Pioneer Credit Recovery Assists Hurricane Victims With Funds, Volunteers

Employees of Pioneer Credit Recovery, a national leader in the collection industry and provider of collection services on defaulted debt, today presented a $115,000 check to the Wyoming County Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The donation includes more than $35,000 raised from employee cash contributions and donations of paid leave that was converted to cash, including a $10,000 cash gift from Kathy Balus, Pioneer’s founder and president. The company matched all cash contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis. In addition, The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Pioneer’s parent company Sallie Mae, matched eligible employee contributions for a total of more than $46,000. Pioneer has asked that the funds be directed toward clean-up efforts to help hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast.

“Our hearts go out to those along the Gulf Coast who have endured these recent natural disasters,” said Pioneer CEO Joan Ludwick. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we want to do what we can to help them recover from the damage they sustained.”

Pioneer employees contribute monthly to local and national causes, designating a charity of the month to receive funds raised. The selection by Pioneer employees of the American Red Cross as September’s recipient organization was unanimous. Since January 2004, employees have donated more than $335,000 in cash and matching contributions to philanthropic organizations in Western New York.