Franklin Park, IL, - Tukaiz, a leading marketing services production company, has begun working with the USO by providing creative and design work for the organization's marketing materials, such as signage and printed handouts.  The partnership kicked off during Fleet Week 2011 in the New York harbors, where Tukaiz personnel was invited to board the USS Iwo Jima to hang the donated event signage designed and printed for the USO by Tukaiz.  The work done for Fleet Week was followed by Tukaiz' creation of prominently-placed banners, table tents, scorecards, and gift certificates for the 16th Annual USO Golf Invitational held on June 13 at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in New Jersey.  Held to honor and express gratitude for the selfless service of our nation's troops and their families, the Invitational was attended by more than 300 USO supporters, wounded warriors and veterans, and raised a record-breaking $750,000 for the USO.

The success of these early projects in the USO/Tukaiz relationship have led to Tukaiz' work with other USO chapters in Chicago, Washington and New York, such as the dispatching of a creative team from Tukaiz to completely redesign the USO Theater Room at the Naval Station in Great Lakes, IL, among other initiatives.

"With Tukaiz' help, it was a record year for us in raising over $750,000 [at the Golf Invitational].  But most importantly, the efforts of companies like Tukaiz have a huge impact on supporting the over 1.6 million men and women in uniform today. These generous donations go a long way to help us ensure the vast majority of our donations go back into valued programs and services.  We thank Tukaiz for their continued support of the USO of Metropolitan New York," said Brian C. Whiting, president and CEO, USO of Metropolitan New York.

Tukaiz was asked to create and produce the USO's marketing materials based on its reputation for powerful design and creative capabilities, as well as its diverse print production services.

"All of us at Tukaiz are very proud and honored to be a part of the USO's important and admirable mission," said John Quinto Defino, vice president and managing director, Tukaiz. "We were particularly touched that we had the opportunity to meet several military heroes at these events and express our gratitude to them for their dedicated service to the safety of our nation."