BETHESDA, Md.–The PenFed Foundation’s 14th annual Military Heroes Golf Classic at Congressional Country Club here raised a record $834,633. All proceeds go towards the PenFed Foundation, which supports more than 35,000 veterans, active military members and their families each year.
This year’s tournament attracted a record 92 corporate sponsors and veterans including numerous Purple Heart recipients, PenFed reported.
“As a nation, we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the service men and women who have fought to defend and preserve our great way of life,” PenFed Credit Union President and CEO James Schenck said at the tournament. “What we can do is provide them with the support and resources they need to live the life they deserve and to provide for their families.”
“PenFed Credit Union and PenFed Foundation truly set the standard for how corporate America can support our nation’s warriors. Their annual Military Heroes Golf Classic is an amazing fundraiser that ultimately helps thousands of veterans each year,” added U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. (ret.) Justin Constantine. “I have played in this tournament several times and always feel buoyed and optimistic after the personal interactions all day long.” Constantine, who deployed to Iraq in 2006, was shot in the head by a sniper while on a routine combat patrol. Although the original prognosis was that he had been killed in action, Constantine survived and earned the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his service in Iraq.
The PenFed Foundation was founded in 2001 to fill the critical gaps that exist when it comes to helping military heroes and their caregiver heroes at home. Donations enable the PenFedFoundation to fund its three main programs which help Military Heroes purchase a first home, manage through a temporary financial setback, and avoid predatory, pay-day lending.
Since it was created, the PenFed Foundation has provided more than $30 million of financial support to veterans, active military and their families
At right, from left, veteran Matt Anderson, PenFed CEO James Schenck, U.S. Army General (ret.) George Casey, 36th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and Michael Kavka with Vulcan Materials Company.