Army Emergency Relief CEO Recognizes Korea, Hawaii, Fort Bragg Associates for Support

During fiscal 2024, Exchange shoppers donated more than $1.6 million to Army Emergency Relief (AER). AER Chief Executive Officer Michael A. “Tony” Grinston showed his appreciation by recognizing several associates during recent Exchange visits.

“The Exchange’s longtime collaboration with Army Emergency Relief has been a game-changer, which has greatly impacted our ability to provide financial assistance to thousands of Soldiers and families when they need it the most,” said Grinston, who was  16^th Sergeant Major of the Army from 2019 to 2023 and is a former Exchange board member.

Since 2017, the Exchange has collaborated with AER to provide financial assistance, sponsor educational scholarship grants for family members and offer community programs that improve Quality-of-Life for service members and their families.

Shoppers can donate to the fund at PX, BX and Express registers and at ShopMyExchange.com. During June, the Exchange is offering a special option in honor of the Army’s 250^h birthday, allowing shoppers to make a $2.50 donation to AER at the register.

“The Exchange is one of our largest contributors,” said Grinston, who was named AER CEO in 2024. “We cannot thank the donors at the register and CEO Tom Shull and every team member enough for their support.” Since 2022, only active-duty and retired Soldiers have contributed more to AER than the Exchange.

Grinston and the AER team’s tour, which began in CONUS, concluded in April with stops at Exchanges in the Pacific Region.

At the USAG Humphreys Exchange in South Korea, Grinston was welcomed by Pacific Region Vice President Jennifer Jordan, Humphreys General Manager George McNamara; Main Store Manager Megan Rall; Services Business Manager Choe, Un-Hye; Food Court Manager Son, Chung-Yun; and several Express managers.

“He repeatedly expressed his appreciation for the Exchange’s efforts as the number one non-Solider donor to AER,” Jordan said. “I shared with him that I was a beneficiary of such donations as a high school senior—having received an AER scholarship.”

Grinston presented challenge coins to Rall and to these Humphreys associates:

• Chong, Chung-kon, Troop Mini Mall Express manager
• Yi, Ho-sung, Sentry Mini Mall Express manager
• Kim, Song-ku, Zoeckler Mini Mall Express manager
• Ryu-Seung-yon, 3^rd MI Express manager
• Hwang, Yun-suk, Family Mini Mall Express manager

Army Emergency Relief (AER)Chief Executive Officer Michael A. “Tony” Grinston, center, with USAG Humphreys Exchange team members. From left: Troop Mini Mall Express Manager Chong, Chung-kon; Sentry Mini Mall Express Manager Yi, Ho-sung; Zoeckler Mini Mall Express Manager Kim, Song-ku; 3rd MI Express Manager. Ryu-Seung-yon; Family Mini Mall Express Manager Hwang, Yun-suk; Humphreys Exchange General Manager George McNamara; SMA (Ret) Grinston;  Korea/Hawaii Regional Vice President Jennifer Jordan; Humphreys Main Store Manager Megan Rall; Sales & Merchandise Manager Iris Kim; Operations Manager Kim, Yochong; Services Business Manager Choe, Un-hye; and Downtown Shopping Center Food Court Manager Mr. Son, Chung-yun,

The AER team also visited Camp Casey in Korea, where  AER Director of Communications Col. (ret.) Sean Ryan met with associates and presented a challenge coin on Grinston’s behalf to Main Store Manager Han, Yun-sok.

Before the Korea visit, the AER team visited the Schofield Barracks main store and mall, thanking the team for their efforts. General Manager Julia Woods, Schofield Main Store Manager Desiree Miller and former General Manager David Swenson welcomed the AER team.

Grinston presented a coin to Swenson, who retired in February, in recognition of his 36 years of service to the Exchange. Grinston also presented coins to these associates:

• Byron Brown, laborer
• Jeanelle Medeiros, inventory control associate
• Tessie Pada, softlines associate

Army Emergency Relief (AER)Chief Executive Officer Michael A. “Tony” Grinston, far right, with members of the Schofield Barracks Exchange team. From left: Hawaii Consolidated Exchange General Manager Julia Woods; Warehouse Foreman Johanna Saragoza-Medina; Laborer Byron Brown; Operations Manager Thomas Heidenmann; retired General Manager David Swenson; Inventory Control Associate Jeanelle Medeiros; Softlines Associate Tessie Pada; Sales and Merchandising Manager Tiana Tupa’I; Sales and Merchandising Manager Kathyann Mack; Main Store Manager Desiree Miller; Stockroom Manager Sueko Lionberger; SAM Hardlines Joseph Lloren; and  SMA (Ret) Grinston

Grinston visited CONUS installations in the spring, including Fort Bragg, where the Exchange and five vendors supported an “SMA Hoop Dreams” contest, in which Grinston took on Soldiers in a three-point basketball shooting contest.

At Fort Bragg, Grinston presented coins to these associates:

• Aidalis Velasquez, store manager, Mallonee Express
• Pilar Pendergrass, retail business manager, Fort Bragg/Seymour Johnson AFB
• John Leak, visual merchandiser
• Cheryl Chevis, services business manager, Fort Bragg/Seymour Johnson
• Alex Dewberry, GM secretary, Fort Bragg

AER Chief Executive Officer Michael A. “Tony” Grinston (center), with Fort Bragg Exchange team members. From left: Mallonee Express Manager Aidalis Velasquez; Fort Bragg/Seymour Johnson AFB Retail Business Manager Pilar Pendergrass; SMA (Ret) Grinston; Visual Merchandiser John Leak; Fort Bragg/Seymour Johnson Retail Business Manager Cheryl Chevis; and Fort Bragg GM Secretary Alex Dewberry.

These weren’t Grinston’s first Exchange visits as AER CEO. In 2024, he presented coins to associates at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Forts Bliss, Liberty, Cavazos, Riley and Wainwright.

During 2024, Exchange shoppers contributed more than $2.7 million to military relief funds, which also include the Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF) and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). The donations represented a 7.1% increase from 2023.