Kaylee had just returned from a US Naval Sea Cadet camp in Florida, where she had an opportunity to meet with troops returning from overseas. She asked the returning troops one question. “What did they miss most?”

The first was their families. The second: entertainment.  Kaylee discovered that even though the men and women serving overseas have access to computers and electronic equipment and limited access to the Internet, they are lacking in entertainment.  Often sharing just a few CDs or DVDs among an entire unit.

Radzyminski realized she could help.  She returned home to Cleveland, Tennessee and started collecting all her old CD’s and DVD’s that weren’t being used.

It started out with just her collection, but soon family and friends were donating as well.  Then Radzyminksi called on her classmates and community and they joined the cause.  Soon Kaylee was collecting hundreds of DVDs and CDs. She set a goal to ship two thousand CDs and DVDs to the troops before Thanksgiving. And, Kaylee met her goal.

What began as an act of kindness and appreciation for service to our country, is now a nationwide non-profit.
Currently there are over 600+ satellite locations all over the country where you can drop off used CDs and DVDs under the Tunes 4 Troops name.

When Radzyminski receives donations she sorts through everything to make sure there are no burned or copied material, then she organizes the media into genre and boxes them up.  Each disc is branded with a Tunes 4 Troops sticker so soldiers who have never heard of the organization can request more items.

To date, more than 750 boxes have been requested through the Military Chaplains and Morale, Welfare and Recreational Officers.  Although, currently, Tunes 4 the Troops has only enough media to fill a fraction of the requests.

Click here to watch the effect Tunes 4 Troops has on troops overseas.

Kaylee, now 17, still manages the non-profit, but she also runs track, maintains a 4.0 GPA and works part-time.  In 2008, Kaylee was voted a CNN hero for her work with and role in developing Tunes 4 the Troops.

The organization’s new goal is to provide 1 million CD’s and DVDs by 2010.  As of June 24, 2009 already sent 540,000 CDs and DVDs to troops overseas.

If you would like to help, please visit www.Tunes4theTroops.org to find a donation center near you.  If there isn’t a donation center in your city, you can start one by logging onto the website and using the flyers and promotional materials provided.

If you don’t have any old CDs or DVDs lying around you can also donate money to help with shipping costs. It costs approximately $16 to ship 30 DVDs and 120 CDs (150 items) via the post office media mail rate.

It doesn’t matter if you support the war or not – this organization is about supporting our troops: the men and women who sacrifice everything for our country.

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