PenFed Foundation Raises Nearly $1.5 Million for Veterans, Military Members And their Families; Honors Heroes Making a Difference
TYSONS, Va., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The PenFed Foundation raised a record nearly $1.5 million last evening at its 13th Annual Night of Heroes Gala. All proceeds go towards supporting more than 35,000 Veterans, active military members and their families each year.
Nearly 800 Military, Business, Community and Government leaders attended the Washington, D.C. event which included moving tributes to three remarkable heroes making a difference on behalf of those who have served.
"In combat, the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces fight for the ideals of freedom. Even if they become severely injured, servicemembers keep fighting for their lives. These military heroes are driven to recover due to the love and support of family, friends and loved ones who remind them every day that a grateful nation stands behind them," said James Schenck, PenFed Foundation CEO. "So as you look out across this room and see nearly 800 patriotic Americans, it is your care and your concern for our nation's heroes that inspires them. By supporting our nation's defenders who were injured defending our way of life, your love and support for them is making a real difference."
US Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said, "At the VA, there is no way we could do the work we are doing without our partners. The work being done by the PenFed Foundation is absolutely critical to the type of partnerships that we need to help our nation's Veterans. We are really proud that working with foundations like PenFed and others, the number of homeless Veterans is down by half."
Bob Carter, President of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. and Executive General Manager, Toyota Motor Corporation, received the Community Hero Award for the extraordinary contributions Toyota has made to numerous military community-based philanthropic programs, including partnering with the Hiring-Our-Heroes Organization, founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "It is imperative for all of us to remember that as supporters of our men and women of service, our responsibility does not end when they return home. In fact, for companies like us, their homecoming is where our duty begins," Carter said. "We know that hiring Veterans is not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do," he continued, noting that "companies of all sizes, including over 500 Toyota dealers, have committed to hire over 700,000 veterans and military spouses in conjunction with the Hiring-Our Heroes program."
Marine Corporal (Ret.) Joshua Himan received the Military Hero Award in recognition of the contributions he has made to other Veterans after returning home paralyzed from the chest down from injuries he suffered while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. "I accept this award on behalf of the 16 men that died in my battalion in Afghanistan," Himan said. "My sacrifice is so insignificant compared to what those men gave. Whenever I feel sorry for myself I think about these men and I know every single one of them would trade places with me today. I owe it to them to live my life to the fullest. Because of that motivation, I'm here with you today."
Claudia Avila received the Hero at Home Award for her unending support as caregiver for her husband Captain Luis Avila who was severely wounded on his fifth deployment in Afghanistan in 2011. Claudia said, "Soldiers are the backbone of our nation and we, the caregivers, are the backbone for them. To the PenFed Foundation I'm grateful for creating awareness that caregivers do exist, that we do want help and we appreciate everything you all do. All of you are heroes in one way or another. You made the life of our families better and we are grateful for that. Life is fragile, it can happen to anyone of us; we need to take care of one another."
Since it was founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation has provided more than $30 million of financial support to Veterans.
To learn more about the PenFed Foundation and see a short video about its mission, please visit The PenFed Foundation's website.
About the PenFed Foundation
Founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to helping members of our military community secure their financial future. It provides service members, Veterans, their families and support networks with the skills and resources they need to improve their lives through programs on financial education, credit-building, home ownership, and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the nation, build strong partnerships, and engage a dedicated corps of volunteers in its mission. The credit union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, demonstrating its strong commitment to the programs the Foundation provides. To learn more, visit: www.penfedfoundation.org.
SOURCE PenFed Foundation
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