The Operation Stripes for Vets franchise promotion giveaway, sponsored by Black Dawg Franchise Group LLC will present one returning Iraq/Afghanistan veteran as the winner of his or her own Yellow Dawg Striping franchise valued at $28,000. Deadline for submissions is May 25 for announcement on Memorial Day, May 28.

Started in 2011 by Black Dawg Franchise Group president Jack Child, an Air Force veteran, to draw attention to the high unemployment rate for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and as a way to say “Thank You” for their service, Operation Stripes for Vets awarded its first franchise to Andrew Smith, of Pilot, Va., an Army Purple Heart recipient, on Memorial Day 2011.

Yellow Dawg Striping fits his personal goals, Smith said.

“By working hard and investing my time and effort in my own business it allows me to provide a more comfortable life for my family. The customers are great and given the nature of the work I can schedule my work, meet the needs of my customers, and still have time for my family. I have been impressed with Jack and the entire Yellow Dawg crew and I give thanks every day for this opportunity,” Smith said.

Iraq and Afghanistan vets who are interested in winning a Yellow Dawg parking lot line striping franchise, can visit www.StripesForVets.com for the giveaway rules and submit a video on the Yellow Dawg Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/YellowDawgStriping) explaining why they should win the franchise.

Then they have friends “like” them on Facebook. The top 10 vote-getters will become finalists (others may be chosen as finalists as well – see contest rules) and the winner will be chosen by Black Dawg’s panel of judges.

The franchise and equipment is worth $28,000 and includes the franchise fee of $7,500 (waived), a Graco airless line striping machine valued at more than $8,000, traffic paint donated by Sherwin-Williams Co., stencils, tools, uniforms, training and a custom cargo trailer with the Yellow Dawg logo and markings (graphics donated by Fetch Graphics).

“One of the things we hope to do with our Operation Stripes for Vets is to make the public aware of the difficulties our returning veterans are having finding work when they get home. We can’t give away a franchise to everyone who enters, but we hope this giveaway is used as a model or an inspiration for other businesses to do what they can to help those who have served our country,” Child said.

Smith offers advice for those thinking about entering the Operations Stripes for Vets giveaway.

“First of all, thank you for your service. You have already accomplished so much with your life, but don’t stop now. Just do it! You really do have a chance at winning this and if you do win it will change your life for the better,” he said.

For more information call 1-800-998-3294 or visit www.FranchiseDawg.com.