KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sport Clips Haircuts will provide deployed and hospitalized U.S. service members the opportunity to call loved ones free of charge on 13 holidays and 21 additional days in 2013.  The franchise raised money through its Help A Hero campaign and made a $500,000 donation today in support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars' (VFW) Operation Uplink™ "Free Call Day" program. This is the sixth year for Sport Clips' Help A Hero, which will provide 17 more call days in the year ahead over 2012. More than 950 Sport Clips locations across the U.S. raised funds for Operation Uplink, which provides the free "talk time" via satellite phone and computer.

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Sport Clips representatives presented a check for the 2012 donation today to VFW National Commander John Hamilton at the VFW National Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. The contribution breaks last year's record donation by $50,000 and was raised by stylists, managers, and franchisees in-store and through fundraising events in their communities. Since Sport Clips' Help A Hero program began in 2007, more than 2 million dollars have been donated and almost 2 million calls have been made possible to date.

"It's an honor for Sport Clips to be able to support men and women in the military through Help A Hero. By helping our troops stay connected to loved ones, we hope these call days will encourage them  through their physical separation from friends and family due to hospital stays or multiple deployments far from home," said Sport Clips founder and CEO Gordon Logan of the donation. Logan served overseas in the U.S. Air Force and is a lifetime member of the VFW and a VFW Foundation Board member.

Sport Weddel, owner of the Amarillo, Texas store that raised the most money in the Sport Clips system, believes it's important to participate in programs that support U.S. military like Help A Hero. "I love my country, and I am so proud of those men and women, both present and past, who have made a commitment to keep us free and safe," he said. "We must not forget that while the great majority of us are enjoying friends and family during holiday times, there are thousands of men and women in uniform around the world who can't do that. I enjoy the opportunity to help make connections possible through Help A Hero."

"Sport Clips' contribution is a remarkable expression of gratitude to all the brave men and women of our armed forces for their sacrifice and dedication. Our thanks goes out to everyone who has played a part in this wonderful and selfless endeavor. VFW is so fortunate to have forged such a strong friendship with Mr. Logan and his nationwide Sport Clips team," says Hamilton.

To find out more about Sport Clips' Help A Hero program, visit SportClips.com/Hero.

About Sport Clips Haircuts

Sport Clips Haircuts is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas and was established in 1995 by founder and CEO Gordon Logan. The sports-themed salon franchise, which specializes in hair care for men and boys, consistently ranks in Entrepreneur Magazine's top 20 "fastest growing franchises" and in the top 100 in the "Franchise 500," and in the top 10 in Forbes' "Top 20 Franchises To Start." Sport Clips is the "Official Haircutter" of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), offers veterans preferential pricing on haircuts and franchises, and was named in the "50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans" ranking by World Franchising. Our "Help A Hero" program has donated more than two million dollars to help deployed and hospitalized U.S. service members call home through the VFW's Operation Uplink. Sport Clips is a proud sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing's NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and holds partnerships with several NCAA and professional sports teams. To learn more about Sport Clips, visit www.sportclips.com.

About the Veterans of Foreign Wars

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is a nonprofit veterans' service organization composed of combat veterans and eligible military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress in 1936, the VFW is the nation's largest organization of war veterans and its oldest major veterans' organization. With 2 million members located in more than 7,200 VFW Posts worldwide, "NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS." The VFW and its Auxiliaries are dedicated to veterans' service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs worldwide. For more information or to join, visit our website at www.vfw.org.

SOURCE Sport Clips Haircuts