PenFed Credit Union Donates $10,000 to Wear Blue: Run to Remember

Donation supports a running community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military

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Nov 01, 2018, 15:39 ET

TYSONS Va., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union presented a $10,000 donation to wear blue: run to remember, a national nonprofit running community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military. The PenFed Board of Directors presented the check to Lisa Hallett, Executive Director/Co-Founder of wear blue: run to remember following her moving presentation at the credit union's October 30 board meeting.

PenFed Credit Union Board of Directors presents Lisa Hallett, Executive Director/Co-Founder of wear blue: run to remember with a $10,000 donation check during its October 30 board meeting.

"Lisa Hallett's enduring journey reminds us that overcoming adversity is not an accident, it's a choice," said James Schenck, President/CEO of PenFed Credit Union. "After the tragic death of her brave husband who was serving a combat deployment in Afghanistan, Lisa found strength and resilience in the military community. Now Lisa is helping thousands of other surviving military spouses and children connect and support each other. PenFed is proud to support wear blue: run to remember and help more gold star families move forward."

wear blue: run to remember was founded following the redeployment of the 5-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, which sustained significant losses and casualties while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During that deployment, the spouses and support staff met weekly to run, seeking to create a support network to cope with seemingly endless tragedies.

Two of those Army spouses and avid runners, Lisa Hallett and Erin O'Connor, turned this small group into a nationwide vision that now helps thousands to heal, survive, and thrive. Mrs. Hallett, whose husband, CPT John Hallett was one of four soldiers killed in action on August 25, 2009, shares, "With less than 1% of our country serving in the military, and less than 7% having ever served, there is an increasing gap in understanding what it takes to serve. wear blue: run to remember creates a support network for military members and their families by helping to bridge the gap between military and civilian communities, while creating a living memorial for our country's fallen military members."

wear blue focuses efforts on six core programs: The Saturday Run, Memorial Day, The wear blue Mile, Gold Star Races, Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program, and For the Fighting. Through these programs, wear blue: run to remember is able to provide mentorship to the children who have lost a parent in service to this country, support our service members engaged in our country's longest war, honor the nation's fallen service members, provide race access to Gold Star family members and active duty service members, and foster meaningful community relationships. For more information, visit www.wearblueruntoremember.org.

Each year, PenFed donates 2% of its annual net income to charitable organizations, with the majority going to military charities. The credit union is on track to donate over $5 million in 2018. The PenFed Foundation was created in 2001 and, since then, has provided more than $30 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, families, and caregivers.

About PenFed Credit Union
Established in 1935 as the War Department Credit Union, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 1.7 million members worldwide with over $24 billion in assets. Our mission is to help members reach their financial potential. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading mortgages, automobile loans, credit cards, student loans, checking, certificates, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. We have a proud history of serving those in the Armed Forces, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Military Associations, eligible veterans and retirees, and their families. You may also qualify through membership in select organizations within our field of membership. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union