Tower and the TowerCares Foundation Honors Veterans with a Special $10K Donation to the Maryland Center for Veterans’ Education & Training

To commemorate Veterans Day and honor our nation’s Veterans, the TowerCares Foundation has made a special $10,000 donation to the Maryland Center for Veterans’ Education and Training, fondly known as MCVET. Located in Baltimore City, Md., MCVET helps Veterans in need in our community reintegrate into civilian life successfully.

In 2019, U.S. Army Veteran Henry Katt Russell was homeless and in dire need of help. While at a VA Hospital in Virginia, he saw a flyer for the Baltimore-based Maryland Center for Veterans’ Education and Training (MCVET) and soon after made his way to Baltimore City.
He is now a proud member of the MCVET staff, has secured permanent housing, and works daily to ensure that those who have served our country receive the same assistance and support that he did.

“MCVET ensured I had three meals a day, a safe place to sleep, made it to my appointments, and restored a sense of community in my life,” Russell recalls. “The on-site case workers helped me navigate tough choices, deal with past regrets, and see a better future. They provided much-needed structure, which was a real turning point for me. Now, I help my fellow Veterans as an Operations Specialist for MCVET.”

Changing lives and providing hope
In honor of Veterans like Mr. Russell, and the brave men and women past and present who protect our nation’s freedoms, the TowerCares Foundation has made a special $10,000 donation to MCVET to further support critical assistance for local Veterans.

“Tower, along with our TowerCares Foundation, has a proud 70-year history of serving those who protect our country” said Rick Stafford, President and CEO of Tower Federal Credit Union and TowerCares Foundation President. “To date, the Foundation has provided over $2 million in grants, donations, and scholarships to support local Veterans, active-duty service members, DoD employees, and children in need. We are privileged to work with incredible charity partners like MCVET. This special donation commemorates Veterans Day and honors those who have served—some who have paid the ultimate price.”

Another way the credit union supports Veterans, Stafford said, is through its Pennies for Change program. Every time a Tower member uses his or her Tower debit or credit card, Tower donates one cent to the TowerCares Foundation. In just over three years, Tower has donated over $740,000 through Pennies for Change.

“I am also proud to say that Tower has many Veterans and military spouses on our employee team,” Stafford said. “And more than half of our TowerCares Foundation College Scholarship Program winners the past two years have one or both parents who are Veterans or currently serve in the U.S. Military.”

Making a difference one Veteran at a time


For 30 years, MCVET has supported the diverse needs of local Veterans through a wide range of services, including job placement assistance, life skills training, mental health support, and education, said Misty Bruce, Executive Director (pictured above, second from the left, with members of her staff and resident Veterans).

“Our Veterans need places like MCVET and supporters like Tower Federal Credit Union and the TowerCares Foundation,” Bruce said. “Restoring hope in the lives of our nation’s war fighters is one of the most honorable missions to support. Your generosity assists Veterans with renewing their purpose. Rest assured, you are saving lives.”