RISMEDIA, July 28, 2011—The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (PenFed Foundation), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization working to meet the unmet needs of military personnel and their families, is offering financial help to eligible first-time home buyers through its Dream Makers program.
Active duty personnel, veterans and retired members of the military, as well as employees of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, qualify for a grant up to $5,000 to use on down payments and closing costs when buying their first home.
“Members of the military often put off buying a home earlier in their careers because they’re moving around the country a lot,” says Kate Kohler, former Army captain and chief operating officer for the PenFed Foundation. “We want to make sure they have resources to add immediate equity into their home when they decide to buy and the Dream Makers program helps make that possible.”
In today’s housing market, the PenFed Foundation has seen a slowdown in the number of veterans applying for the program, so it is redoubling its efforts to help both active duty members and veterans learn about the Dream Makers program.
“Community leaders, REALTORS® and other people working in real estate should know that they can help their clients who are veterans or active duty personnel get assistance in buying their first home,” says Kohler. “And this is a program they could promote that will benefit our nation’s defenders.”
To make a donation or learn more about the foundation, visit www.PentagonFoundation.org.