PenFed Welcomes Third Assistance Dog in Training in Continuing Partnership with Canine Companions for Independence

Future Assistance Dog, Maverick, Will Be Raised by Andrea McCarren, Vice President of PenFed Digital and Chief Content Officer

Maverick, the newest member of the PenFed team from Canine Companions for Independence, begins preparing for his mission to serve others.

TYSONS, Va., April 29, 2019 – PenFed Credit Union, the nation’s second-largest federal credit union, welcomed assistance dog in training, Maverick, as part of a continuing partnership with Canine Companions for Independence®. The yellow Labrador Retriever will be raised by Andrea McCarren, Vice President and Chief Content Officer for PenFed Digital. Maverick joins Admiral and Clint, Tysons-based assistance dogs in training that PenFed employees began raising last year.

“PenFed is proud to work with Canine Companions and assist veterans and others with disabilities. We are honored to support the men and women who have served our country and protected our freedoms,” said James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. “Maverick, 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.”

McCarren will spend the next 18 months raising Maverick as part of the PenFed family to prepare him for the next step in the program, where he will spend an additional six months with Canine Companions professional instructors learning over 40 advanced commands that are useful to a person with disabilities.

“As someone who previously raised two service dogs, I have seen firsthand the powerful impact they can have on the lives of a wounded service member or someone else with a disability,” said McCarren. “The ability to help a remarkable organization like Canine Companions while at the office is one of the many things that makes working at PenFed special.”

PenFed has donated over $100,000 to Canine Companions and is covering all costs associated with raising these dogs.

“Canine Companions is the largest provider of assistance dogs in the world and we are excited to continue this partnership with a mission-driven organization like PenFed Credit Union and its dedicated employees,” said Debra Dougherty, Canine Companions Northeast Region Executive Director. “Canine Companions is extremely grateful to PenFed and their employees for their support in raising these dogs to make a difference in the lives of people 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. Service dogs assist adults with physical disabilities by performing daily tasks. Hearing dogs alert their partners, who are deaf or hard of hearing, 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.

Click here to watch Maverick meeting fellow PenFed assistance dogs in training Admiral and Clint during a first birthday celebration PenFed recently hosted for Admiral.

PenFed will provide updates throughout the 18-month training period via its social channels, which include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America’s second-largest federal credit union, serving 1.7 million members worldwide with $25 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members’ interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by 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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