TAMPA–Employees and members of GTE Financial came together during March to raise more than $20,000 for one Lutz charity dedicated to helping those with spinal cord injuries. They also celebrated the shared commitment by making a public donation to Tighten the Drag Foundation.
“Last year we gave more than $15,000 to this amazing organization that is doing so much to help people near and dear to my heart,” said EVP/COO Chad Burney. “We’re overjoyed that we can give back more this year with the help of our employees and GTE’s Future Change program, where our members have the opportunity to be philanthropists by just rounding up their change to the nearest dollar.”
There are approximately 17,500 new spinal cord injuries every year, and over a half million people are currently living with these injuries in the U.S., the credit union noted.
Burney suffered a spinal cord injury after falling from a twenty‐foot tree while hunting in Georgia. He broke his spine at the C4, C5 and C6 levels and was a quadriplegic for almost two weeks in 2014. Burney works closely with the organization and recognizes the work they are doing locally and in the state of Florida.
Tighten the Drag Foundation was established to help those who have experienced a traumatic spinal cord injury as the journey back to health after this type of damage can be difficult. This nonprofit helps those who are injured recover through aggressive rehabilitation, from activity based exercise, recreational outings, and helping family caregivers with the day‐to‐day commitment required to care for a loved one.
GTE Financial presented Tighten the Drag Foundation with a check for more than $20,000 to assist in their continued efforts on behalf of those with spinal cord injuries.