FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Little Lady's Good Work Merits Hero Award

                                                -Bailey Reese supplies troops with southern hospitality

By Jane Fletcher, Northwest Florida Daily News

August 14, 2005 -- Heroes come in all sizes, including 4-foot tall Bailey Reese of Niceville. Bailey, who started a program called Hero Hugs, was recently
awarded a "Southern Heroes" award.

    The award, presented by SouthernLINC Wireless, recognizes commendable volunteers of all ages for their efforts in making their communities
stronger and more united.

    Last year, Bailey's brother Tim Calvert won the award for his involvement in supplying Iraqi children with school supplies and this year
he nominated her.

    "I thought she deserved it," said Tim. "She had done just as much work as I did, if not more." 

Nine-year-old Bailey appears shy and doesn't seem to realize the magnitude of her contributions. She said she started her project-sending
care packages to the soldiers in Iraq because her sister had done it before and she thought it would be a nice thing to do.

    "It's a lot of hard work, but I like doing it," she said.

    Bailey's mother, Diana, explained how Bailey bought a bear at the Build-A-Bear store in Destin and dressed him in camouflage. She named him
"Hero" and sent him to Balad, a U.S. Air Base northwest of Baghdad in Iraq. Hero now resides as the mascot at the Safety Office there.

    "After she sent the bear, Bailey started to ask if she could send care packages to the soldiers," said Diane. "That's how it all got started."

    Bailey and some of her fourth-grade classmates at Edge Elementary School fill the packages with non-perishable items and send them to the
Safety Office to be distributed to troops serving all over Iraq. Diane estimates that they have sent more than 100,000 packages.

    She said the package contents cost anywhere from $3-$25 and include magazines, greeting cards, word puzzles, books, gum, hard candy, peanuts,
beef jerky and other snacks.

    Bailey's classmates help write the many cards that are sent. They also help Bailey make gift baskets out of milk cartons to send the troops on
holidays. Diane said everyone loves the little baskets, which are fashioned into either chimneys for Christmas or Easter baskets in spring.

    To raise the money for the packages, Bailey sells "Support Our Troops" magnets and asks for donations.

    "She gets the money by fundraising outside Wal-Mart and Kmart on weekends at least once a month," said Diane.

    "I ask people if they would like to give a donation to help send packages to the soldiers," said Bailey.

    As a recipient of the Southern Hero award, Bailey, along with the four other winners, will be treated to a trip to Atlanta for a Braves game.
Seated in a luxury suite, they will be hosted by Atlanta Braves pitcher and SouthernLINC spokesman John Smoltz, who will present Bailey with a
plaque and a $1,000 check to help with her project.

    Bailey, whose real passion is cheerleading, said she thinks she will like the baseball game and is looking forward to the trip.  Her brother Tim summed up her project with a few words of his own.

    "I think she is doing good work," he said.

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