Trident to Support Operation Gratitude With September 18th Event

September 3, 2015 – Cypress, CA – Trident University International (Trident) is proud to support Operation Gratitude, a non-profit, volunteer organization focused on lifting the spirits and meeting the evolving needs of the military and first responder communities. This is a cause close to the hearts of the entire Trident community, as students who are active duty, veteran, dependents, or in the National Guard make up 79% of the University's currently enrolled population.

On September 18th, a date that coincides with the U.S. Air Force's founding, Trident will host an event on its campus to support Operation Gratitude, with the goal of preparing 1,000 letters, cards, or notes for those who are currently serving and those that have served the United States.

Each note – which takes just a few minutes to assemble – is a small token of appreciation for the men and women helping to protect the United States and her allies. This is just one of the ways that Trident shows appreciation for both military and veteran populations.

Operation Gratitude sends over 150,000 care packages each year to deployed troops, veterans, new recruits, wounded soldiers, and their caregivers. These packages, which are highly sought after by recipients, contain food, personal hygiene products, entertainment items, and homemade articles, all of which are meant to ease the emotional burden of being separated from loved ones.

Through collection drives, letter writing campaigns, and care package assembly, Operation Gratitude provides civilians in America a way to say "thank you" through active, hands-on localized events. Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based corporation, funded entirely by private donations. Since its inception in March of 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have assembled and shipped more than one million care packages.

Trident, with 22,000 military alumni, has had a long-time relationship with the U.S. Armed Forces, educating men and women of each branch of the services using its unique student-centered pedagogical model. In addition to providing items of need to military personnel, Operation Gratitude gives us a unique opportunity to convey to these men and women that the entire Trident community cares about them and the service they are performing for our great nation.

Esmeralda Silva, Vice President of Outreach and Strategic Alliances

Trident, a leading 100% online post-secondary institution that offers degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctorate levels, is committed to its community of adult learners and over 32,000 alumni. Founded in 1998, the University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission.

Trident is located at 5757 Plaza Drive, Suite 100, in Cypress, CA. This event kicks off at 10am local time on Friday, September 18th.