Peoria Castle & Cooke Mortgage Branch Manager Jennifer Gokool holds a special place in her heart for all the men and women who have and continue to serve our country as members of the armed forces.
Her passion for serving those who have served has deep roots—both her grandfathers and several uncles are retired military, and two nephews are currently serving. Those roots are also wide, spreading community wide. Throughout the last decade, Gokool’s work has included volunteering to raise funds for veterans who need housing, collecting toys for families of veterans, and much more.
Recently, Gokool was invited to apply for the position of Membership Director for the VAREP Phoenix Chapter. After a unanimous affirmative vote, she was sworn in for a three-year term. Her duties will include growing membership, keeping members updated about current events, and playing a big role in fundraising efforts. She is particularly excited about growing corporate sponsorships to increase the number of veterans the group can serve.
"We think it's important to become part of every community we serve, and we're so proud of Jennifer for her years of work for veterans,” said Rick Cardillo, President and CEO of Castle & Cooke Mortgage. “She is dedicated and passionate and that makes her not just an excellent Branch Manager, but a true pillar of the Peoria community."
VAREP, short for Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals, has several areas of focus, including:
- Helping veterans find, build, and upgrade homes
- Offering financial literacy education
- Increasing awareness about VA Loan benefits
- Increasing economic opportunity for veterans and their families
- Advocating for veterans and working with the U.S. Veterans Administration on policy matters
Gokool was invited to join the group by Chapter President Ray Strahl, who knew of her commitment to veterans and her passion for giving back.
“I think being part of this amazing non-profit will be a great way to give back even more to our veterans,” she said. “I’m so grateful for the sacrifice they make every single day.”
“I’m not a veteran, but I’m a patriot,” she added. “The least we can do is try to give back to them and let them know they are appreciated, that they are heard, and that we recognize what they are giving up and what their families are giving up.”
Castle & Cooke Mortgage is proud to serve veterans and their families across the U.S., and we are grateful for their service and sacrifice. We wholeheartedly congratulate Gokool on her appointment.
Disclaimer: Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC, has no affiliation with Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals or Homes for Heroes®.
