May 21, 2026
6 min read
Driven by one mission, Wells Fargo helps veterans build stability and independence
Celebrating the payment-free vehicles, homes, and financial mentoring the bank and its partners have provided to veterans across the country.
Key takeaways
Key takeaways:
- In 2015, Wells Fargo launched a payment-free vehicle donation program in conjunction with its nationwide dealership network and Military Warriors Support Foundation.
- Each donated vehicle comes with two years of financial mentoring, helping recipients pay off more than $50,000 in debt, on average.
- Wells Fargo has donated more than 140 vehicles and provided $4.9 million in mentoring value.
- Since 2012, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have donated more than 400 homes to veterans valued at $60 million.
The SUV sitting in Eddy Kelley’s driveway outside Dallas is more than just a car. It’s the thread weaving years of service and dedication together into a new life chapter filled with financial freedom and hope.
Seventeen years ago, Kelley joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Soon thereafter, he was more than 7,000 miles away from home, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq where he was injured during combat.
Nearly 12 years ago, after becoming a Military Working Dog Handler, Kelley was honorably discharged and received a Purple Heart, among other honors.
In October 2024, he received a payment-free SUV from North Texas Honda Dealers through the Military Warriors Support Foundation’s (MWSF) Transportation4Heroes program, in partnership with Wells Fargo.
“I’m third generation military, so it was a rite of passage for me,” Kelley said. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my life and eventually becoming a father. This is going to carry me a long way, and this vehicle is going to last me a long time.”
Started in 2015, Wells Fargo’s payment-free car donation program has provided more than 140 vehicles, along with financial mentoring valued at more than $4.9 million, to veterans from across the country.
But it’s just one piece of Wells Fargo’s support of veterans. Since 2012, in collaboration with MWSF, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have donated more than 400 homes to veterans, valued at $60 million, across all 50 states.
Casey Kinser (MWSF), Padge Mattaliano and family, and Governor Katie Hobbs receive the "key" to a payment-free home.
Marlene Zander, a purple heart recipient and former U.S. Army motor transportation operator, moved into her payment-free home in Texas on Sept. 11, 2015.
“Initially, I didn’t feel like I deserved something like that,” Zander said. “They basically said ‘you’ve already done all you could to take care of us. It’s the last thing we can do to take care of you.’ It totally changed my life.”
In May 2026 alone, Wells Fargo and its partners are delivering multiple veteran home and vehicle donations across the country. Payment-free vehicles were granted to former U.S. army Specialist Jeffrey Traeger of Elk River, Minnesota; retired U.S. Army Specialist Christopher Krauss of Kalamazoo, Michigan; retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant John Helton of Mooresville, North Carolina; and Joanna Harris, Gold Star Wife to U.S. Army Sergeant Blake Harris of Colorado Springs, Colorado, while a payment-free home was given to retired U.S. Army Sergeant Padge Mattaliano in Avondale, Arizona.
“For many families, homeownership represents stability, security, and a fresh start,” said Jim McDermott, head of loan servicing at Wells Fargo. “We are committed to helping make that goal achievable for more people across the country.”
Home donations are provided through MWSF’s Homes4WoundedHeroes program, with support from Wells Fargo. To be considered for the program, veterans must have been wounded during combat — with priority given to Purple Heart recipients — and honorably retired or separated from the military or within 90 days of discharge. Unmarried Gold Star Spouses of veterans killed in action or during combat training may also apply.
[Video overview: U.S. military veterans Eddy Kelley, Erica Liermann, and Juan Carlos Objio talk about the impact that the payment-free vehicles they received through the Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program and Wells Fargo has had on their lives. Sean Passmore, head of Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives at Wells Fargo, and Casey Kinser, executive vice president of Military Warriors Support Foundation share their thoughts on the program.]
[Music]
[On-screen text: Eddy Kelley, U.S. Military Veteran]
[Kelley]
Hi. My name is Eddy Kelly, and I’m from Dallas, Texas.
[On-screen text: Dallas, Texas]
[On-screen text: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania]
[On-screen text: Erica Liermann, U.S. Military Veteran]
[Liermann]
My name is Erica Liermann. I was a staff sergeant in the United States Army for eight years on active duty.
[On-screen text: Charlotte, North Carolina]
[On-screen text: Juan Carlos Objio, U.S. Military Veteran]
[Objio]
This is the beauty. My new baby. It’s a 2024 Ford Escape. Are you kidding me? Perfect.
My golden retriever is my service dog. I take him everywhere, and I put him up here.
I love it. I go to the store to buy all my gardening equipment.
[On-screen text: Sean Passmore, head of Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives, Wells Fargo]
[Passmore]
Over the last several years, we’ve donated more than 100 payment-free automobiles to combat-wounded veterans or Gold Star spouses.
[Liermann]
I wake up super early. It’s not even dawn. And I leave the house by 3:45-4:00 a.m. I come to my gym, which I started. It’s called Dub Fitness. And my purpose is to show women how strong they are.
I think the call to serve is just something you’re born with.
And I think that when 9/11 happened that triggered that DNA strand inside of me. I would still be in to this day had I not placed family values over my service. I really just wanted to be with my family and grow a family. And not that the Army doesn’t afford you that opportunity. It’s just a little different from what I wanted.
[Child’s voice]
Love you.
[Liermann]
Love you.
[Child’s voice]
Love you.
I heard about the Military Warriors Support Foundation through a friend of my husband’s, and he said that they were looking for a veteran in the Philadelphia area to donate a car to.
Give me kisses. Give me a kiss.
Love you.
I was just like, I was like, ‘Sorry, I’m sorry. What? Like, repeat that. You’re giving me a car?’
There are so many other people who are worse off than me. Like, I’m okay driving my hooptie.
[Kelley]
I joined the United States Air Force in 2008. Went to about three different bases, did two tours overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m a third-generation military, so it was like a rite of passage.
The car that I was gifted is a 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid. They had me convinced that we were still doing the interview process and had a tour set up for us to go to a canine center to train Seeing Eye dogs. So, I had invited my family just to have them there. Also, just to be a part of it. That’s how they came out and surprised me with it. It was a great feeling to have my family there and be presented something.
In the military, I was military police, and I specialize in military working dogs. I work in air cargo now with explosive detection dogs.
Very rewarding.
Stay.
House.
I get to work with my best friend every day. I play with him and go out there and try to stop some things from getting on flights.
[On-screen text: Casey Kinser, Executive Vice President, Military Warriors Support Foundation]
[Kinser]
We have been honored to have a partnership with Wells Fargo for over a decade now. And they continue to show us over and over that their commitment to our nation’s heroes is absolutely unending. And we’re so grateful for their partnership and their continued support to be able to provide vehicles like this for veterans is really life-changing for them.
[Objio]
During 911, which I got called to active duty to protect the Brooklyn Bridge. After I got deactivated again, I decided to go active duty and follow my heart, do my part for the country.I have five deployments to Iraq, one to Afghanistan, one to Kosovo.
Thank you.
[Jason Rosenberg, Head of Public Affairs, Wells Fargo]
No. Thank you.
[Objio]
The Military Support Foundation they called me back, and they told me if I wanted a vehicle free. And I just started laughing. I’m like, ‘Why are you pulling my chain over here?’ And they’re going, ‘No, this is for real.’ And up to this day, I still can’t believe that I have a free car.
What I want to say to Wells Fargo and the Military Support Foundation is ‘Thank you. Thank you so much. What you do for us is incredible. You have no idea how much this means to us.’
[Kelley]
Big change in my life coming this year. I’ll be getting married looking forward to the next chapter in my life, getting married and eventually becoming a father.
To Wells Fargo, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity and selecting me to be able to receive this gift. I’ll forever be grateful and thankful always. It’s going to carry me a long way. And this vehicle is going to last me a very long time.
[On-screen text: $50,000 Average pre-existing debt reduced by financial mentoring]
[Passmore]
By not having to worry about paying for a vehicle they’re able to use those resources for other important decisions.
It’s not just about the vehicle. Through this program we’re able to increase his savings, increase his credit score. And also pay down debt.
[Liermann]
It was pretty freaking cool. Pretty rad to be told, ‘Hey, here’s this car we’re gifting you.’ That really put me in a place to stop stressing about my car breaking down in an intersection with my two babies in the backseat. Am I going to be late for class because I have to walk, which is like a five-mile walk from my house?
Emotionally, not having to have all those other worries made me a better mom, made me a better leader, made me a better business owner. It made me a better wife.
I really do just want to say to Wells Fargo — I don’t know who started it or who made the decision that this should be a thing, because it’s freaking incredible.
And when I say that it’s life-changing, that’s an understatement. It’s lifesaving.
[On-screen text: © 2025 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.]
Watch: Eddy Kelley, Erica Liermann, and Juan Carlos Objio are among the more than 135 veterans who have received payment-free vehicles through Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program, in partnership with Wells Fargo. (video, 06:02)
Credit: Dustin Wilson
Ball for the Mall 2026
Against the soaring backdrop of the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol, America’s Ball for the Mall 2026, hosted by the Trust for the National Mall, brought together partners and champions on May 7 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on the National Mall. The evening honored all 50 states and territories and featured the Trust’s 2026 History, Heroes & Hope Awards. Among the night’s most memorable moments, Wells Fargo and the Gary Sinise Foundation jointly donated a specially adapted, payment-free vehicle to U.S. Army Capt. Luis Avila and his wife Claudia.
Wells Fargo’s head of Public Affairs Jason Rosenberg was joined on stage by U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Gregory Gadson, a board member with the Gary Sinise Foundation. Together, they presented the Avilas with keys to their new vehicle.
“Evenings like tonight remind us that when we gather together and everybody (is in) partnership, (we) are able to do this wonderful thing,” Claudia Avila said at the ceremony. “So, the impossible became possible. Thank you to the Gary Sinise Foundation, Wells Fargo, and the Trust for the National Mall for this beautiful opportunity to gather us all together, and for all the love of all of you who are here.” The donation reflects a broader Wells Fargo commitment. Since 2015, Wells Fargo has helped deliver more than 140 payment-free vehicles and financial mentoring — over $4.9 million in total — to veterans, military families, and nonprofit organizations, and since 2016 has contributed more than $138 million in grants supporting housing, career transition, financial health, and small business.
The programs are a big part of Wells Fargo’s overall support of veterans and the military community. For more than 170 years, the company has been committed to empowering military communities to effectively navigate life’s transitions, while helping them achieve career and financial success.
“There’s support for the car program across the entire organization, from the top to the bottom,” said Gary Schultz, head of relationship management and strategic alliances for Wells Fargo Auto. “From the budgeting process, to approaching partners with ideas, to planning events and donations, the single thought among everyone is ‘How can we make this better?’ There’s not a single person I’ve come across in the organization who thinks we shouldn’t be doing this. And that sends a powerful message that we stand behind veterans and we are all in.”
Learn more about Wells Fargo’s commitment to veterans.
“I can’t express how touching the events are and what a privilege it is to be a part of the donations,” said Schultz. “We’re alleviating a major payment and financial responsibility for these families, freeing them up to think about other things. The payment-free vehicle, the financial counseling, and the boost of morale — it’s a powerful combination. We all get joy from helping deserving veterans, and I just love that this program allows us to do the right thing for our communities.”
