TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As America prepares for an annual celebration of active-duty military personnel, a new survey finds that most Americans believe U.S. companies have a responsibility — more than anyone besides the government — to give back to active-duty service members. Those surveyed are also willing to back up that belief with their wallets, with an overwhelming majority (85 percent) ready to spend more for products and services if a portion of the sales goes to support America’s troops.

“This research reveals the outpouring of support Americans have for companies that recognize the sacrifice made by our soldiers,” said Martin C. Boire, president of Support Our Troops. “So many outstanding companies show America’s troops that every soldier, on home soil and abroad, is valued and supported by those of us back at home.”

The survey of 1,037 Americans was fielded August 27 by Breakthrough Research and has a margin of error of +/- 3%. Among the findings:

• 93% believe American companies should support U.S. active-duty military and their families.
• 62% said that aside from the government, American companies are most responsible to support and give back to active-duty service members. Individual citizens were identified by 30%, while 8% identified faith-based organizations as most responsible after the government.
• 53% said they strongly prefer to buy from companies that support service members and their families, and another 36% said they somewhat prefer that choice. Only 11% said they do not prefer to buy from supportive companies.
• More than half (52%) said their preferred method of supporting active-duty military personnel and their families is to buy products from companies that donate a portion of each sale to military causes. Another 28% selected direct donations to nonprofit organizations, while 11% prefer to volunteer with such organizations.

Support Our Troops, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that meets the needs of America’s troops, will benefit in October from a promotion by Dr. Scholl’s in which the company will donate $1 for every pair of insoles valued at $10 or more purchased in a Walmart store. Last year, Dr. Scholl’s parent company Bayer Healthcare donated more than half a million insoles to soldiers through a similar effort with Support Our Troops.

For more information about this Dr. Scholl’s program and the full survey, visit supportourtroops.org/ds2018.