PenFed Foundation Provides $50,000 Grant to Our Military Kids to Increase Access to Extracurricular Activities

Our Military Kids supports children of deployed service members in the National Guard, Reserve, or those with post-9/11 combat injuries

The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, furthered its support of military families with a $50,000 grant to Our Military Kids, a charitable organization that provides activity grants to military children who have a parent that is either deployed with the National Guard or Reserve, or is a post-9/11 combat-injured service member. These families face unique stressors with limited support networks because they are often located in areas far from military bases and without access to other support resources.

Siblings Esmeralda (8) and Damian (6) from Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico received grants from Our Military Kids to play in their local soccer league. Their father is currently serving in the National Guard.

"As the son of a combat wounded Marine, it was very important to me as a child to have an outlet that provided joy and physical activity," said James Schenck, CEO of the PenFed Foundation. "We're so proud to be able to give the gift of extracurricular activities to deserving military children."

Research shows that more than two-thirds of military children of a deployed or severely injured parent experience at least one sign of psychological stress. Participation in extracurricular activities significantly improves children's lives. Military families in Puerto Rico face additional challenges. Since the beginning of 2022, Our Military Kids has given 20 activity grants to 15 military children in Puerto Rico to participate in programs like soccer, music lessons, art classes, volleyball, swimming, dance and even cosmetology.

"It is important we recognize the sacrifices of military children and, as a community, do all we can to support them," said OMK Executive Director and U.S. Navy Veteran Kara Dallman. "The PenFed Foundation's generosity helped us provide several hundred grants to military kids and teens who were empowered to choose an extracurricular activity that brought them joy during a stressful time."