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

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 19, 2008 -
Valley military families missing their loved ones serving overseas have an opportunity to give them a glimpse of home during the holidays, thanks to three local companies.

For the fifth year in a row, Avnet, Inc., will collaborate with Phoenix-based Modavox and 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. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Metro Studios 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 videotaping the message. Refreshments will also be served.

“Being an active member of this community means using our resources to support the service Arizona troops have given our country.  Together with our partners we can help connect military personnel with their families here in Arizona and show them how much we appreciate what they’re doing for our country,” said Michelle Gorel, vice president of public relations at Avnet. “Watching families large and small participate during previous years has been a joy, and we hope to include more families than ever this year.”

Taped in Metro Studios’ state-of-the-art production studio by their professional video crew to ensure outstanding lighting and sound quality, each family will receive a DVD to be sent to their military family member deployed overseas. Modavox will also host the video messages on its Web site and provide the families with individual links to share with their troops and anyone else who might want to view the messages.

Clay Stubblefield, Account Executive with Metro Studios acknowledges that “those who serve our country will always have the support of businesses and citizens back home.  It’s not only the active service person, but also their family members who are making a sacrifice for the freedoms that we enjoy.  What we are doing is a small contribution toward bringing families closer together during the holidays.”

About Metro Studios
Metro Studios was founded in 1985 as a video production company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Twenty-three 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 Modavox
Modavox, Inc. (www.modavox.com), founded in 1999, is an online media company and the developer of the pioneering online VoiceAmerica™ Network. We are a leading software provider of enhanced communications, leveraging proprietary technology and unique competencies in the networked delivery of digital media.

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 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.