Navy Federal “Doers” Champion 100 Charities Around the World

By: Haley Revette and Ashley Colatarci

There’s something special about coming over that little bridge of hope at REINS, a nonprofit organization nestled in north San Diego County that supports horse therapy programs. For the past 40 years, REINS has provided equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities. Nearly 200 students currently participate in weekly lessons on the 10-acre ranch, home to over 30 therapy horses.

In 2023, REINS launched REINS of Valor, a free mental health program for Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans and first responders. Located less than 30 minutes from Camp Pendleton, Shane Nolen, a chief warrant officer, rallied 24 fellow Marines to join the program to promote mental health within the unit, combat PTSD and prevent suicide.

“As Marines, we’re not broken. We’re resilient and mission ready, but we forget to exhale,” said Nolen, a Navy Federal member. “Horses respond to your energy, and they don’t care what you’ve been through. I’ve seen horse therapy work because it reminds us that it’s ok to be loved. REINS is a place for renewal and being real with yourself.”

Because of its profound impact, equine-assisted services are often recommended to US Marines. REINS of Valor sessions include certified instructors and therapists who teach skills and facilitate horse interactions that help participants calm anxiety and build focus on the present. To date, the program has supported over 500 military personnel, Veterans and first responders.

Since REINS is a cornerstone of the San Diego community, Navy Veteran Jim Desmond, a local leader, officially named July 19 “REINS Day” across San Diego County.

Empowering a Force for Good

Navy Federal Credit Union also recognizes the nonprofit’s impact, donating $1,000 to REINS of Valor through its Dollars for Doers program, an annual philanthropic campaign that empowers the credit union’s volunteer force for good.

This year, the Dollars for Doers program donated $100,000 to nonprofits where employees donate their time, whether that be supporting impoverished youth or rescuing orphaned animals. All told, Navy Federal has allocated nearly $2 million over the last 18 years to hundreds of organizations around the world.

“Dollars for Doers is a celebration of volunteers, their passions and the causes they care about,” said Danielle L., Dollars for Doers Program Manager at Navy Federal. “The nonprofit organizations receiving grants vary vastly, but they all strive to build resilient, sustainable and healthy communities for all.”

The $1,000 REINS donation honors the volunteer work of Branch Operations team member Renee H. Renee has volunteered with REINS for about five years and has engaged her colleagues in opportunities to support the organization through fundraising events and general ranch repair work.

“Navy Federal Serves supports me in the causes I care deeply about,” said Renee, a project coordinator at Navy Federal and spouse of a Marine Corps Veteran. “’Our members are the mission’ is our motto, and I see that same spirit in REINS—serving and connecting both the local and miliary communities with shared values and purpose. With so many military families in North County, REINS has become a vital resource for our community.”

Dollars for Navy Federal “Doers”

REINS is one of 100 nonprofit organizations around the world supported by Navy Federal’s Dollars for Doers program this year.

Across the Pacific Ocean, Member Service Representative LeSaundra S. began volunteering for one of three Armed Services YMCA branches in Hawai’i near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam two years ago, engaging her family and colleagues in volunteer opportunities to sort and distribute food to military families.

“I know what it is like to be a newly married military family living thousands of miles away from home worried about how to feed our family,” LeSaundra said. “Military families struggle with loss of income due to Permanent Change of Station orders and inconsistent employment for military spouses. It can be difficult to adjust to states or cities with high cost of living, such as Hawai’i.”

To offset those costs and address food insecurity, the food assistance programs of the Armed Services YMCA in Hawai’i provide food for Servicemembers and their families in times of need. In 2024, the ASYMCA provided more than 5,000 families with over 200,000 pounds of food across four distribution sites. LeSaundra volunteers regularly at the organization’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam monthly food drives, donating 50 hours of volunteer leave to the cause and hosting internal food collections at the local Navy Federal branch.

To support her work to end food insecurity and instability within the military community, Navy Federal donated $1,000 to the local Armed Services YMCA chapter through the Dollars for Doers program. The grant will allow their food assistance programs to purchase more pantry items to support local military families facing hunger.

The organization’s mission extends beyond food security and heathy living programs; it hosts social events to increase military family resiliency, such as family-friendly themed dances, childcare to support parent date nights and opportunities to connect with the local Hawai’i culture through hands-on and immersive experiences. ASYCMA also has programs aimed at early child education and youth development.

Coming Full Circle

Back stateside, Megan S. volunteers with Full Circle Home in Washington, D.C., which aims to bridge the gap between deployed Servicemembers and their loved ones at home. Every year, volunteers wrap 15,000 gift packages to support military families facing deployment. Since 2007, the nonprofit has served over 40,000 troops through holiday gifts and letters to their loved ones at home.

“During deployment, everyone in the family is affected,” said Megan, a staff assistant at Navy Federal. “The gift packs provide encouragement and support for families facing separation. We want to express our gratitude for the sacrifices each family member makes when serving our country.”

Megan’s roots with the nonprofit run deep: Her mother is close friends with the founders, and she has 10 years of volunteer service for the group under her belt. Thanks to Navy Federal’s annual volunteer leave policy, Megan says it’s easier to support opportunities during the workweek.

Every year, Full Circle Home struggles to fulfill an abundance of requests from Servicemembers overseas due to lack of supplies, Megan said, noting that the $1,000 in grant money from Navy Federal’s Dollars for Doers program will go to gift-wrapping supplies like boxes, stamps, scissors and tape, and cover postage to ensure more military families are supported. And for that, Servicemembers and their loved ones are grateful.

Learn more about Navy Federal’s philanthropic mission causes and how Navy Federal Serves strengthens the financial health and wellbeing of military families and surrounding communities.