Night of Heroes gala honors retired four-star general John W. Nicholson, Jr.Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne Bass, and Mary Boies and Sisters of Service for Extraordinary Support of Military Heroes
TYSONS, Virginia., May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Pen Fed Foundationa nationwide 501(c)3 funded by PenFed Credit Union, today announced that it has raised nearly $1.4 million at its 18th annual Night of Heroes gala held on May 21. The PenFed Foundation has also been named interim chair. Shashi Vohra as chairman during the event. Vohra is senior executive vice president of PenFed Credit Union and president of affiliated businesses.
“The PenFed Foundation is proud to celebrate more than 20 years of service to the brave men and women who defend our nation, and the generosity and patriotism of our donors for their support of our military community,” said James Schenck, President. – Managing Director of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. . “We are delighted to announce Shashi Vohra as President of the PenFed Foundation. Shashi has been instrumental in the success of PenFed Credit Union for over 42 years and brings his exceptional talents and passion for serving others to the PenFed Foundation. »
celebrity chef Andre Rush, a retired decorated veteran who does 2,222 push-ups a day for suicide awareness and prevention, hosted the Washington area’s first fundraising event for our nation’s advocates. This is the seventh consecutive year that the event has raised over $1 million.
The PenFed Foundation honored:
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Retired four-star general John W. Nicholson, Jr. with the Lifetime of Service Award for his 36 years of service in the United States Army. He was the longest-serving commander in the war in Afghanistan and led the PenFed Foundation as president after retiring from the military. Under Nicholson’s leadership, the Foundation became the first national Veterans Services Organization (VSO) to launch a COVID-19 relief program for emergency financial assistance. Nicholson also led the Foundation in its partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to bring even greater attention and compassion to the mental health crisis in our nation’s military.
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Air Force Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne Bass with the Military Hero Award. Bass is the first woman and the first Asian American to hold the highest position in the NCO corps. She emphasizes the challenges of inclusivity, morale and mental health at the Pentagon to ensure the necessary tools are provided to every military installation across the country.
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Mary Boies and the Sisters of Service with the American Hero Award. The boys and a fraternity of American female veterans are helping resettle and empower Afghan women who fought alongside American troops in combat. The group strives to provide courageous Afghan women with supportive communities and helps them gain educational and professional opportunities to unlock their limitless potential in United States.
“The PenFed Foundation is grateful to our supporters for sharing our commitment to our nation’s veterans, their caregivers and their families,” said the PenFed Foundation Board Chair and former Secretary of the Army. ‘air, Deborah James. “Over the past few decades, we’ve created 40,000 free nights a year at Defenders Lodge in Palo Alto to keep veterans from sleeping in their cars while receiving treatment at the VA Center, helping nearly a thousand families of military to cover their emergency bills financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped relocate 48 Afghan families in United States with help with rent, cars and citizenship applications.”
The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 organization founded by PenFed Credit Union, was established in 2001 and since then has provided more than $40 million in financial support to veterans, active duty military, families and caregivers. Those interested in supporting the PenFed Foundation’s mission to help the military community and their support network are encouraged to visit penfedfoundation.org. A photo gallery of the event can be viewed here.
Aabout the PenFed Foundation
Founded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to empowering military service members, veterans, and their communities with the skills and resources to achieve financial stability and opportunity. It provides military 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, entrepreneurship veterans and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the country, build strong partnerships, and engage a dedicated volunteer corps in its mission. The credit union finances the Foundation’s staff and most of the operating costs, which demonstrates its strong commitment to the programs offered by the Foundation. Equal opportunity in housing. To learn more, visit www.penfedfoundation.org.
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SOURCE PenFed Foundation