LISLE, IL
Eckrich and country music star Randy Houser joined together to honor a military family during Houser’s November 22nd tour stop.
According to a press release, the Solso family was escorted backstage for a surprise meeting with Houser. Keeping the surprising coming, Houser and Giant Food presented the family with a year of free groceries on behalf of Eckrich and invited the family on an all-expenses paid trip to Tucson, AZ to enjoy a VIP experience at a Houser concert and visit the site of his music video, “Like A Cowboy.”
"As a regional supermarket chain that operates in a market where many military bases are located, one of Giant's core pillars of community outreach involves supporting our service members and their families," stated Jamie Miller, Manager, Public and Community Relations for Giant Food. "We're proud to partner with Eckrich and Randy Houser to support those who give so much for our country."
During the trip to Tucson, the Solso’s will have an action-packed weekend that includes a tour of the film studio and site of the “Like A Cowboy” music video, which was filmed at the same studio where classic Westerns like Joe Kidd, The Frisco Kid and Tombstone were filmed.
"It's really overwhelming right now," said Christopher Solso. "There are so many military service men and women who are still fighting for our freedom and it's amazing that Eckrich and Randy Houser are honoring our family. We are overwhelmed and excited at the same time."
This is Houser’s first year partnering with Eckrich, part of the John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc., and supporting Operation Homefront families. According to a press release, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service member and wounded warriors.
"I'm excited for the Solso family to experience the trip to Tucson," said Houser. "They're going to have such a great time visiting the sets of the music video and seeing the show at the historic Fox Theatre. Being a part of 'Operation Inspiration' and getting to meet with military families like Christopher and Clare Solso is such an honor. I am proud to have been a part of this surprise and can't wait to see them again in December."
Over the course of the year, Houser has hosted many military families at his concerts as well as providing them with a variety of exciting experiences and surprises from Eckrich, which has provided more than $50,000 in free groceries to military families this year.
"The Eckrich 'Operation Inspiration' campaign has been a great opportunity to give back to our military families," stated Chuck Gitkin, Vice President, Marketing, Innovation and R&D for the John Morrell Food Group. "Supporting and honoring military families who sacrifice for us every day is an important part of what Eckrich stands for. We're proud to have partners like Randy Houser and Giant to help offer our support for military families."
The trip, year of free groceries and a signed guitar are all part of the Eckrich “Operation Inspiration” campaign, which partners with Operation Homefront. In just three years, Eckrich has already donated over $750,000 to the organization.
