Media Advisory

Gold Star Chili Brings Taste of Cincinnati to Troops Overseas with “Dinner and a Movie”
Customers invited to donate new and used DVDs at local Gold Star Chili restaurants

May 3, 2007 – CINCINNATI, OH – In the spirit of National Military Appreciation Month this May, Gold Star Chili is asking for Cincinnati’s help to give soldiers serving overseas a taste of home with “Dinner and a Movie.” Local Gold Star restaurants will be accepting donations of new and used DVDs from May 7 until May 20, and Gold Star is donating more than 30,000 ounces of its famous chili, or enough to feed almost 4,000 soldiers.

“Dinner and a Movie” takes Gold Star’s existing “Serving Our Troops” program on the road, providing a taste of Cincinnati to service men and women overseas. The current “Serving Our Troops” campaign provides complimentary welcome home dinner receptions for soldiers returning to Cincinnati after serving abroad. Both programs are designed to thank our troops for their commitment and courage throughout the year and especially during National Military Appreciation Month.

Culminating in a Cincinnati-style Independence Day celebration, “Dinner and a Movie” will be part of a base-wide barbecue at the U.S. Army’s Camp Buehring in Kuwait on the Fourth of July. Camp Buehring is just 15 miles from the Iraq border and has served as the training base for tens of thousands of Iraq-bound troops.

Cincinnati resident Sergeant Mike Salvi has been serving in the military as a cook overseas for about a year. He will help provide Gold Star Cheese Coneys for everyone at the base and oversee the distribution of the donated DVDs to the soldiers.

"DVDs are a great way for us to escape from the war around us for awhile," Salvi said. "When we suggested that idea to Gold Star, they were all over it. There are a lot of things you miss when you’re over here – friends, family, the comforts of home. These movies and Gold Star Chili will bring home a little bit closer this Fourth of July. The continuous support we get from Cincinnati is so important and so greatly appreciated.”

Gold Star will ship out the donated DVDs during the week of Memorial Day with more than 2,000 pounds of Gold Star Chili. “Dinner and a Movie” night will take place on the base on the Fourth of July along with music, prizes and fireworks.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: During Memorial Day week, loading Gold Star Chili and DVDs for shipment to our troops overseas.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Army Reserves Sgt. Mike Salvi, currently serving overseas in the Iraq War; and Gold Star Chili’s Director of Marketing Lori Busse Hubbard.

ABOUT GOLD STAR CHILI
Gold Star Chili was established in 1965 when the four Daoud brothers were embarking on a journey that would soon embody the Great American Dream of owning a successful business. The first store location was erected in Mt. Washington, and it was here that the brothers settled on what has become one of Cincinnati's classic tastes, and the recipe for Cincinnati-style chili was born. To this day, the spice blend is a closely guarded secret. Gold Star now has more than 100 restaurants located throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and operates concessions at Paul Brown Stadium, Children's Hospital, and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. To join the Gold Star Chili eClub or for more information, please visit www.goldstarchili.com.

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