Veterans United Home Loans and its employees raised more than $1.29 million during the inaugural, weeklong fundraising campaign for its newly formed Veterans United Foundation. More than 70 percent of the company's 700 employees pledged to donate at least 1 percent of their salary to the foundation, which is committed to enhancing the lives of veterans and military families nationwide.

Veterans United Home Loans will match the nearly $650,000 contribution from employees dollar for dollar. The foundation's fundraising campaign ran from Nov. 1-8.

"We know our employees are committed to giving back, but we're still amazed by the outpouring of support and the overwhelming desire to do more to serve those who have served us," said Megan Sievers, coordinator of the Veterans United Foundation. "This is an incredibly giving group of people who want to make a true and lasting difference in the lives of military members and local communities."

Veterans United Home Loans established its foundation this fall to help expand and intensify the company's philanthropic efforts. The nation's leading dedicated VA lender and its employees have made giving back a priority since the company's inception. In 2010 alone, Veterans United Home Loans and its employees donated more than $550,000 to military organizations and charitable causes across the country, including the largest single donation from a private company in the history of the Heart of Missouri United Way.

Veterans United Foundation has already pledged to follow last year's record-setting donation with a $300,000 contribution to the Heart of Missouri United Way.

The foundation supports nonprofit organizations that strengthen local communities and honor the sacrifices of those who served our country. It also provides individual donations to current and former military members in need.

The foundation already supports a host of nonprofit organizations and veterans groups, including Operation Homefront, the American Freedom Foundation and Hire Heroes USA.

Fundraising efforts will take place in the fourth quarter of each year. The company asks employees to consider donating at least 1 percent of their paycheck to the foundation with a simple message: "One person at a time. One percent at a time. Collectively we can achieve so much more than we ever could individually."

Visit the Veterans United Foundation website at www.enhancelives.com to learn more about the organizations we support and how you can nominate a veteran in need of assistance.