News & Updates
REQUEST FOR FUNDING SUPPORT
GOAL: Raising $1.5 million to complete the 6-acre “Wounded Warrior Park” including therapeutic gardens, open ball field, running track with fit trail activities, and outdoor amphitheater at the Warrior and Family Support Center (WFSC) at Ft Sam Houston.
MISSION: The WFSC provides Wounded Warriors and their Families a much needed break from the numbing routines of the hospital ward, guest rooms and barracks. It services more than 600 outpatient Warriors and their Families by providing a full range of activities as well as material, financial and emotional support during the long rehabilitation process. The Center hosts more than 60 events each month with the help of hundreds of volunteers resulting in over 450,000 “visits” to the facility in 2010, each serving as an opportunity to show our support and appreciation in a very tangible way.
The WFSC was built entirely through private funds. Returning Heroes Home, Inc., a 501(c)3 charity raised $5.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions to build the first phase of the project. They are now working on the second phase, the adjacent 6-acre “Wounded Warrior Park “, with a total budget of $3.4 million, of which, $1.9 has already been raised.
IMPACT: The importance of the Center and its mission is best described by the Warriors and Families who have benefited from its existence.
“Without this facility, my husband would have been confined to his barracks room, coming out only for medical appointments and formation. …so many soldiers…have told me they would be lost without this place.”
“As a veteran of 28 years, my three sons are grown and gone….my wife divorced me when the kids were gone. So here I am at BAMC completely free with no worries or responsibilities. Wrong. Here I am with no family support and ending a lifelong career. Talk about depression so bad you don't want to come out of your room or even go to formation. . . . I believe with all my heart and mind that WFSC played as important a role in my recovery as did BAMC. . . . WFSC exceeded all of my needs when I didn't know what my needs were.”
“While assigned to the WTB the WFSC facility and staff has been a lifeline to sanity. . . . The WFSC became my home away from home. . . . I attribute the WFSC directly for being able to maintain my morale and a positive attitude during my recovery. In my opinion, this staff and facility is the best money spent for recovering wounded warriors at Brooke Army Medical Center.”
“Perhaps if we had a facility just like this one at every army base, our suicide numbers would not be so staggering.”
CONTACT: Beverly Lamoureux, Board Member, Returning Heroes Home, Inc, 1314 E. Sonterra, Suite 5204, San Antonio, Texas 78258, Office 210-979-2500 ext 206, Cell 210-218-4160 6101723v.4 FIRM/ADMIN
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