Navy Federal’s Back-to-School Campaign Benefits Military Families and Underserved Communities From Coast to Coast

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Navy Federal Credit Union is engaging members and team members in its annual Back-to-School campaign to ensure children are prepared for the upcoming school year. The campaign runs July 9 – August 6 and offers a variety of ways for Navy Federal stakeholders to give back.

Team members who report to Navy Federal campuses across California, Florida and Virginia are donating school supplies to local United Way chapters. Donations include pencils, markers, binders and more to safeguard local students who need extra support to prepare for the next school year. Last year, collections exceeded $20,000 worth of school supply items from campus employees.

Additionally, 16 stateside branches are donating durable, reliable backpacks to military children in partnership with Operation Homefront. The donations serve as a crucial resource for military families facing financial hardship and help military children succeed in school.

“Our nation’s military families face unique challenges that take a financial toll, especially in the summer when many are transitioning to new communities and schools,” says retired Colonel Scott Arcuri, USAF, Vice President of Operations at Operation Homefront. “Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade®, made possible by like-minded partners including Navy Federal Credit Union, offers tangible gratitude and financial relief to these very deserving military families during this particularly expensive time of year, helping them to thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”

Navy Federal members can get involved by donating books to military families through the Virtual Book Drive hosted by United Through Reading. Reading is a bonding experience for many military families facing separations caused by deployment or distant training. The book drive builds connectiveness and literacy enrichment for military families. Book titles include financial wellness and military life topics, emphasizing belonging for military children who have shared military experiences.

“We know there’s no age limit on building financial literacy and belonging across our military communities,” said Keith Hoskins, EVP, Military Affairs & Strategic Partnerships at Navy Federal and a Navy Veteran. “Through our Back-to-School initiatives, we are meeting the immediate needs within our communities while also building a sustainable future for our next generation of leaders.”

Members are encouraged to use their Navy Federal debit and credit products to donate to the Virtual Book Drive. Last year, over 1,100 books were donated to military families through the campaign.

About Navy Federal Credit Union: Established in 1933 with only seven members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving more than 14 million members globally and is the world’s largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, Veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. Navy Federal employs a workforce of over 25,000 and has a global network of more than 365 branches. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Employer.

About United Through Reading:

United Through Reading keeps military families reading-ready, no matter the distance between them. Families stay connected through storytime video recordings and books sent to military families. These stories ease the stress of time apart due to military duty, maintain positive emotional connections, and cultivate a love of reading and early childhood literacy. Service members and Veterans can record a story for their family at more than 400 United Through Reading recording locations worldwide and on their mobile devices with their free and secure reading app. Since 1989, over 3.8 million military family members have benefited from the program. Learn more at unitedthroughreading.org

About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 83 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America's military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.