The Fisher Foundation is always looking for families to help house when their military or veteran loved one is in an inpatient facility getting the medical attention they need.
The nonprofit, which began in 1990, works with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to build houses around the country and overseas for families to stay in for as long as they need.
Michelle Baldanza, the vice president for communications at the Fisher Foundation since 2019, said that it’s important to have homes away from home for military and veterans while they are receiving medical care.
“Many times, veterans or military are getting the medical attention they need and their families are staying in hotels that aren’t up to par and we want to make sure they have somewhere nice and comfortable to stay,” Baldanza said. “The whole family serves together when a loved one is or was in the military, but when they go through something like this, they also heal together.”
Having family around for the military person or veteran helps speed up the healing process, Baldanza said, adding, "We believe the families' love is the best medicine."
Related
There are 92 Fisher Houses around the world that have helped 413,000 families since the nonprofit began.
With the help of the Fisher Foundation houses, the nonprofit has helped save $525 million for families.
Baldanza said on any given night, more than 1,300 families are served.
In the remainder of this year, the nonprofit plans to break ground on three new houses, which will be located in Lexington, Kentucky, Baypines, Florida, and Columbia, South Carolina.
“It takes around a year to build the houses,” Baleanza said, adding that in one certain circumstance in 2010, the nonprofit built a house in six months.
A house was built in Dover, Delaware at the Dover Airforce base for families of the fallen to stay at.
“When we learned that the families of the fallen were staying in hotels off base, we knew we needed to do something,” Baldanza said. “We were not okay with the fact that families had to go on base to receive the remains of their loved one and then leave to stay in a hotel. So we filled the gap.”
Related
Baldanza, who is a retired veteran from the Army after 21 years of service, said that working at the Fisher House is a way for her to continue to serve.
“I never dreamed I would work here, but serving for 21 years, I always knew that this resource was here for me and that means a lot,” she said. “As I continue dealing with my own medical care, I’m proud to know Fisher House will be there for me as a veteran.”
She said that seeing all the work Fisher House does for veterans and military members and their families and how it positively affects them is rewarding.
Although the nonprofit's main focus is on building houses, it also offers scholarships for military children and children of the fallen or children whose military or veteran parent is 100% disabled.
They also have the Newman’s Own Award Grants, which is a grant program for nonprofits that improves the quality of life for veteran families. Up to $200,000 total in grants is given out each year.
The nonprofit also has the Hero Miles program, which enables families to balance hospital life and home life.
Related
Airline tickets and hotel rooms are bought using loyalty points for families to use when they are traveling to see a loved one who is at an authorized medical center, or for when wounded military or veterans leave the medical center for an authorized event or for loved ones to attend the Dignified Transfer of remains at Dover Air Force Base.
The hotels are bought through the program when no Fisher House is available to them.
“All these programs are so crucial and important to the military members, veterans, and their families,” Baldanza said, adding that the Fisher House will continue to work hard to help those in need.