Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 22, 2017 -- Francisco Vazquez, Director, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center joined Dr. Poonam L. Alaigh, Acting Under Secretary for Health, and Fisher House Foundation president David Coker here today to dedicate the newest Fisher House at the Houston VA Medical Center. This home will provide lodging for up to 20 families of eligible veterans and military at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved one at the most stressful time – during the hospitalization for an injury, illness or disease. This is the third Fisher House at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.
The Houston Fisher House will not only create an instant community for its residents, united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, but it will also provide each individual with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge.
The 20-suite, 16,800 sq.-ft. comfort home joins 71 other Fisher Houses operating in the United States and Europe, and was gifted to VA as part of today’s ceremony. Each bedroom suite comes equipped with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom, and common areas that include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and patio.
“We are very proud to open a third Fisher House at the DeBakey VA Medical Center,” said Mr. Coker. “This is a milestone for Fisher House, as this is the first VA to have three Fisher Houses. We recognize that our veterans will be receiving care now and for decades to come, and this home will help ensure their families can continue to heal together.”
“The Houston VA Medical Center is proud of the top quality healthcare we provide to our nation’s heroes,” said Mr. Vazquez. “Having a place right on our campus to house more of our Veterans’ families so they can be nearby their loved ones is such an amazing gift. We can’t thank the Fisher Foundation enough for this generous donation.”
Construction of this Fisher House was supported by: James McGinity, United Airlines, Alorica, La Quinta Inns & Suites, John Burkland, Cardinal Health, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, H-E-B, Motorola Solutions Foundation, and Shell Oil Company, as well as one very generous anonymous donor.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ 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, and in Europe, 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 lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $360+ 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.
About the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
This is the third Fisher House for the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, which provides top quality health care to more than 112,000 Veterans and service members annually. The Medical Center’s first two Fisher Houses have been running at capacity since they opened in 2005 and 2013 respectively; Houston is the first VA Medical Center in the country to receive three Fisher Houses.
HI RES EVENT PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM AESTILL(AT)FISHERHOUSE(DOT)ORG.
Kerri Childress, Fisher House Foundation, +1 (301) 633-4409, [email protected]
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