Veterans United Home Loans and employees give nearly $10 million to charitable causes since start of 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo., Aug. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees of Veterans United Home Loans have given nearly $10 million to charitable causes and organizations since the beginning of 2016 through the company's philanthropic division Veterans United Foundation. The foundation has donated more than $3.3 million thus far in 2017 and $6.6 million in 2016. More than 90 percent of the 2,400 employees of Veterans United Home Loans contribute at least a percentage of their paychecks which is matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.

"The generosity of our employees has enabled Veterans United Foundation to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Veterans and give back to the communities we live in every day," said Greg Steinhoff, executive director of the Veterans United Foundation. "When the foundation was formed in 2011, it was the result of the collective vision of our employees, fueled by their passion and unwavering commitment to give. We are truly dedicated to enhancing the lives of Veterans and service members, our employees and their families and the communities served by Veterans United Home Loans."

Veterans United Foundation gives donations based on the direction of an allocations committee. The committee consists of six Veterans United Home Loans employees who are elected by their peers to serve a two year term. In addition to giving money to charitable organizations, the foundation also provides financial assistance to individuals in need. For additional information about the foundation, visit enhancelives.com.

Some examples of donations:

• In 2017, employees from Veterans United Home Loans are taking the Week of Giving campaign on the road for the first time and will give more than $1 million to charitable organizations in more than 25 communities across the country. Employees at each of the company's locations select five charities in their local communities to receive $10,000 each. The employees then surprise the groups during their specific Week of Giving. The Week of Giving campaign runs May through December.
• In December, employees from Veterans United Home Loans donated $50,000 to provide the final piece of fundraising needed to get the Veterans Community Project neighborhood in Kansas City started. The neighborhood will be comprised of tiny houses that will provide transitional housing to homeless Veterans.
• In October, Veterans United Home Loans helped present US Air Force Senior Airman, Brian Kolfage, and his family with their new specially adapted custom smart home in Miramar Beach, Fla. The home was built by the Gary Sinise Foundation and was made possible by a $300,000 gift from the employees of Veterans United Home Loans. Kolfage lost both of his legs and right arm when in 2004 when his airbase fell under rocket attack while serving in Northern Iraq.
• In October, Veterans United Foundation donated $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC) of Columbia, Missouri. The donation helped fund the BGC's $2.5 million capital campaign to renovate and expand its current main site.
• In June 2016, employees of Veterans United Home Loans gave their largest donation to date, a $1.5 million gift to jumpstart the construction of Welcome Home, Inc.'s new emergency homeless shelter for Veterans located in Columbia, Missouri. The shelter is the only one of its kind in mid-Missouri. Veterans United Home Loans donated $2.5 million to the entire campus and employees of the company volunteered hundreds of hours over the last four years on various projects at the site.

About Veterans United Foundation
Veterans United Foundation is supported entirely by the employees of Veterans United Home Loans. The foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of Veterans and military families nationwide, by supporting nonprofit organizations that strengthen local communities and honor the sacrifices of those who served our country. It also provides individual donations to current and former military members in need. More than $30 million has been raised since its founding in 2011. Learn more at EnhanceLives.com.

About Veterans United Home Loans
Based in Columbia, Mo., the full-service national lender financed more than $10.3 billion in loans in 2016. Its mission is to help Veterans and service members take advantage of the home loan benefits earned by their service. Earlier this year, Veterans United was named No. 27 of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, according to Great Place to Work® and Fortune Magazine. In 2012, Veterans United was named the No. 29 private job creator by Inc. Magazine and No. 21 best medium place to work by Great Place to Work.

VeteransUnited.com | 1-800-884-5560 | 1400 Veterans United Drive, Columbia, MO 65203 | NMLS ID #1907 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). A VA approved lender; Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. Equal Opportunity Lender. Mortgage Research Center, LLC

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SOURCE Veterans United Home Loans