TYSONS, Va.– The PenFed Foundation said it is partnering with wear blue: run to remember, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring fallen service members through purposeful steps every week in community runs.
The PenFed Foundation provided a $30,000 grant to support wear blue’s Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program and widely recognized “wear blue Mile” that honors fallen service members by displaying their photos and ribbons for one mile in large marathons across the country including the upcomingSt. Jude’s Rock 'n' Roll Nashville.
“Military children make a tremendous sacrifice that often goes unrecognized,” said James Schenck, CEO of the PenFed Foundation. “We are inspired by their resilience and want every military child to know that we see and support them, especially those who are enduring the immense and tragic loss of a parent.”
After losing her husband in Afghanistan, co-founder Lisa Hallett turned to running to cope with her loss. Hallett found a community of other wives and families searching for support and wear blue: run to remember was born. In the years since, Lisa has built the group into the global organization it is today as an outlet for loved ones to honor those they have lost and as a way for every American to convey tangible gratitude to our service members, PenFed said.
“When our children lose a loved one, there is so much in their worlds they cannot control. But, in the steps of a run, they are able to regain agency in a piece of their lives,” said Hallett, Co-Founder of wear blue: run to remember. “When an organization with the compassion and muscle like the PenFed Foundation partners with wear blue, we're able to scale our impact to empower our families of the fallen; support our service members, veterans, and their families; and ensure that our fallen heroes are never forgotten.”
Over the past decade, wear blue: run to remember has grown into a nationwide running communitythat hosts weekly, no-cost Saturday runs to honor the service and sacrifice of the American military. The Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program pairs a military child of a fallen service member with a currently serving member of the armed forces. Together, they train for a 5K race, learning healthy coping habits and developing a meaningful relationship with a mentor who can help connect them to their identity as a military child.