The TowerCares Foundation has provided over $2 million to help military families, Veterans, and children in need. Tower Federal Credit Union members and employees, along with the credit union’s Pennies for Change program, were instrumental in helping the Foundation reach the $2 million milestone.

The TowerCares Foundation is proud to announce that it has surpassed $2 million in grants, donations, and scholarships to help support military heroes, Veterans, and children in need. A special donation of $7,500 to the Fort Meade Alliance (FMA) Foundation pushed the TowerCares Foundation’s charitable giving past the two million dollar mark.

“TowerCares is proud to support the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation, which provides programs and initiatives to enhance the health, wellness, and resiliency of active military personnel and their families stationed at Fort George G. Meade” says Rick Stafford, TowerCares Foundation President.

Stafford says a key priority for the FMA Foundation is the Education and Resiliency Center located on base. Located in historic Kuhn Hall, the Center serves as a place for military personnel and their families to find a variety of local resources, services, and programs.

“The TowerCares Foundation previously provided funds for a kiosk in the Education & Resiliency Center,” says Stafford, “making it easier for our military heroes and their families to quickly and easily locate the information and assistance they need.” He lists the Education & Resiliency Center, along with the FMA Foundation’s robust focus on STEM education, as to why they were the perfect fit to help TowerCares reach the $2 million milestone.

“Similar to the FMA Foundation, TowerCares also supports our nation’s future leaders pursuing STEM-related fields through our annual college scholarship program,” Stafford says. “The $7,500 special donation to the FMA Foundation is our way of saying

‘thank you’ for everything they do for military families in our community and for their commitment to STEM education and training.”

Since its inception in 2015, the TowerCares Foundation has provided financial support to 93 local charities, including $200,000 in college scholarships to 40 students pursuing careers in STEM and foreign language linguistics fields.

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 been ardent supporters of TowerCares from the beginning, through fundraising, volunteerism, and supporting our key donation sources.”

Another integral part of reaching the $2 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 $662,000 for the TowerCares Foundation.

“I am thrilled that the TowerCares Foundation has passed the $2 million mark in less than a decade, and we are making a real difference in the communities we serve,” says Stafford. “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.”