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FISHER HOUSE DEDICATES NEW FACILITY AT
MALCOM RANDALL VETERANS AFFAIRS
MEDICAL CENTER IN GAINESVILLE, FL
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Newest
Fisher House Will Provide Free, Temporary Lodging
to Military Families
Gainesville, FL [May 16, 2014] – Congressman Ted
Yoho, 3rd Congressional
District; Rick
Fabiani, President, Gainesville Fisher House; and Thomas
Wisnieski, Director, North Florida/South Georgia
Veterans Health System joined Fisher
House Foundation President David
Coker here
today to dedicate the newest Fisher House at the
Malcom
Randall Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center,
that provides 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 New Gainesville VA Fisher House was
dedicated on May 16, 2014 and has already started serving
veterans and their families.
“It’s a privilege to expand our support in
this region with a Fisher House, and to amplify the care
provided to our Veterans and their families” said Mr.
Coker. “We are pleased to see the doors open to this
beautiful home, which will be a refuge for families for
years to come.”
“We are very excited to have a Fisher House
located at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
Center,” said
Mr. Wisnieski, Director of the North Florida/South
Georgia Veterans Health System. “Without the generous
donations provided by so many compassionate individuals and
businesses within the community, this facility would not
have become a reality. The hospitalization of a loved one
can be a very stressful time for both the patient and family
members. Having the ability to provide a safe and homelike
environment for the families is an honor and a commitment
that we (VA) take seriously and we look forward to serving
many families in the future years.”
Construction of this Fisher House was
supported by: The
Cade Family, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation,
Gainesville Fisher House Foundation, Gainesville Rotary
Foundation, Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund, Ted L.
McIntyre II and Family, and Jay
Leno.
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.
www.fisherhouse.org
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