ALEXANDRIA, Va.– The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation recently marked the six-month anniversary of the Lee & Penny Anderson Defenders Lodge, a no-cost hotel for veterans seeking medical treatment, with a special “Night of Heroes” Dinner held in Palo Alto, Calif.
The lodge has served over 9,000 veterans and their caregivers since it opened in May 2014; providing top accommodations with state-of-the-art amenities.
“Without the generous support of PenFed, the Defenders Lodge could never have opened as early as it did,” said Jane Whitfield, president and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. “Because of PenFed’s continued support and initial loan for the construction of the hotel, many more veterans in need of accommodations have been able to stay at the lodge over the last six months.”
Through a joint partnership between the PenFed Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defenders Lodge was made possible by way of individual donations and broad community support; including a $10 million low-interest loan provided by Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) in 2011 to help get construction underway.