LINTHICUM, MD, November 1, 2021— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Sergeant Major Matthew Krenz, ARNG, Retired, as the NFM Salute for November 2021.
Even as a young child, Krenz knew he wanted to become a soldier. Two of his grandfathers had served in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, and their stories and passion spurred Krenz to follow the same path of military service. In 2003, he followed his dream and joined the Colorado Army National Guard as a recruiter. After five years of scouting and maintaining retention for Company C 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, he became a Training and Development Specialist for the Army National Guard (ARNG), working out of Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
In October 2009, Krenz deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan where he was the Afghanistan Theater Army National Guard Senior Forward Deployed Career Counselor. He tracked personnel retention data and offered guidance to his comrades about their occupational goals. Throughout his assignment, Krenz’s family was at the forefront of his mind. He recalled the experience, saying, “Deployments are a very unique experience. You don’t know what to expect when you go on any sort of overseas deployment, let alone deployed to a combat area of operations. But the nerves, to be very honest, come back to the family that you’re leaving behind.” After the end of his deployment in May 2010, Krenz returned to working in human resources with the ARNG, a field where he had found his niche. In just five years, Krenz worked his way to becoming Human Resources Quality Assurance and Compliance Director, where he oversaw all 54 ARNG recruiting stations.
After 13 years of working with and advocating for his fellow Guardsmen, Krenz took representing the ARNG to a higher stage: Congress. With his new position as the Legislative Liaison for the National Guard Bureau, Krenz played a key role in promoting the organization’s interests to federal lawmakers. Among the many changes he effected, one of the most significant occurred in December 2016. Until that point, National Guard and Reserve members could not be considered Veterans unless they served at least 180 days of active duty under federal orders. Even if an individual had served honorably for 20 years, they would not be able to call themselves a Veteran. Krenz’s work on this matter broadened the Veteran title to include Guardsmen and Reservists if they have honorably served at least 20 years. This new consideration made its way into the Miller-Blumenthal Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Act, which was signed into law.
Krenz retired from the ARNG in March 2021 after 27 years of military service as a Sergeant Major. While he no longer wears the uniform, he is still very much part of the ARNG. In his current role as Executive Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), he continues to fight for the needs of Guardsmen, current and former.
Another part of Krenz’s new mission is to raise the public profile of the National Guard to the respect it deserves. Despite being essential to the nation’s safekeeping, the National Guard tends to be underappreciated by many Americans. “The biggest thing is that your National Guard servicemembers are your neighbors. They’re in your community, they’re there with you when there’s times of need, they answer the call,” Krenz explained. “There’s no branch like the National Guard. There’s no service that will put their lives on hold to deploy to a combat zone and also do the same type of thing but deploy to someplace in the continental U.S. to defend their local communities. These individuals go ahead and drop what they’re doing, and their families are willing to sacrifice.”
The NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” is featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service. NFM Lending will donate to a non-profit in the Salute’s name. NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to We Care for America on behalf of Krenz. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military service members and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, October 11, 2021— NFM Lending will sponsor Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital’s 8th annual Storybook Gala and silent auction. The silent auction will be held virtually October 15th-16th, 2021. It will benefit the many children who are receiving life-saving care at the hospital. This is NFM’s first year sponsoring this event.
This year’s theme, Mary Poppins, symbolizes the idea that “anything is possible, even the impossible.” The dedicated staff and specialized, family-focused treatments at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (MWPH) have helped give hope to thousands of young patients and their families over the years.
“NFM Lending is honored to be partnered with the Mt. Washington Pediatrics Hospital as a sponsor of the 2021 MWPH Storybook Gala,” said David Silverman, CEO of NFM Lending. “MWPH is leader in pediatric care with a mission of improving the health and wellbeing of all children who are ill, injured or in need of help. I personally share their mission in supporting an amazing cause that has the greatest impact on improving children’s lives.”
Since 1922, MWPH has made it its mission to focus on treating infants, children, and adolescents with critical medical needs. Nearly 9,000 children each year receive vital treatment at MWPH. NFM Lending is proud to support MWPH and looks forward to working with such an incredible organization.
NFM Lending is proud to support many charities, and non-profits focused on the wellbeing of children and improving their lives. NFM has also been involved in charitable efforts with The Ronald McDonald House Charities Maryland, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and JAFCO, to name a few.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, October 7, 20201— NFM TV, a four-time Telly-award-winning media division of NFM Lending, announced today that it secured an exclusive interview with the mother and stepfather of fallen U.S. Marine David Lee Espinoza. The interview was part of the company’s NFM Salute initiative. Each month one military member or Veteran is chosen to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” The “Salute of the Month” is featured on nfmsalute.com with a video biography about their service. In conjunction, NFM Lending donates to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name; NFM Lending is proud to present $2,500 to Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of Espinoza.
Lance Corporal Espinoza was one of 13 U.S. servicemen and women killed on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at Kabul International Airport.
The interview with Espinoza’s mother, Elizabeth Holguin, and his stepfather, Victor Dominguez, took place from their home in Laredo, TX, on September 24, 2021, less than one month after Espinoza and other military service members were lost.
Espinoza had been moved from Jordan to Afghanistan to protect the Kabul airport and refugees just one week before the attack. Holguin expressed that her level of anxiety was elevated leading up to the day of the bombings. “When he was in Jordan, of course, I was worried. Like any deployment, as a mother, you worry. But he would FaceTime over there and he would say it was very calm. So I learned how to live with it. But once he moved to Afghanistan for that week, we were just counting the days for August 31 when they were all coming back.”
In the interview, Dominguez described the day he found out that his stepson was among those killed. “I was here home and I turned on the TV and they mentioned what had happened. I remember [a U.S. General] saying that by midnight of that day, all the parents or husbands or wives related to the people would by then know who the victims were. I remember I stayed up till midnight and I remember walking from the sofa going to my bed and going, ‘We made it.’ And then we get the phone call.”
Despite it all, Holguin is staying strong for her other children and finds comfort that her son and the other 13 fallen heroes were returned home. “He made me so proud, always did. He’s my American hero. He was doing what he loved so I can’t be prouder than that.”
To watch the interview in its entirety, visit vimeo.com/nfminc/despinoza. To see past Salutes and to nominate someone visit nfmsalute.com.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, October 4, 2020— NFM Lending is proud to be a sponsor for the 17th annual BARCStoberfest in October. The event will benefit the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). This is NFM Lending’s third year sponsoring the event.
BARCS is Maryland’s largest animal shelter and pet adoption center. All proceeds will support the more than 12,000 animals that come through their doors each year that require shelter, food, and medical care. The event will also enable BARCS to remain a vital resource to our community through their innovative programs. Funding is more critical than ever, as the COVID pandemic has limited their usual fundraising efforts and made resources scarcer. Throughout October, BARCS will be hosting various virtual and in-person events to raise support, including several Mini Fun Runs, pet costume contests, a virtual pie-eating contest, and more. More information can be found on the event website.
“Of all the organizations and philanthropic events that NFM Lending partakes in, BARCStoberfest is one of our favorites. One of the main reasons is it’s so close to home near our corporate headquarters here outside of Baltimore,” said Gene DiPaula, Vice President of Communications at NFM. “We also love seeing all of the proud people who bring their pets out to participate. Every pet deserves to be part of a loving home. BARCS makes that happen. One of the cornerstones of our NFM C.A.R.E.S. initiative is to improve the well-being of homeless animals. We’re proud to continue our partnership with BARCS.”
NFM Lending looks forward to being part of such an important and impactful mission.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, October 1, 2021— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, USMC, as the NFM Salute for October 2021.
Espinoza grew up in Rio Bravo, TX. Even as a young child, he dreamed of becoming a Marine and protecting his country. “He was just wanting to do the best he could to help out,” said his mother, Elizabeth Holguin.
His stepfather, Victor Dominguez, remembers how Espinoza took an early interest in marksmanship, practicing his skills with a BB gun. “We knew that his passion for the military was in his future.” As he grew older, Espinoza’s passion for the Marines only grew stronger. In his senior year of high school, he participated in physical training exercises with the Marine recruiting branch in Laredo. When he graduated from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in 2019, he followed his dream and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Espinoza went to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and School of Infantry West at Camp Pendleton.
When he graduated from training, Espinoza officially became part of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. Soon after graduation, he deployed to Jordan on April 20, 2021. Four months later, he was sent to Afghanistan to facilitate the U.S. withdrawal from the country. On August 15, 2021, Kabul was captured by the Taliban, causing widespread panic among locals. As U.S. personnel were departing, thousands of Afghan citizens clamored to evacuate, adding to the chaos. What was supposed to be a short mission for Espinoza turned out to be his final one.
On August 26, 2021, Espinoza and his fellow Marines assisted with the evacuation at Kabul International Airport when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt. Initial news reports did not name the victims, and Espinoza’s family hoped he was only among the injured. But the blast killed Espinoza, 12 other U.S. service members, and over 160 Afghan civilians. Espinoza was 20 years old and had only been in Afghanistan for one week. Elizabeth had her last conversation with her son the day before, where he told her he loved her. “I told him I loved him and to take care. We were waiting for him to come back,” she recalls.
Espinoza was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
The loss of their beloved son and brother is still raw for the family. “There’s good days and there’s bad days. I try to stay strong for my other children,” said Elizabeth. “I don’t like them to see me down. For them I’m staying strong. I know my hero, my David, wouldn’t want me to be sad, but there’s days I can’t prevent it. It’s day by day.” Still, Espinoza’s parents have found solace in the fact that his life had meaning, and his death was not in vain. “He loved it, he embraced it [being a Marine]. You know what he did, and so as parents, we couldn’t be prouder of him,” said Victor. “I know the situation that happened is not what you would expect as a parent, but knowing he lived and did what he loved, that means a lot to us.”
The NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” is featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service. NFM Lending will donate to a non-profit in the Salute’s name. NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to the Gary Sinise Foundation in honor of Espinoza. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military service members and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
LINTHICUM, MD, September 1, 2021— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Harold Gladden IV, USN, as the NFM Salute for September 2021.
Gladden grew up in Lubbock, TX, into a large and loving family. He had a larger-than-life presence and an easygoing smile that he was quick to share. His mother, Margaret Rollins, recounts, “He would just walk in a room. He had a big old smile. He liked to joke around. He talked real loud. He was just lovable. He was just a great kid.” Gladden loved exercising and having fun with his friends and family.
Joining the military was not something Gladden planned on doing with his life. However, a few family friends who were in the Navy convinced him to serve. After graduating from high school in 2011, Gladden joined the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman.
During his service, there seemed to be no visible signs that anything was wrong. Gladden told his family he loved his job and the unique experiences the Navy afforded him. Then, in 2014, Gladden was discharged after serving for three years. When he returned to civilian life, Gladden was not acting like his usual jovial self. “He wouldn’t work out anymore. He was just letting himself go,” said Rollins. “He was always by himself, in the dark. He wouldn’t talk to anybody. He just kept to himself in the room.” His family pleaded with him to seek care for his mental health struggles but Gladden did not always take his prescription. One day, he shared his desire to take his own life with his mother. Rollins felt powerless as her son suffered alone.
On March 24, 2017, Rollins received the phone call she dreaded: Gladden had committed suicide at age 26. He left behind his two young children, William and Avery. Gladden and many Veterans like him are part of a harrowing statistic that finds an average of 20 Veterans commit suicide each day. Rollins laments being unable to provide the specialized care Gladden needed, saying, “When you don’t got the tools to talk to somebody that’s in that mentality, it’s hard. And I think I didn’t do quite enough for him not to do that, so it kinda hurts.”
Gladden would have turned 30 this year, and while his family will always miss his laughter and smile, his birthday was a day of quiet remembrance rather than sadness. “It was kind of peaceful. I didn’t shed a tear,” said Rollins. “He was there with me, guiding me through that day, telling me it’s OK. He’s in a good place.”
Rollins speaks on behalf of her son, Veterans, and the people who love them, urging anyone struggling with PTSD and mental health issues to “Get some help. Go talk to someone. If you need someone to hold your hand…go get help. There is help out there.”
NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will donate to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.
NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to Stop Soldier Suicide in memory of Gladden. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, August 2, 2021— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Senior Airman Gretchen Smith, USAF, as the NFM Salute for August 2021.
Smith grew up in North Carolina, where she was exposed to the effects of war and trauma through her father, Danny E. Smiley. Smiley was a Bronze Star Veteran who served two tours in Vietnam as an Airborne Infantry Sergeant with the U.S. Army. Upon returning home, he struggled with PTSD. He sought help at the Veterans Affairs (VA) but failed to find the help he needed with his struggles. Smiley would later tell his daughter, “I left a part of my humanity in the jungle.”
As an adult, Smith decided to join the U.S. Air Force and had a more positive and uplifting experience with the military. She said, “It just gave me a great foundation. The Air Force just instilled all the traits that I needed for a successful life to be part of the greatest nation on earth, and to have served for it is such an honor.” Smith served four and a half years in the USAF as a security specialist, where she met her husband, a fellow airman. After leaving the military, Smith turned her focus to raising her children. Tragedy struck in 2005 when Smiley passed away at age 57 because of PTSD. Smith will never forget one of their last conversations where he said, “Gretchen, I’m done. I’m tired; they’ve won. I need to go home.” Though emotional and devastating, her father’s death was a catalyst to Smith’s most important mission yet: supporting Veterans in need.
In 2017, Smith began a Twitter account to share videos about Smiley and the challenges he faced as a Veteran. She received comments from other Veterans saying how much they related to her father’s story. That was when Smith knew she had to do something. She had never managed a charity before, much less set out to start one, but a lack of background would not stop her from acting. “I wanted to turn that tragedy into something good,” she said. “I wanted to create a legacy for my dad, and so Code of Vets was born.” Using the power of social media, Smith rallied people from around the country to donate to individual Veterans in crisis. Along with many generous strangers, Smith was there to lend a hand if someone needed assistance for housing, grocery bills, or medical expenses.
In 2019, Code of Vets became a non-profit organization. Smith and her small team, work on a volunteer basis, and only $.02 of every $1 donated goes towards operational costs. This model ensures that 98% of the aid reaches the Veterans in need. To date, Code of Vets has served over 3,000 honorably discharged Veterans. In addition to providing temporary financial relief, Code of Vets has helped with claim benefits, rides to doctors and VA appointments, and case management. “We are giving out funds, but there is a purpose, there is a plan in place,” Smith said. “That’s the real purpose of Code of Vets, to make a real difference in their life, in their moment of need when they have no hope, when they’re in a situation where they don’t see a way out.”
Smith lives in Murfreesboro, TN, with her husband, Joe. Running Code of Vets is a full-time job, but one Smith would not exchange for anything. “Not only is this a mission for us, but it’s a ministry, it’s a passion. It’s a personal journey of healing for my heart.”
The NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” is featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service. NFM Lending will donate to a non-profit in the Salute’s name. NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to Code of Vets on behalf of Smith. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military service members and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, July 1, 2001— NFM Lending is pleased to once again honor Sergeant Eric Houck as the NFM Salute for July 2021. Houck was previously profiled as the NFM Salute in February 2020.
Houck was originally from Perry Hall, Maryland. At just 22 years old and following the birth of his first child, Houck joined the U.S. Army in 2013. While stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he received his first overseas deployment to Afghanistan to support Operation Freedom’s Sentinel as a forward observer in the 101st Airborne Division. On June 10, 2017, at 25 years old, Houck was one of three American soldiers tragically killed by an enemy combatant in Peka Valley, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Houck was only two months away from returning home. He left behind his wife Samantha and their young children, EJ and Violet.
He posthumously received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, and Army Commendation Medal with a second oak leaf cluster for his bravery in battle. In April 2021, the Perry Hall community dedicated a bridge to Houck and another fallen soldier from the area. Houck’s father Mike said, “That to me is the greatest honor that they could bestow. It’s just so important to us, just for him to be remembered by people in the community.”
Four years after losing their beloved son, the Houck family still feels his absence but keeps his memory alive through their stories. “Obviously, it’s something you never get over. Maybe the emotions don’t come to the surface as much as they had previously. We’ve come to terms with the situation,” said Mike Houck. “It’s part of our life. It’s part of who we are. I am more than happy to talk to anybody who will listen about Eric. I mean, he’s my son, but he was a tremendous man.”
NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about their service. Additionally, NFM Lending will donate to a non-profit in the Salute’s name. NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to Mission 22 on behalf of Eric and the Houck family. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military members and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, May 28, 2021— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Staff Sergeant Arthur Coleman III, USA, Retired, as the NFM Salute for June 2021.
Coleman grew up in Montgomery, AL. In 1994, Coleman joined the U.S. Army. His father fought in Vietnam, and Coleman cited him as an influence to begin a military career.
Ten years after he joined, Coleman had risen to the rank of Sergeant and was already on his fourth deployment. He was stationed in Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 77th Armored Regiment. On April 11, 2004, Coleman was riding in a convoy truck back to base camp when he heard and felt the impact of an enemy attack. The seconds leading up to the accident were mundane but ones Coleman could not easily forget. “The moments before the explosion, I asked what time it was,” he said. “Once that happened, I saw the shock wave, I felt heat, and I had a burning sensation on the right side of my body.”
The truck had detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), and Coleman and his comrade were ambushed by bullets. Coleman was shot in his right arm, his hand was embedded with shrapnel, and a piece of the truck impaled his foot. As Coleman tried to exit the vehicle, he was shot from behind. The bullet was dangerously close to puncturing his liver. However, a checkbook in his back pocket miraculously buffered the shell and prevented it from reaching the vital organ. Coleman thought he would not make it back to his family alive. Fortunately, he and the driver were rescued and transported to a field hospital. For his bravery in combat, Coleman received a Purple Heart.
In 2008 after 14 years of service, Coleman retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant. As a civilian, Coleman sought new challenges that would allow him to grow professionally and personally. In 2009, he started a political consulting firm where he was the CEO. In 2012, Coleman earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University at Montgomery but wanted to do more.
Coleman knew he wanted to use his experience in the Army to support other Veterans; he decided the best way to do that was to study law. In 2016 he earned his Juris Doctor and later a Master of Laws (LLM) in 2020. Today, Coleman uses his legal knowledge and community connections to help Veterans in need. “I’m not a caseworker, but I do know a lot of caseworkers in the area, and I know some of the transitional homes in the area. So I make calls, set Veterans up [that are] homeless into a transitional home where they can be vetted and seek permanent housing,” he says. “If it’s a Veteran seeking compensation and pension, I advocate for the Veteran to receive benefits from the V.A. If it’s a Veteran that has an other-than-honorable discharge, I help them get those discharges upgraded to a better discharge.” Despite no longer being in the military, Coleman has never stopped serving his country or supporting fellow Veterans. “My mission is to serve, and I love serving other Veterans. Whether it’s on Capitol Hill or in a courtroom or dealing with the V.A., this is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
Coleman lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and children. He runs a Maryland chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, where he enjoys spending time with his brothers and sisters in arms.
The NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is selected each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” is featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service. NFM Lending will donate to a non-profit in the Salute’s name. NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) on behalf of Coleman. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military service members and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, May 25, 2021— NFM Lending is proud to be the returning Presenting Sponsor for the sixth annual Below the Belt – Stride and Thrive 5k and 1-Mile Walk on June 6, 2021. This virtual event will benefit the Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service (KGOS) in the Johns Hopkins Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics. This will be NFM Lending’s sixth year sponsoring the event.
To promote the safety of the community while still celebrating gynecologic cancer survivors, the Stride and Thrive event will be held virtually. Participants will be able to complete a 5k and can submit their results via the runsignup.com results page. The event is run by an all-volunteer staff, and all proceeds will support life-saving gynecologic cancer research, cancer survivors, and women undergoing cancer treatment. According to their website, “Every 5 minutes, a woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with a ‘below the belt’ gynecologic cancer. These cancers affect more than 100,000 women and cause over 30,000 deaths each year.”
“We’re honored to be a distinguished sponsor and to bring awareness to this important cause,” said Greg Sher, Chief Business Development Officer. “We look forward to participating and shining a bright light on the fight!”
Mary Levinson, NFM Lending Branch Manager in Linthicum, MD is an ardent supporter of the KGOS’ mission and coordinated the company’s involvement in the event. “It is again an honor for NFM Lending to be the ‘Presenting Sponsor’ for the Johns Hopkins Gynecologic Oncology Stride and Thrive event. The Johns Hopkins Gynecologic Oncology Service is a world leader in surgery and oncology care for women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, and this event is a chance for NFM Lending to support their mission and their patients. While for some of us, this year signifies a positive upturn from a very challenging year, for others this year has come with new health challenges and difficult roads ahead. The year 2020 has taught us that we are all truly in this fight together,” said Levinson. “While we are again going virtual for this year’s Stride and Thrive event, let’s all work together to show our care and compassion for all, especially our cancer survivors, those with new diagnoses, and their loved ones. We at NFM Lending are so proud to continue to support this mission and the people associated with it. I am so inspired by the patients, their families, the doctors, nurses, volunteers, and the participants that make this event so special.”
NFM Lending looks forward to being part of such an important and impactful cause.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 42 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.