminal D at Gate 22 opened in March 2005). Many of its guests are troops coming from, or returning to, duties while serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). D/FW Airport is one of only two U.S. airport locations accommodating the Army's Rest and Recuperation (R&R) program.

Among other uses, a Pickens Foundation $25,000 contribution enabled the D/FW USO to substantially upgrade the quality of snacks and meals provided to troops when planes were cancelled or delayed en route to Iraq and Afghanistan. This provided an even more tangible “touch of home” to the military service members in transit.

“I am very proud to support the USO efforts at D/FW Airport,” Mr. Pickens says. “Those who serve and their families are making a significant sacrifice for our country, and they deserve anything we can do to make the transition to and from active service the best experience we can.”

Some of the D/FW centers’ amenities include computers with T-Mobile wireless Internet access, a television lounge with a 50" Hitachi plasma screen TV, satellite channels, and more than 100 DVDs to choose from, a relaxing sleeping room, complete with fountain and LA-Z-BOY recliners, a game loft with foosball tables and an XBOX game system, a cafe area with sodas, coffee, assorted snacks and microwaveable sandwiches, reading material for long flights, and a children's play area with Disney games, DVDs and toys. All services provided at D/FW USO are free.

“The very generous support of Mr. Pickens to our D/FW USO Center has helped us earn ‘best-on-the-planet’ accolades from service members and their families,” says Bill Moore, chairman of the D/FW USO Advisory Council. “The amenities we are able to provide, especially for our warriors returning from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, give a ‘touch of home’ as soon as they land on U.S. soil. On behalf of the USO and the 400 volunteers at our D/FW USO Center, our hats are off to Mr. Pickens and his foundation.”

For more information, call 972-574-8182 or visit www.uso.org/dfw/. For any information on in-kind or monetary donations, please contact Rhenda White-Brunner at 972-574-8764.