PenFed Credit Union and PenFed Foundation Hit it Out of the Park at Washington Nationals Game with $250,000 Donation to National Military Family Association

TYSONS, Va., Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union and the PenFed Foundation presented National Military Family Association (NMFA) with a $250,000 donation, represented by a PenFed-signed baseball bat, to support military families during pre-game activities at Nationals Park Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The donation will be used to fund NMFA's initiatives, including an Operation Purple Buddy Camp in Trinity, Texas. Buddy Camp provides young military kids, ages 5-8, an opportunity to reconnect with a relative following a parent's deployment or injury.

"PenFed has supported the national military community for 84 years. We are especially proud to continue our partnership with NMFA and show our appreciation for children of military families who make sacrifices every day during long deployments and time spent away from mom or dad," said James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. "PenFed's partnership with NFMA is one of the best ways PenFed Credit Union and the PenFed Foundation say 'thank you' to these resilient children."

PenFed celebrated military families throughout the evening at Nationals Park. Ahead of the game, eight children from military families, selected from a PenFed Foundation social media sweepstakes, joined the Nationals for batting practice and stood on the field alongside players during the National Anthem. Another lucky child from a military family announced the ceremonial "Play Ball!" atop the Nationals dugout before the first pitch against the New York Mets.

"We thank PenFed for always standing behind service members, their spouses and their children," said NMFA Acting Executive Director Besa Pinchotti. "Military kids serve, too. We are tremendously grateful to PenFed for recognizing their sacrifice and making sure they're celebrated and given unforgettable opportunities, whether at camp or a major league baseball game."

Following the check presentation and on-field activities, the children and their families enjoyed the game in the PenFed Military Appreciation Section, located in right field at Nationals Park.

The PenFed Military Appreciation Section, in partnership with the Washington Nationals, provides a select number of complimentary tickets to active duty service members, veterans, and DOD-civilians for all regular season home games at Nationals Park. PenFed also sponsors the Kids Fun Zone play area frequented by thousands of military and civilian families each season at Nationals Park. 

During select games, everyone in the section also receives a promotional item and "thank you" message. PenFed proudly gave 7,100 complimentary tickets as part of this program during the 2018 season.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 1.8 million members worldwide with $24.5 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. 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.

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, home ownership, short-term assistance, and veteran entrepreneurial 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. In 2018, 95% of funds raised supported programs and PenFed Credit Union covers the Foundation's salaries and administrative costs. Equal Housing Opportunity. To learn more, visit www.penfedfoundation.org.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union