Navient employees donate more than 20,000 items to aid service members, military veterans and first responders

FISHERS, Ind., Aug. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navient employees donated more than 20,000 items to Operation Gratitude to support service members, including new recruits, wounded heroes and their caregivers and families, as well as veterans of the U.S. military and first responders. A nonprofit organization, Operation Gratitude seeks to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of the military and first responder communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for civilians anywhere in America to express their appreciation to all who serve our nation.

Boxes were placed at multiple Navient facilities, such as Fishers, Ind., Reston, Va. and western New York locations and others. Employees donated items based on Operation Gratitude's wish list, such as batteries, hand sanitizers, lip balm, towels, travel-sized mouthwash and other supplies.    

"We are proud to show our support to Operation Gratitude and to the millions of first responders, service members, veterans and their loved ones," said Lee Coone, Navient employee, U.S. Army veteran and coordinator of the company's drive. "We hope these supplies meet the needs and ease the burden of those who have sacrificed so much for our country."

As a student loan servicer, Navient supports and provides resources for service members with student loans, including informational tools on program benefits uniquely available to service members. Navient hosts a military financial education online course and navient.com/military, a website for military members and their families. A military benefits team is also specially trained to assist military customers.

Navient is a member of the Veteran Jobs Mission, a coalition of companies committed to hiring U.S. military veterans and military spouses. For the second year in a row, Navient has been recognized as a Military Friendly® Employer from the publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine.

Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have assembled and shipped more than 1.6 million care packages, sending approximately 200,000 packages every year to service members, veterans and their families.

Learn more about Operation Gratitude.

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About Navient
Navient (Nasdaq:NAVI) is a leading provider of asset management and business processing solutions for education, healthcare, and government clients at the federal, state, and local levels. The company helps its clients and millions of Americans achieve financial success through services and support. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Navient employs team members in western New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and other locations. Learn more at navient.com.

Media: Nick LaMastra, 302-283-2964, nicholas.lamastra@navient.com