Veteran Receives Keys to Home as Bank of America Completes 1,000th Property Donation to Nonprofits Serving Military Veterans and Their Families
Bank Reaches Goal a Year Early; Will Continue Program
April 28, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Don Chandler and his family received keys to a renovated mortgage-free home in Gallatin, Tenn. today, becoming the latest recipient of a home donated by Bank of America through Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF).
With this home donation, Bank of America has surpassed its goal to donate 1,000 properties for military service member families and first responders who have housing needs. The company partners with MWSF and other nonprofit organizations that identify the home recipients and provide related services, such as financial counseling. Originally envisioned as a three-year program when announced in August 2012, Bank of America reached its 1,000th military home donation more than a year ahead of schedule. Bank of America will continue the program.
“We are honored to support returning veterans and their families through our property donation program,” said Ron Sturzenegger, Legacy Asset Servicing executive for Bank of America. “This builds on the company’s longstanding support of military service members across the country and reflects Bank of America’s dedication to revitalizing communities.”
Chandler served in the Army from 1988 to 2009 as a combat engineer. In 2006, he was injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck his unit as they travelled in Iraq. He is the recipient of two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and other prestigious awards. Chandler comes from a family of military veterans. He and his wife have five children and 10 grandchildren.
“The donation of these properties by Bank of America advances our efforts to provide support to our nation’s heroes as they transition out of the military and into their new civilian life,” said Casey Kinser, vice president of Programs for MWSF. “Thanks in part to the contributions of partners like Bank of America, we are changing lives for the better, not just for members of our armed services and their families, but for generations that follow.”
Veterans in 38 states have received keys to new homes through the Bank of America property donation program. HomeStrong USA, Operation Homefront, Purple Heart Homes, and the National Community Stabilization Trust are among other organizations partnering with the company to support housing needs for military families.
Across all of the company’s community revitalization programs, Bank of America has donated more than 4,600 homes and properties in 45 states to nonprofits, land banks and municipalities since 2012.
Bank of America has supported the U.S. military with banking services for more than 90 years, and currently serves more than 2 million military households. The company is committed to helping veterans as they transition back to civilian life, including the goal to hire 10,000 veterans, Guard and Reservists during the next few years. We also support the military community nationwide through philanthropic contributions to military-focused nonprofits and volunteering. Our employees volunteered more than 40,000 hours last year.
Military Warriors Support Foundation
MWSF is a 501(c)3 non-profit, founded by Lt. General, Leroy Sisco, USA (Ret), in 2007. MWSF’s Mission is to provide support for our nation’s combat wounded heroes and Gold Star Families as they transition out of the military and into their new civilian life. Their programs focus on housing and homeownership, employment, as well as recreational activities and travel assistance. For more information on MWSF and all of their programs, please visit www.MilitaryWarriors.org.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 49 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,100 retail banking offices and approximately 16,200 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users and more than 15 million mobile users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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