PHILADELPHIA - Freedom Mortgage, one of the largest full-service, independent mortgage companies, and a top Veterans Administration (VA) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lender in the U.S., has started its annual Rucksacks to Backpacks campaign to provide necessary school supplies for many children of active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists. Funds raised from the campaign, now in its 11th year, will enable children in grades K–8 to pick the school supplies they need at distribution events at nine USO (United Service Organizations) centers across the country.
“We are so proud to continue our partnership with the USO to bring school supplies to many children of military families across the country,” said Stanley C. Middleman, president and CEO of Freedom Mortgage. “Each year, this campaign has brought smiles to many families and their children, enabling them to start a new school year with the tools they need. At the same time, their smiles fuel us to continue our work.”
Money raised from the fundraiser will benefit USO locations across the U.S., including southern California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas (in the Fort Cavazos and San Antonio areas).
Each USO will provide the most-needed back-to-school supplies from the money raised and distribute them locally this July and August to meet the needs of military families with children. Over the years, Freedom Mortgage, through this campaign, has donated nearly 26,000 backpacks and over 68,000 school supply items, including pens, notebooks, and folders.
“We are grateful to Freedom Mortgage for their support and partnership with the USO,” said USO Northeast Region President Rebecca Parkes. “Together, we bring great joy to military kids and families across the United States as they get ready for a great start to the school year. The USO thanks the employees, customers and leadership of Freedom Mortgage for their support of service members and their families.”
Freedom Mortgage will accept monetary donations and offer employees who work at some of its larger offices the option to drop off school supplies in collection bins.
Freedom Mortgage invites everyone to join in and make an online monetary donation to the Rucksacks to Backpacks campaign (which runs until August 11)
