The USO center at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport got some welcome news during the start of its holiday rush of troops after Leon and Sandra Levine and Howard Levine announced a joint $50,000 challenge grant for the center.

The two family foundations named after the father and son will split the funding of the grant, stipulating that it be used for the Charlotte center, Tom Lawrence, executive director of the Leon Levine Foundation, said Monday.

The grant will match every dollar the USO-N.C. raises for the Charlotte center, up to $50,000 by June 30 next year. The Levines decided to combine ranks after a story in the Observer last week chronicled increased needs by USO centers across the state as thousands of troops fly home and back to their bases for the holidays.

The USO-N.C., celebrating its 70th anniversary, runs six centers in North Carolina, but the two Levine foundations largely support nonprofits in the Charlotte region.

John Falkenbury, the nonprofit's president, was overjoyed with the news.

"I can't believe that in less than 24 hours after the story was published, that the Levines took the time to reach out," Falkenbury said. "They are more than generous. Their matching grant will give us breathing room."

During a normal month, the centers at Charlotte/Douglas and Raleigh/Durham airports draw an average of 13,000 troops. At the holidays, that population swells to 20,000 a month for November, December and January.

The centers feed the troops and provide video games and computers for emails. They also have "quiet rooms" for troops to relax and spend time with family and a trained team of volunteers that makes sure transfers of fallen troops are done with dignity.