Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield’s Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation offices got a financial boost July 31, receiving $10,000 from the Hinesville and Savannah branches of Veterans United Home Loans.
During June, Veterans United employees gave away $50,000 to five charities in Hinesville. Those funds were provided by the company’s foundation from the corporate office in Missouri.
The MWR donation was funded by employees of the Hinesville and Savannah branches. Owner and Savannah branch manager Shawn Workman, Hinesville branch manager Tim Spears and Jamie Phillips, director of business development and military liaison in the Hinesville office, handed the check the MWR employees, much to their surprise.
“About a month ago our company, our headquarters decided to do this great thing,” Phillips said. “They gave us $100,000. We gave $10,000 to organizations of our choosing. We gave it to five here in Hinesville and five in Savannah.”
After writing the last check Phillips said something dawned on him.
“It occurred to me that we hadn’t put you guys on the list,” Phillips said. “So we talked about it and we decided we should, for so many reasons.”
Phillips said the company has a partnership with MWR, sharing the vision of serving the military and their families.
“I remember being deployed and the things you all do to help us. You all make it better for all of us. This is us saying thank you and saying we appreciate all the work that you guys do for us,” he said.
Workman was in uniform as he prepared to deploy to Afghanistan for nine months.
“I wanted to be a part of this before I leave,” he said.
Mark GermonPrez, director of Family MWR of Fort Stewart and HAAF said the funds will impact many families.
“It’s huge. It just doesn’t get any better,” he said. “On behalf of the soldiers and families at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield and all those folks who serve the families, which is a lot of folks, thank you all.”
MWR support specialist Carly Michael said it was great to be thought of and appreciated.
“It’s good to feel proud of what we do, and I know a lot of what we do every day is very thankless. We don’t always get to see the fruits of those labors but people notice.”