WHAT IS THE BOB HOPE USO DONOR PRIVACY POLICY? We will not sell, share or trade our donors’ names or personal information with any other entity, except as may be required by law, nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations.
This policy applies to all information received by Bob Hope USO, both online and offline, on any Platform (“Platform”, includes the Bob Hope USO website and mobile applications), as well as any electronic, written, or oral communications.
To the extent any individual donor information is shared with a third-party service provider, our donors’ information will only be used for purposes necessary to process the donation.
WHAT GEOGRAPHIC REGION DOES BOB HOPE USO SERVE? We serve troops and military families across 51,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, including the counties of Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.
WHAT AIRPORTS HAVE A BOB HOPE USO AIRPORT CENTER? We have four Airport centers – LAX, Ontario International Airport, Orange County at John Wayne Airport and Palm Springs International Airport. Find other USO centers around the world here.
WHO CAN USE A USO CENTER? The USO welcomes “USO Eligible Guests” including:
1) Active duty members of the Armed Forces 2) Reserve members of the Armed Forces, including National Guard members 3) Military dependent family members 4) Military retirees (on a space available basis)* 5) Military retiree dependent family members (on a space available basis)* 6) All Bob Hope USO centers also welcome active duty members of the Armed Forces of Allied Nations.
All must present current, valid military identification, no exceptions.
In addition to the above requirements, to qualify as a USO Eligible Guest, you must be in a travel status, transiting the airport where the respective center is located, either as an airline passenger, military charter passenger, military aircraft passenger or crew member, or serving in the capacity of dropping-off or picking up an airport passenger. For health and safety reasons, we occasionally need to limit center access when we reach our occupancy limit or know it will happen that same day. When that happens, current active duty and reserve members, and their dependent family members, have priority access over military retirees and retiree dependent family members.
Occasionally, veterans or military retirees contact us to tell us they couldn’t get into a USO airport lounge because they didn’t have an active military ID card. As much as we’d like to open our doors to all those who have honorably served, we have limited space and resources. The USO must focus its mission on serving the needs of those who need us most: active-duty service members and their families. For 77 years, that’s been our mission.
I’M IN THE MILITARY BUT THE PEOPLE I’M TRAVELING WITH ARE NOT, NOR ARE THEY MILITARY DEPENDENTS. CAN THEY JOIN ME AT THE USO? Each USO Eligible Guest over the age of 18 years or older may sponsor no more than two sponsorees into the center provided that
1) they are traveling on the same aircraft as the Sponsor, 2) the Sponsor remains in the center with them and 3) the Sponsor knew the sponsorees prior to commencing travel. At no time may the Sponsor depart and the sponsorees remain.
I AM TRAVELING WITH A LOT OF HEAVY LUGGAGE/PETS/CHILDREN/OVERSIZED BAGGAGE. CAN BOB HOPE USO ASSIST ME? Normally, our volunteer staffing cannot support providing skycap/escort service at individual terminals. However, we make every effort to assist USO Eligible Guests however we can. If you believe you will need additional assistance, please contact the center manager at least two business days in advance and we will do our best to help.
CAN I SPEND THE NIGHT AT A BOB HOPE USO? (SEE ALSO THE QUESTION BELOW) If you are a current member of the military or current military member dependent with travel plans or connecting flights are such that you need to overnight at one of our airport centers, we are happy to have you. Based on demand, staffing availability, and particularly during peak travel days, our Ontario and Palm Springs centers will operate around the clock. Please contact the specific center to verify hours during holidays or to make a special request for a troop movement.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate military retirees and/or their dependents on an overnight basis at any of our centers, but we are always happy to provide nearby hotel referrals.
I’M LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY ON MY NEXT VACATION TO BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. CAN I USE BOB HOPE USO TO SPEND THE NIGHT INSTEAD OF GETTING A HOTEL? No. Although we welcome you to stop in and see us upon your arrival or prior to your departure via that airport, or during a transit layover, we are not a substitute for a vacation hotel.
MY MILITARY DEPENDENT MINOR CHILD IS TRAVELING UNACCOMPANIED AND HAS A LAYOVER AT THE AIRPORT. CAN HE/SHE USE THE USO? We regret that we are unable to assume responsibility for unaccompanied minor military dependents.
DOES THE BOB HOPE USO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR EMERGENCY TRAVEL FUNDING TO MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES? We are not able to provide financial assistance or emergency travel funding.
CAN I LEAVE MY VEHICLE IN A BOB HOPE USO PARKING LOT WHILE I AM TRAVELING? We regret that we are unable to accommodate long term parking. If you leave your vehicle in our lot, the airport police will tow it and you will be responsible for any associated fees and fines. There are plenty of short and long term parking options in and around each airport we serve.
I HAVE A MILITARY ID AND I WORK AT/NEAR THE AIRPORT. CAN I USE A BOB HOPE USO CENTER DURING MY BREAKS OR OTHER TIMES? Our airport centers are specifically designed and funded to accommodate guests who are traveling via the airport that day. We cannot accommodate local guests wishing to eat lunch or spend their breaks at the center.
CAN I GET FREE OR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS FROM BOB HOPE USO? We distribute thousands of free tickets a year via senior enlisted leaders and community affairs managers at bases and units in our service area. If you’d like to find out who our Bob Hope USO liaison is on your base, please email us at kbrann@uso.org.
MY COMMUNITY GROUP/SOCIAL CLUB/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION/VETERANS GROUP/BUSINESS ASSOCIATION/ETC. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM BOB HOPE USO COME SPEAK TO US. HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? We love telling people about Bob Hope USO and our work to lift the spirits of our troops and those families. While we often get more requests than we can accommodate, we do our best to fulfill every request. Send us an email at bobhopeinfo@uso.org.
HOW MANY SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY FAMILIES WILL BOB HOPE USO SERVE THIS YEAR? The USO provides programs, entertainment and services at more than 200 USO locations worldwide, including Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, Japan, Iraq, South Korea and the United States. USO centers are visited more than 7 million times by service members and their families annually. Bob Hope USO ensures (more than 260,000 times) service members and their families experienced the hospitality, the connections and the support of the USO.
HOW CAN I GET A REPRESENTATIVE FROM BOB HOPE USO TO SPEAK AT MY COMMUNITY GROUP? We always appreciate the opportunity to speak to associations, service clubs, civic or religious groups about the wonderful work the Bob Hope USO does. If your organization would like to have a speaker from Bob Hope USO, please contact the Center Manager nearest to you or our Executive Director at BobHopeExecDir@USO.org.
WHERE DOES THE BOB HOPE USO OBTAIN ITS FUNDING? The USO is a private, non-profit 501©3. Although USO is chartered by Congress, we receive very limited from the federal government, including the Department of Defense. We provide all our services at no charge to our guests, who are often in transit and heading into harm’s way. Our primary funding comes from patriotic Americans, philanthropic service organizations and generous corporate donors. Donate now.
HOW DO I JOIN THE BOB HOPE USO VOLUNTEER CORPS? We are always looking for friendly, dedicated people to help in our facilities and at our events. Our volunteers come from all backgrounds and many have had no previous affiliation with the military. Volunteers at our airport centers work regular shifts. Many have grown so fond of their shift and fellow volunteers, they have been with us for years. Contact the Center Manager of the airport you wish to volunteer at for more information. To learn more about becoming a regular Bob Hope USO volunteer, please click here.
I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER WITH BOB HOPE USO FOR A SPECIAL EVENT OR HOLIDAY. CAN I DO THAT? While we always welcome inquiries from potential volunteers, we reserve special event and one-time volunteer opportunities for our current volunteers, corporate & community partners.
HOW DOES MY COMPANY GET INVOLVED? Bob Hope USO welcomes philanthropic organizations and corporations to get involved. Whether you’re interested in sponsoring a program or center, participating in a corporate-volunteer activity, or attending our celebrated events, your company can help us support our troops and families in the ways that are meaningful to you. To learn more about becoming a corporate or community partner, contact Gabriella Coyle at gcoyle@uso.org.
HOW DO I DONATE GOODS OR SERVICES TO THE BOB HOPE USO? We welcome in-kind donations of goods and services that we can use. Individuals wishing to make an in-kind donation should first contact the Center Manager of the airport location nearest to them. Corporations and business wishing to make in-kind donations should contact Gaby Coyle at (562)273-4843 or gcoyle@uso.org.
HOW DO I MAKE A MONETARY DONATION? We welcome cash donations and are proud that we stretch every dollar we spend for the maximum benefit of the troops and their families. To make a monetary donation, visit the donation page of our website or contact Gaby Coyle at (562)273-4843 or gcoyle@uso.org.
IS MY DONATION TO BOB HOPE USO TAX DEDUCTIBLE? Yes! The USO is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Our Tax ID is 13-1610451.
ARE YOUR FINANCES PUBLIC RECORD? Yes. View our 990 here.