Avnet Partners with Local Companies to Help Valley Military Families Reach Loved Ones Overseas

Valley military families missing their loved ones serving overseas have an opportunity to give them a glimpse of home during the holidays, thanks to two local companies.

For the sixth year in a row, Avnet, Inc., will collaborate with Metro Studios to help military families record a free five-minute video message for service men and women overseas. Videotaping will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Avnet’s Corporate Headquarters in Phoenix. Time slots are open to the public but will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested families should email Dawn Hurrelbrink at dawn.hurrelbrink@avnet.com to schedule a 15-minute videotaping session, which includes preparation time as well as recording the message. Refreshments will also be served.

"A five-minute video recording of a family sending a message to their son, daughter, father, mother or whoever it may be during the holidays can mean the world to that military service person overseas. We do this because we want to help connect our troops with their families and to show our appreciation for all the hard work they put in,” said Al Maag, chief communication officer for Avnet, Inc. "These video recordings create a world of joy for our troops and let them know that they are in our thoughts every day.”

Avnet is also working with the Phoenix-based charitable organization Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), which gives tickets from local companies and teams to military families to see concerts and sporting events. "Vet Tix has been supporting us this year to attract the families of our military personnel so that we can reach as many people as possible to offer this service,” Maag added. "The whole point is to provide a service to those who are serving to protect our freedom.”

Recorded in Avnet’s Corporate Headquarters, Metro Studios will provide a professional video crew to ensure proper lighting and sound quality. Each family will receive a DVD at the time of the recording. Metro Studios will also provide the families with individual links to share with their troops and anyone else who might want to view the messages via the internet.

Lisa J. Ellis, VP of Business Development and account executive with Metro Studios, acknowledges that "everyone has a responsibility to show their support for those who serve our country and protect our freedoms. We hope what we are doing will bring families closer together and let those in the military service and their families know that we stand behind them.”

About Metro Studios

Metro Studios was founded in 1985 as a video production company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Twenty-four years later, we’ve expanded into Phoenix, Arizona and have added many other services, including Live event support, website development, internet marketing, and print and design services. For more information, visit metro-studios.com.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 27, 2009, Avnet generated revenue of $16.23 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.