Lobster Gram Donates Proceeds to Operation Welcome You Home In Honor of Veterans Day

Chicago, IL - November 24, 2015

Lobster Gram®, a 28-year-old gourmet food delivery service that offers live Maine lobsters and fresh-caught seafood delivery services to customers across the U.S., announced that it has begun working with Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH), a Chicagoland-based 501c(3) not-for-profit organization that supports veterans returning from deployment, veterans leaving for deployment, and veterans killed in action that have special honorary services.

Lobster Gram Donates to Operation Welcome You Home

The decision to donate to OWYH was championed by Betsy Petrovic, ecommerce manager at Lobster Gram, who lost her brother, David Willett, at the age of 31. Willett was a Navy veteran and took great pride in serving his country. Petrovic’s family, including her husband and two young children, began walking in OWYH’s annual Wounded Warrior 5K fundraising event in an effort to make supporting the United States military a family tradition.

Petrovics at OWYH's Wounded Warrior 5K

“The Wounded Warrior 5K - which will be held on May 28, 2016 - is a great way to honor and support veterans. My family got to see their uncle’s name printed on the back of their race shirts, and meet soldiers that were in boot camp, soldiers on active duty, wounded veterans, and those that fought in past wars,” says Petrovic. “My four- & five-year-old kids most enjoyed the soldiers that yelled at them to keep moving, as if they were in boot camp. It was an amazing community event and was a great way to have my family, and now Lobster Gram, support OWYH’s efforts.”

From the 5K races and fundraising events to welcoming soldiers home and supporting the families of soldiers, OWYH strives to care for all local warriors. OWYH is locally operated, fully staffed by volunteers, and passionate about serving our troops.

“We have been looking for a local veteran’s charity that supports the United States and our troops, and Operation Welcome You Home aligns with our core values of honor, trust, and integrity. Plus, it’s a special organization for members of our Lobster Gram team,” states Dan Zawacki, founder of Lobster Gram. “Lobster Gram plans to donate to OWYH on each patriotic holiday, as well as support them in local events, like the annual Wounded Warrior 5K.”

Lobster Gram has several veterans on staff, including Bob Woodward, who served for four years in the Navy and fought in the Vietnam War. He’s worked for Lobster Gram for nine years, handling all of the live lobsters. Prior to joining Lobster Gram, Bob worked on his grandfather’s lobster boat, his father’s, and then his own boat. Also on the Lobster Gram staff is Robert Bouegault, a veteran who served for three years in the United States Marine Corp and fought in the Vietnam War. Several other veterans are on staff both full-time and seasonally.

Visit welcomeyouhome.org to learn more about Operation Welcome You Home.

For more information on Lobster Gram, its charitable activities, and its products, visit www.lobstergram.com.

About Lobster Gram

Lobster Gram offers a large selection of live Maine lobsters, cold water and exotic lobster tails, fresh-caught seafood, steakhouse-quality chops, and delicious seafood side dishes and desserts from around the world through its gourmet food delivery services. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Chicago, Ill., with an 18,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Biddeford, Maine, Lobster Gram focuses on providing a great gourmet experience with every product and takes pride in shipping its high-quality seafood products, “Fresh from Our Shore to Your Door®.” Visit lobstergram.com today for more information on the company’s gourmet seafood offerings.

About Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH)

Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH) is a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2007 to honor and support the men and women in the United States Armed Forces who put their lives on the line so we may enjoy our freedom. As a locally operated organization staffed with volunteers, OWYH is dedicated to supporting veterans, active-duty soldiers, and the memory of those killed in action by assisting their families, organizing fundraising events, and honoring those who serve our country, both past and present. Visit welcomeyouhome.org for more information.