The TowerCares Foundation has provided over $3 million to help military families, Veterans, and children in need. Four special $25,000 donations to local TowerCares Community Heroes charity partners, along with the credit union's innovative Pennies for Change program, helped push the Foundation over the $3 million mark in just under a decade.

Dogs are known for their ability to provide emotional support, reduce stress, encourage physical activity, and foster social connections, which makes them invaluable in helping disabled Veterans through programs like Hero Dogs.

Located in Brookeville, Maryland, Hero Dogs trains and provides service companion dogs for active military, Veterans, and first responders in the Washington, D.C. area-many of whom deal with physical disabilities, mobility issues, hearing loss, and mental health challenges, including PTSD.

In honor of Veterans Day, the TowerCares Foundation recently made a special $25,000 donation to Hero Dogs.

"The TowerCares Foundation has been a true partner in our mission since 2017," said Nikki Charles, Executive Director of Hero Dogs. "This generous grant illustrates our shared commitment to creating better outcomes for disabled Veterans and first responders and continuing to do good work in the community, as a whole."

Founded in 2015, the TowerCares Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Tower Federal Credit Union, and provides financial support for 112 local charities in alignment with their mission to help military, Veterans, Department of Defense civilian employees, and children in need. The Foundation's annual college scholarship program has provided over half a million in college scholarships for students pursuing careers in STEM and foreign language linguistics fields.

Along with Hero Dogs, Camp Attaway, Casey Cares, and Hospice of the Chesapeake also each received a special $25,000 donation from the TowerCares Foundation. The $100,000 donation helped push the Foundation's total grants, donations, and scholarships over the $3 million mark.

"We are honored to support these amazing TowerCares Community Heroes, and I am thrilled that TowerCares has surpassed $3 million in less than a decade," said Rick Stafford, TowerCares Foundation President. "TowerCares has become an important part of Tower Federal Credit Union's rich history and we are honored to help the heroic individuals and their families who sacrifice while protecting our freedom. Together we are truly making a difference in the lives of so many military families, Veterans, and children in need in our community."

Camp Attaway Executive Director Sue Ann Shafley said the $25,000 TowerCares donation will go a long way toward supporting children who attend their summer camp, geared toward helping children with special needs and behavioral issues.

"The TowerCares Foundation has been a steadfast ally in our mission," Shafley said. "This unexpected, transformational gift is a testament to their unwavering conviction that all children deserve to be included and have the opportunity for personal growth while making friends and building summer memories that they will always treasure."

Stafford credits much of the Foundation's success to the enthusiasm and generosity of Tower Federal Credit Union members and employees. "The Tower team has supported our mission from the beginning through fundraising, volunteerism, recommending local charities, and supporting our key donation sources."

Another integral part of reaching the $3 million milestone is Tower Federal Credit Union's Pennies for Change program. Through the program, Tower donates one cent to the TowerCares Foundation every time a member swipes his or her Tower debit or credit card. Since the program launched in 2021, Pennies for Change has generated over one million dollars for the TowerCares Foundation.