Fisher House Foundation - July 2008 Charity-of-the-Month

Fisher House Foundation, Inc.
1401 Rockville Pike
Suite 600
Rockville, Maryland 20852

tel: 1-301-294-8560
tollfree: 1-888-294-8560
fax: 1-301-294-8562
web: fisherhouse.org
email: info@fisherhouse.org

Fisher House Foundation

OUR MISSION

Fisher House Foundation, Inc. is an international not-for-profit organization established to improve quality of life for members of the military, retirees, veterans, and their families. The Foundation builds comfort homes at military and VA medical centers and gifts them to the government. It assists with the coordination of private support and encourages public support for the network of comfort homes known as "Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Houses."

It works to educate and inform the military and veterans communities and their families, and the general public about Fisher Houses and provides necessary support to individual Fisher Houses as approved, and as permitted by the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the respective Armed Services. Other Quality of Life programs include a scholarship program for military children, a grants program for volunteer organizations with innovative plans for quality of life projects, the "Hero Miles" program, and individual assistance to members of the military and their families during a crisis.

The Fisher House™ Program

The Fisher House™ program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House™ Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.

There is at least one Fisher House™ at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House™ program serves more than 10,000 families, and have made available nearly 2.5 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. By law, there is no charge for any family to stay at a Fisher House operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Fisher House Foundation uses donations to reimburse the individual Fisher Houses operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. No family pays to stay at any Fisher House!

In addition to constructing new houses, Fisher House™ Foundation continues to support existing Fisher Houses™ and help individual military families in need. Families and friends of patients at any of the military's hospitals can now receive up-to-the-minute reports on a loved one by going to the patient's own customized web page, thanks to new services provided through CaringBridge. We are also proud to administer and sponsor Scholarships for Military Children, the Hero Miles program, and co-sponsor the Newman's Own Award.

Help Sponsor a Family

Your gift will be used to help meet the cost of lodging for a family whose loved one was injured in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. There is a limit to the number of families who can stay in a Fisher House™. We are committed to help provide lodging for families who must find commercial lodging, because the Fisher House™ is full.

Make a Contribution

ABOUT THE HOUSES

Overview

A Fisher House™ is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. The homes are normally located within walking distance of the treatment facility or have transportation available. There are 38 Fisher Houses, with five more in construction. Learn more about Future Houses.

Description

Typically, the houses are 5,000+ to 16,000 square foot homes donated by the Fisher family and Fisher House™ Foundation. Each house is designed to provide eight to 21 suites. All are professionally furnished and decorated in the tone and style of the local region. The houses can accommodate 16 to 42 family members. They feature a common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room and an inviting living room with library, and toys for children. A Fisher House™ is a temporary residence and is not a treatment facility, hospice or counseling center. The program began in 1990, and has offered more than 2.5 million days of lodging to more than 110,000 families.

Responsibilities

Fisher Houses™ are given to the U. S. Government as gifts. Military service secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the homes. The Fisher House™ Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, builds new houses, and assists in the coordination of private support and encourages public support for the homes.

Eligibility and Cost

Criteria established locally by hospital or installation commanders. Effective October 1, 2006, all room fees for guest families at all Army, Navy, and Air Force Fisher Houses are paid by Fisher House Foundation. There are no room fees at Fisher Houses operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Volunteers

Fisher Houses™ have full-time salaried managers, but depend on volunteers and voluntary support to enhance daily operations and program expansion. The Fisher House™ Foundation, Inc., and many individual Fisher Houses™ receive support through the Combined Federal Campaign.
2006 Highlights

• Families served: More than 10,000
• Average length of stay: 12-14 days
• Average (combat casualties): 45-60 days
• Average occupancy level: 90%
• Average cost per day: None
• Saved families more than $10 million in lodging costs, plus food and transportation

Since Inception

• Families served: More than 110,000
• Number of lodging days offered: 2 million
• Saved families more than $90 million in lodging costs, plus savings on subsistence and transportation costs

Several Thank You's for the Fisher House

The Fisher House™ [at Wright-Patterson AFB] has been a blessing to my husband and me. If it wasn't for the Fisher House, we would never have been able to come and have the treatments he needed. I was afraid, but the Fisher House™ manager made us feel right at home. You will never find another place on this earth with such warmth, hospitality and compassion. Most of all, you feel special and much loved. I feel as if I am one of the family at Fisher House™.
- The Stone Family

Thank you very much for your support during my grandson's illness. We needed a place to stay during his hospitalization at Fort Hood's Darnall Hospital. Thanks to Fisher House™, we were in walking distance and one parent could exchange overnight duty with the baby. My daughter and son-in-law stayed each night at the Fisher House™ with a place to eat, change clothes and rest.
- The Hill Family

It is truly amazing how in times of need, perfect strangers come together and unite as family, each person doing his/her part in support of everyone and everything. I don't think you could ever find that kind of togetherness, generosity, caring and warmth (a general love for other human beings) anywhere but the Fisher House. It was great to be a part of the lives of some truly exceptional people, even if only for a short while.
- Peter and Family

Our son Joe suffered a cerebral aneurysm 18 days after graduating from West Point. Following a lengthy surgery and recovery period at the Mayo Clinics, Joe was moved to the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN for rehabilitation. After two days in a motel, we moved to Fisher House™. You can never believe the positive effect! The beautiful surroundings brought us out of bleak despair. Being able to converse with others experiencing trauma in their lives was a catharsis for us. The room was our ³home-away-from-home." For Joe's first wheelchair ride, his brothers pushed him across the street to show him "our home." We cannot thank you enough for the many kindnesses we experienced in the Fisher House™ and for the many friends we met who also used this place of respite while dealing with a loved one's illness.
- The Oppold Family

Charity.com. A project provided by Cowabunga, Inc. All rights reserved. See Terms of Use for Legal Information
Registered trademarks shown on this website are owned entirely by their respective owners.