Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Commits $3 Million to Fisher House Foundation
ST. LOUIS, May 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation today announced a $3 million commitment to the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides no-cost lodging to the families of veterans receiving treatment at military medical centers. This latest gift from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation follows an initial donation in 2013 to the Fisher House Foundation.
The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand, which is part of the world's largest car rental provider – as measured by revenue, fleet and employees. Enterprise Rent-A-Car also is part of a global three-brand network exceeding 8,600 offices and 1.5 million vehicles throughout more than 70 countries and territories.
The donation will be distributed as three annual $1 million gifts. Each year, $750,000 of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation's $1 million donation will be earmarked for the Heroes' Legacy Scholarship program. The program is open to the dependent, unmarried children, under age 23, of those who have fallen in battle and all who have died or have become disabled through their active military service since Sept. 11, 2001. The remaining $250,000 will be allocated for building homes on the grounds of major military and Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers.
"Enterprise's support of the military focuses on three key areas – recruitment and hiring, local operations and community relations," said Carolyn Kindle, vice president and executive director of the Foundation. "Our continued support of the Fisher House is just one more way for us to thank our nation's heroes and their families for their service, which is especially meaningful as we celebrate Memorial Day."
Kindle noted, "Supporting military members and their families has been a part of our company's heritage since it was founded nearly six decades ago." In fact, Enterprise is named after the USS Enterprise, which is one of the aircraft carriers that Enterprise founder Jack Taylor served on as a Navy pilot during World War II. It is widely recognized as the most decorated warship in U.S. military history.
"This generous donation will help dependents of fallen and 100 percent disabled veterans achieve an education and allow many families to be close to their hospitalized service members at a very stressful time," said Dave Coker, president, Fisher House Foundation. "Enterprise, like Fisher House, is an organization that clearly understands the importance of assisting our military veterans and reservists after they return home as well as their families. We're very thankful for their support of our organization."
Enterprise has been recognized for its ongoing support of veterans and reservists, who comprise nearly 10 percent of its total U.S. workforce. In fact, the company is one of more than 190 companies associated with the 100,000 Jobs Mission coalition, which brings together companies committed to hiring U.S. military veterans and military spouses. Enterprise has added more than 6,000 military veterans to its staff since joining the coalition in 2012.
Additional recognition includes designations as a Top Veteran-Friendly Company by U.S. Veterans Magazine, "Best for Vets: Employers" by the Military Times publishing organization, Most Valuable Employer for Military by CivilianJobs.com and a Military Friendly Employer® by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs.
Last year, Enterprise updated its careers and recruitment website to feature information about its military heritage and ongoing support of veterans. The website includes employment opportunities for transitioning military personnel, veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve and military families. The site also highlights the extraordinary stories of several Enterprise employees with military experience.
For more information about Enterprise Rent-A-Car and its support of the military, visit http://go.enterprise.com/military/.
About Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation
The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand, which is part of the world's largest car rental provider – as measured by revenue, fleet and employees. With more than 5,500 fully staffed airport and neighborhood offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand is ideally positioned to provide replacement rentals to customers of collision repair centers and insurance companies throughout the country. In addition, Enterprise Rent-A-Car not only offers short-term vehicle rentals for weekend getaways and special occasions, but also provides local transportation alternatives and Virtual Car® options. Other transportation services marketed under the Enterprise brand name include Enterprise CarShare, Enterprise Rideshare, Enterprise Car Sales, Enterprise Truck Rental and Zimride by Enterprise. In addition, when severe weather strikes, the extensive Enterprise network plays an integral role in mobilizing local disaster recovery efforts of insurance providers, emergency response organizations and repair shops. With thousands of neighborhood rental locations, Enterprise is keenly in tune with the needs of the communities it serves and, as a result, the Foundation gives back and strengthens through charitable support the thousands of communities where Enterprise employees and customers work and live.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans' families an estimated $282 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
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SOURCE Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation
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