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PenFed Credit Union Launches Assistance Dogs in Training Program
in Partnership with Canine Companions for Independence®
Admiral and Clint were greeted with a new employee welcome party featuring
a pop-up dog park in the lobby of PenFed’s Tysons Corner Headquarters. Left
to right: Clint, Emma Phillips, Lisa Jennings, Admiral, Debra Dougherty
(Canine Companions for Independence).
TYSONS, Va., July 16, 2018 — PenFed Credit Union, the nation’s second-largest federal
credit union, today launched a new program in partnership with Canine
Companions for Independence® welcoming two puppies, Admiral III and Clint
III, as assistance dogs in training. The new partnership kicked off at the
company’s Tysons Corner headquarters with a welcome party and tour for the
new canine members of the PenFed team and was followed by the dogs visiting
the company’s Alexandria Service Center location. Admiral will be based in
Tysons Corner and Clint in Alexandria.
“PenFed is proud to work with Canine Companions and provide support to
children, adults and veterans with disabilities. We are especially proud to
support the men and women who have served our country and protected our freedoms,”
said James Schenck, PenFed Credit Union president
and CEO. “Admiral and Clint are part of a mission to help open doors for
people with disabilities to become more independent. They also provide
unconditional love, companionship, and loyalty. We are committed to this
program and making it work for our employees who are donating their time to
raise these dogs for a very noble cause and plan to expand the program to our
Omaha and Eugene locations.”
PenFed has provided $60,000 in funding to Canine Companions in the last year
and is covering all costs associated with the puppies for the two employee
volunteer dog raisers.
Admiral and Clint receive their official
employee ID badges.
The puppies will learn
basic commands and socialization skills by accompanying PenFed’s first
volunteer assistance dog raisers Lisa Jennings, senior executive vice
president, and Emma Phillips, university relations and campus
recruitment lead, to work every day and by joining all of their personal
activities.
“With every gift given there is a responsibility to give to others,” said
Jennings, who is also a volunteer member of “Pets on Wheels,” an organization
of the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging where pets visit and support
people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. “I’m excited
to raise Admiral as one of PenFed’s first volunteer dog raisers as it’s an
opportunity to improve a life not just for a few moments, but for years to
come.”
Part of Clint’s mission to become an assistance dog will also include
accompanying Phillips on college campus visits this fall to recruit future
PenFed employees. It’s part of how the company is showing up differently on
campus.
“I strive to give back to others and am delighted to take on this opportunity
to show my children what it takes to have a heart of service,” said Phillips,
an experienced show dog trainer. “I look forward to traveling with Clint to
college campuses this fall to recruit future PenFed employees because it
shows our company’s commitment to bettering the lives of others, in all that
we say and do.”
The PenFed volunteer dog raisers will spend the next 18 months raising
Admiral and Clint as part of the PenFed family to prepare them for the next
step in the program, where they will spend an additional six months with
Canine Companions professional instructors learning over 40 advanced commands
that are useful to a person with disabilities.
Admiral (front) and Clint (back) enter through the front doors at the
PenFed Headquarters in Tysons Corner, VA and are welcomed by their new
colleagues.
"We're excited to form this new
partnership with the employees of PenFed Credit Union, and we congratulate
them for their ongoing compassion and commitment to helping people with
disabilities," said Debra Dougherty, Canine Companions northeast region
executive director. "We know that PenFed employees will have a great
experience supporting these new puppies as they begin their journey to become
highly trained assistance dogs. Canine Companions is extremely grateful to
PenFed and their employees, who are supporting our program and giving their
time and energy to raise two pups that will soon be making an amazing
difference in the life of a person with disabilities."
For the last 43 years, Canine Companions has been committed to providing four
different types of highly trained assistance dogs to those in need at no
cost. Assistance dogs assist adults with physical disabilities by performing
daily tasks. Hearing dogs alert their partners, who have a hearing disability,
to important sounds. Facility dogs work with clients with special needs in a
visitation, education, criminal justice or health care setting. Skilled
companions enhance independence for children and adults with physical,
cognitive and developmental disabilities.
PenFed will provide updates throughout the two-year training period via
social channels – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Click here to download B-roll footage and
photos of Admiral and Clint’s arrival at PenFed.
About PenFed Credit Union
Established in 1935 as the War Department Credit Union, Pentagon Federal
Credit Union (PenFed) is America’s second-largest federal credit
union, serving 1.7 million members worldwide with
$23.5 billion in assets. Our long-standing mission has been to
provide superior financial services in a cost-effective manner, while being
responsive to members’ needs. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading
mortgages, automobile loans, credit cards, student loans, checking,
certificates, and a wide range of other financial services with members’
interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union serves a diverse
population, and no military service is required to join. PenFed Credit
Union offers many paths to membership, including numerous employee groups and
association affiliations. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the
NCUA and is an equal housing lender. To learn more about PenFed
Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed?
Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
About Canine Companions for Independence®
Canine Companions for Independence® provides expertly trained
assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities. Established
in 1975 in California, Canine Companions is the largest non-profit provider
of assistance dogs in the United States. Canine Companions is recognized
worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of
the matches it makes between people and dogs. There is no charge for the
dog, its training and on-going follow-up services. For more information,
visit www.cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.
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