LendingTree, the nation’s largest online financial marketplace, has become a major corporate sponsor of the Push-Ups for Purple Hearts challenge. The company has pledged an initial donation of $10,000 to support the initiative to honor America’s combat wounded and those killed in action in service to our nation.
Launched last month, the Push-Ups for Purple Hearts challenge is a joint effort between the National Purple Heart Honor Mission and veterans advocate, author and motivational speaker TShane Johnson who is training to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most push-ups in a 12-hour period. Johnson will complete more than 19,000 push-ups on Veterans’ Day to raise awareness and resources for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
“We are honored to contribute to the Push-Ups for Purple Hearts challenge,” said Doug Lebda, founder and CEO of LendingTree. “As Americans, it’s important that we commemorate and pay tribute to the heroic service members and their families for the enduring sacrifices they have made for our country and our freedoms.”
“We are tremendously proud to have LendingTree as a partner in this special initiative. Their support helps ensure, during these challenging times, we can continue to pay tribute to our Purple Heart heroes and tell their stories of valor across America,” said National Purple Heart Honor Mission Executive Director, Col. Russ Vernon (Ret.). “It’s inspiring to see LendingTree demonstrate a real commitment to our heroes, and for them to recognize the work TShane is putting in to train for the Push-Ups for Purple Hearts challenge.”
“My thanks to everyone at LendingTree who recognize the incredible service and sacrifice made by our Purple Heart heroes. Their stories and their courage inspire me each day as I’m training to break this monumental world record,” said TShane Johnson, who has twice previously used his “Hike Across America” and world record endeavors to raise awareness about issues facing homeless veterans. “LendingTree understands that freedom isn’t free.”
Johnson’s quest to break the world push-up record is raising resources to support the Honor Mission’s special 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project and other programs. Johnson and the Honor Mission are asking Americans to join in the effort by challenging each other to do 1-minute push-up competitions for a good cause.
The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to paying tribute to our nation’s combat wounded and those killed in action through outreach and educational programming.
Earlier this year, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission began accepting nominations for its Purple Heart Patriot Project mission, slated for April 26, 2021. The Patriot Project is a multi-day salute to service that brings together Purple Heart heroes representing each state and territory to pay tribute to their courage and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation. One Purple Heart recipient and an escort of their choosing from each state will again be selected for an all-expenses-paid tribute filled with tours and ceremonies honoring their service and that of all those who have earned the Purple Heart.