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Wilmer Valderrama Launched a sportswear and lifestyle brand with a charitable twist.
The 44-year-old actor Recently announced The launch of EPU, which stands for “Out of the Pluralities, One” or “Out of the Pluralities, One.” The nonprofit company has entered into a direct partnership with the United Services Association, an organization that Valderrama has been involved with for nearly 20 years. A portion of the proceeds from its sales will go toward aiding its mission of “enhancing the well-being of military personnel and their families,” according to a press release.
Valderrama has been working on this project for several years, and he noted that it was funded entirely by himself. NCIS The actor said he has been looking for a way to help the people he loves and respects by providing funding for different programs, such as pre-deployment and welcome home programs. He noted that he has seen some companies advertising vacations related to military service, but wondered what a long-term commitment would look like.
“I started thinking seriously about … what would it look like if we were committed year-round to creating a signal that we could not only continue to heal but also provide important services?” Valderrama told The Hollywood Reporter.
“We dedicate a portion of all sales to support high-impact U.S. military programs across the country,” he added. “That’s our philosophy.”
The company’s mission seems to align with Valderrama’s nearly two-decade track record with the USO. NCIS: Hawaii Actress Vanessa Lachey is a global ambassador for the nonprofit organization and has performed at more than 45 USO events around the world.
Looking back, Valderrama believes Bob Hope Because he had seen him perform in the military. “I thought to myself, ‘Oh, maybe one day…one day I’ll be in front of the military and perform like him,’ ” he said.
The actor said he ended up joining the USO after meeting some military members at an airport who told him they were That 70s Show Other military members also traded DVDs of the show like baseball cards.
Dr. JD Crouch II, president and CEO of the United for America, said the nonprofit asked Valderrama to serve as a global ambassador because of the “special role” he has played since joining the organization. “Wilmer would meet with people overseas and come back and call or FaceTime the parents and say, ‘Hey, I saw your son or daughter,'” Crouch recalled.
Valderrama said he “loves doing these things to show appreciation for the military.” “I’ve been to almost every military base around the world,” he said, noting that he has visited soldiers many times at Christmas and Thanksgiving. “I feel very proud,” he continued.
“Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed of serving my country, but because I started so early in my career, I never got the chance to fulfill that dream,” he said with a laugh. “But I’d say it’s almost become the second-best dream, to be able to rally around and say, ‘Hey, this country gave me the American dream.’”
Valderrama said he felt the least he could do was “come and say thank you,” adding that he was “addicted.”
“I’m really passionate about what it represents and what the USO does on every base,” the actor said. “And what it provides to the armed forces and our lovely people.”
EPU’s first collection includes unisex T-shirts, tanks, crew neck sweatshirts, sweatpants and sweat shorts, as well as hoodies and jogging pants for men and women, and cropped T-shirts and tanks for women. The brand offers sizes from extra small to extra large and is available at EPU’s website.
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