Bethlehem, Georgia (PRWEB) January 22, 2016
A Navy veteran today received his keys to a mortgage-free home in Bethlehem, Georgia, as part of Operation Homefront’s 500th Home Award Celebration. JPMorgan Chase donated the home to Operation Homefront, which selected Petty Officer Second Class Andrew Friedlander for its Homes on the Homefront program.
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization that builds strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.
“At Operation Homefront, we believe that owning a home is part of the American dream,” said Chief Operating Officer Robert Thomas. “After helping to secure the freedoms all Americans enjoy, we want to help our service members and their families realize their own American dreams.”
“That is possible through our Homes on the Homefront program,” added Thomas. We continue to receive donated homes to award to deserving military families around the country through amazing partners like JPMorgan Chase.”
Thus far, Operation Homefront has deeded 216 homes and currently host 284 veterans and military families in the Homes on the Homefront program. After today’s key handover, the program will have awarded over 500 homes – of which 34 are in the State of Georgia.
Andrew Friedlander was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His older brother, Aaron, was one of several factors that influenced Andrew’s decision to join the military. The brothers were beginning a family tradition. The attacks of 9/11 and caring for his wife and family were also contributing factors of why Andrew joined the military. In 2008, three years after graduating high school, Andrew joined the Navy in San Diego, California.
As a petty officer second class, Andrew served as a fire controlman. Some of his major duties included organizational maintenance of digital computer equipment and subsystems. He also performed operational maintenance of combat and weapons direction systems. Andrew deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 and served one year in combat. In 2014, he was honorably discharged and suffers from post-traumatic stress.
Andrew is married to Bryanne, and they have three young children: Milan, six, Mason, three, and Milea, one. Since their transition into civilian life, they have moved three times. It has been unpleasant and unstable for Andrew and his family. They are currently living in a small three-bedroom home in Atlanta, Georgia.
Thanks to Operation Homefront and JPMorgan Chase, Andrew and his family will be receiving a mortgage-free home in Bethlehem, Georgia. Andrew’s future plans are to add personal touches to the home, build memories with his family, and provide a stable home. He is attending school online at Ashworth College. Andrew will receive his associates in computer science in June 2018.
“It means the world to me and my family,” said Andrew. “I set several goals for us, as a family, and we accomplished those – getting a job, going to school, and moving into a home.”
“We want to thank Operation Homefront and Chase for this opportunity,” said Andrew. “I wanted to do this for my wife because she moved around the country and dealt with my military enlistment. I thank them for making this possible, providing a stable home, and that we don’t have to worry about making the next rent payment – now we have a roof over our head.”
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EDITORIAL NOTE: (Photos available upon request by contacting Jason E. Moody, Operation Homefront Housing Programs Communications Manager.)
About Operation Homefront: A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 92 percent of Operation Homefront’s expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to http://www.OperationHomefront.net.
About Chase: Chase is committed to serving the unique needs of America’s military, veterans and their families through employment, housing, small business, and financial capability programs. Since 2011, the firm has hired more than 10,000 veterans and provided more than 870 mortgage-free homes to military families in partnership with Operation Homefront and other non-profit organizations. To learn more about Chase’s military and veterans affairs programs, visit ChaseMilitary.com.