Photo (L to R): VA Med Cntr Dir. Adam Walmus; VISN 16 Dir. Rica Lewis-Payton; Hon. Al Green; Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi; Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee; USVA Undersecretary Dr. Robert A. Petzel; David Coker.
The Texas military and Veterans community is the lifeblood of our nation’s armed forces and we are proud to continue to support this region with the facilities it needs to take care of our sick and injured men and women in uniform and Veterans.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 26, 2013
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Robert A. Petzel, Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Veterans from around the Houston area joined Fisher House Foundation President David Coker here today to dedicate the newest Fisher House at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the second to open at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, to provide lodging for families of wounded warriors and Veterans at no cost while a loved one undergoes treatment at the hospital. These beautiful homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful time – during the hospitalization for a combat injury, illness or disease.
The 20-suite, 16,800-sq.-ft. “comfort home” joins the other 60+ Fisher Houses operating in the United States and Europe, and was gifted to the VA as part of today’s ceremony. Each bedroom suite comes equipped with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom. Common areas include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and patio.
“The Texas military and veterans community is the lifeblood of our nation’s armed forces and we are proud to continue to support this region with the facilities it needs to take care of our sick and injured men and women in uniform and veterans” said Coker. “While we are proud of our work in giving yet another critical resource to the Houston community, I am counting the days until we can begin to close Fisher Houses, because the need for them will no longer exist.”
Dr. Petzel, VA’s Under Secretary for Health agreed. “The second Fisher House at the Houston VA Medical Center is going to make all the difference in the world to the families of Veterans and Service Members who are receiving health care,” Petzel said. “What an amazing gift to the men and women who have served our country.”
Construction of this Fisher House was supported by: Texas Medical Center, Ted L. McIntyre II and Family, Jay Leno, the Dan L. Duncan Family, the Fondren Foundation, Kendrick Motorsports Performance Group, the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Newmans Own Foundation, the Wohlers Family Foundation, and Russell Ybarra & the listeners of the Michael Berry Show.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $200 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
Hi res event photos available from jfisher(at)rubenstein(dot)com.
