Thrivent Financial to Donate $10,000 to Samaritan Purse Operation Heal our Patriots program

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Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously, will donate $10,000 to Operation Heal Our Patriots, a Samaritan’s Purse program designed to strengthen the marriages of wounded members of the U.S. Military. Thrivent will present its donation during the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 9 as they conclude their #DrivenToThrive racing campaign.

In partnership with Leavine Family Racing and faith- and family-first NASCAR driver Michael McDowell, Thrivent created its #DrivenToThrive campaign to raise awareness and support of Operation Heal Our Patriots as part of their overall racing program. The campaign, which was held Aug. 18 – Sept. 15, invited fans to enter a drawing to win McDowell’s Thrivent firesuit worn during the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and pieces of the No. 95 race car. For each entry, Thrivent committed to donate $1 to the Operation Heal Our Patriots program, and as a result, will gift $10,000 to the organization.

“As a long-standing supporter of Samaritan’s Purse, we are honored to help support their military-focused efforts to strengthen morale and provide healing to those wounded while serving our country,” said Craig Stacey, director of content marketing, Thrivent Financial.

With this donation, Operation Heal Our Patriots will be able to further serve its mission to provide physical and spiritual renewal to wounded veterans, active duty service members and their spouses. Each year, 150 couples are selected to participate in a weeklong wilderness retreat at Samaritan Lodge Alaska, along with ongoing aftercare to connect couples with military chaplains and churches in their local communities.

“Samaritan’s Purse is grateful to Thrivent Financial and Leavine Family Racing for raising this generous donation for the Operation Heal Our Patriots program,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We want wounded military service members to know that we appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made for our country. This donation will allow us to demonstrate that appreciation by encouraging and supporting more wounded veterans at our wilderness retreat in Alaska.”

The check presentation will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Phoenix International Raceway Media Center, and will include guests of honor Johnny and Shannon Montoya, a married couple from Prescott, Ariz., who is participating in the Operation Heal Our Patriots program. Johnny served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008 and experienced the wilderness retreat in Alaska with his wife last June.

In addition to Thrivent executives, Michael McDowell will also be present to award the check on behalf of Leavine Family Racing.

“I’m so grateful for the military members who sacrifice so much for our country. My team at Leavine Family Racing and I were excited to join with Thrivent to help wounded veterans through this initiative,” said McDowell. “Everyone who knows me knows how important my faith is to me, so it means a lot to be associated with a program that not only helps our vets heal physically but also spiritually.”

As part of this weekend’s race activities, Thrivent will also host a meet-and-greet with McDowell on Nov. 8. The organization invites fans to connect with the driver from 3 to 5 p.m. at Living Streams Church Activity Center in Phoenix. The event is free and open to the public. Please visit www.ThriventNascarPIR.eventbrite.com to RSVP.

Thrivent Financial PR

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