WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Navient employees will join 2,000 participants and volunteers this weekend for the American Heart Association’s 2016 Wilmington Heart Walk. The annual event raises money to save lives from the nation’s top killers, including heart disease and stroke.

The 5K walk kicks off from Dravo Plaza, just down the Riverwalk from Navient’s headquarters on the Wilmington Riverfront. Navient Foundation, the company-sponsored philanthropic fund, contributed to support the event.

“Thanks to the support of local businesses and individual donors, the Heart Walk raises thousands of dollars to support the mission work of the American Heart Association,” said John H. Pierson, executive director, Delaware Division of the American Heart Association. “We’re grateful to have both the financial support and the participation of the Navient Foundation and of Navient’s employees.”

The walk is Sunday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. Pre-walk activities, including a children’s fun zone and health screenings, will begin at 8 a.m. The walk is designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living, while also creating an environment that’s fun and rewarding for the entire family.

“The 2016 Wilmington Heart Walk is a great way to bring people from the community together who have a common goal of ending cardiovascular disease,” said Clem Straker, director, Navient, who also volunteers on the board of the American Heart Association’s Delaware division. “So many of us have been personally affected, so we are looking forward to participating and supporting such an important cause.”

Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, accounting for more than 17.3 million deaths per year, a number that is expected to grow to more than 23.6 million by 2030, according to the American Heart Association.

The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to defeating heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

Learn more about the American Heart Association and how to give to the 2016 Wilmington Heart Walk.

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About Navient

As the nation’s leading loan management, servicing and asset recovery company, Navient (Nasdaq:NAVI) helps customers navigate the path to financial success. Servicing more than $300 billion in student loans, the company supports the educational and economic achievements of more than 12 million Americans. A growing number of public and private sector clients rely on Navient for proven solutions to meet their financial goals. Learn more at navient.com.

CONTACT: Contact:

Nikki Lavoie, 302-283-4057, [email protected]