Cover Photo: Cover photo by Craig Orsini at orsinistudio.com
About Fisher House Foundation, Inc.
Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of comfort homes where military and veteran 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 they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 20 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 its inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $650 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles program, using donated frequent flyer miles and funds to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members, as well as the Hotels for Heroes program, using donated hotel points and dollars to allow family members to stay without charge at hotels near medical centers. The Foundation also manages an awards program that helps other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses, and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
Fisher House Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Donations to Fisher House Foundation or individual Fisher Houses are tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Fisher House Program
BY THE NUMBERS
Days of lodging offered $650 MILLION
Savings for families in lodging and transportation costs
534,000
Families served 12.5 MILLION
100 Fisher Houses in operation
The statistics in this graphic reflect the Fisher House program’s impact since inception.
The
At Fisher House Foundation, our magazine, much like the work we do, is about teamwork. The Patriot is created in-house by our communications staff. Our graphic designers at Gifted Eye Designs donate services
statistics in this graphic reflect the Fisher House program’s impact since inception.
LETTER FROM KEN FISHER
Dear Friends,
As fall arrives, I’m filled with deep gratitude and pride for what we’ve accomplished together this year. In July, we celebrated a defining moment in Fisher House history: the dedication of our 100th Fisher House.
The Fisher House program proudly honors the military and veteran families we are fortunate to serve. The 100th Fisher House is a symbol of what we can achieve when compassion and commitment come together. This milestone has been decades in the making, and it was only possible because of your steadfast support.
Every Fisher House is more than a place to sleep. It is a home filled with care, connection, and hope. Because of you, families facing some of life’s hardest moments are surrounded by comfort and community. They are reminded that they are not alone, and that the nation they served stands beside them.
And our work continues.
The need is still great, and so is our resolve. Construction is also complete on a new Fisher House in Little Rock, Arkansas, and we are planning to start several more houses in the coming months. Our mission is as urgent as ever: To ensure that no service member, veteran, or military family faces a medical crisis without support.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. Your generosity is helping us build not just houses, but a legacy of care that will endure for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Fisher Chairman and CEO, Fisher House Foundation linkedin.com/in/ken-fisher-fhf/
On the right: Ken and Tammy Fisher and their son Josh and his wife Meg stand outside the 100th Fisher House in North Chicago at the dedication ceremony on July 29.
CHARITY RATINGS
Fisher House Foundation works hard to be a good steward of the resources entrusted to us. It is a privilege to do the work we do, and we are proud to hold the highest ratings awarded by the top national charity watchdog organizations.
Fisher House Foundation received an A+ from CharityWatch in its veterans and military category. Only four military and veteran charities currently hold this distinctive A+ rating.
Charity Navigator awarded the Foundation its coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management for the 21st consecutive year, a rating achieved by less than 1% of the charities in the country that it monitors. Only 13 charities have been so highly rated for so long.
Fisher House Foundation earned the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by Candid, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information.
GUEST FAMILY PROFILE
A Home for Heroes And THeir fAmilies fisHer House gAve BoBBy grier
wHAT mATTered mosT:
fAmily By His Bedside
Story by Michelle Horn
“No Grier, No Game!”
That was the vow from University of Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech students prior to the 1965 Sugar Bowl, when the Georgia governor and the Georgia Tech Board of Directors voted to ban Robert “Bobby” Grier from the field because of his race. The protests from the student players were heard and Bobby was able to play, marking a first for the Sugar Bowl and making Bobby a trailblazer for Black players. Despite Pitt’s loss, the historic moment, along with his impressive record, led to Bobby’s induction in both the Sugar Bowl and the Pitt Athletic Hall of Fame.
Following graduation, Bobby served in the Air Force for 11 years, leaving the service as a captain. He went on to a full career as an administrator at the Allegheny Community College in Pennsylvania. He married his college sweetheart, Dr. Dorothy Grier, who also had an impressive career in education. The couple raised two children, Robert and Cassandra.
Time
wiTH
“I think that my parents instilled education. They just wanted us to feel good about ourselves. And that's what our parents did,” explained Cassandra. “They really instilled a high value of ethics, kindness, love towards your fellow human being. They helped in church, they helped in communities. So I just feel like he just embodied a wonderful father.”
In January of 2024, Bobby was hospitalized at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center—University Drive. Cassandra drove up from Rockville, Maryland to be by his side, but she didn’t have a place to stay.
“One of the nurses just pulled me aside and said, ‘Hey, do you know about the Fisher House?’” Cassandra said. “I was kind of worried about hotels, where to stay and everything. And thank God they put me in there, because that was really the only way I could spend the last few months with Dad. It saved so much money in hotels.”
Cassandra shared that it was easy to check in and she was able to move into a room that first night. She said she felt safe and was impressed at how comfortable the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Fisher House was.
“I was so surprised. Really surprised. I was surprised that it was as immaculate, as clean as it was, and just elegant. I didn't think it would be that way, because you kind of think it's going to be like a dorm room. It is going to be kind of like lackluster. But when I walked in, I was totally, totally pleasantly surprised.” Cassandra said.
At Fisher House, Bobby was so close that Cassandra could visit him two or three times a day. But while the proximity made a huge difference, it was the other guests, the staff, and the support network that made the real difference.
“So I could go back and forth. If I needed to go home, eat or whatever I needed to do. They were so kind,” she shared. “And that was beautiful. I mean, everybody on the staff was so loving. That's what’s really important, that in the hardest time in your life, when you have staff that treats you kind and with love, you need that.”
Photos courtesy of Cassandra Grier
She went on to explain that it gave her a space to find the break she needed after multiple trips to the hospital each day.
“The room was very comfortable. I have pictures—it is gorgeous inside. It was clean. It was just peaceful. I think that's the biggest word. I just wanted peace,” she said. “And so when you come back from a hectic hospital run or whatever you have to do when you come back and just have a peaceful setting, there’s nothing like it.”
“The blessing is the food and everything. You don’t have to worry, and that's a real big blessing. They would have little socials and they would even have people come pray,” she continued. “It was just very nice and homey and a warm feeling.”
Throughout her stay she also spoke with other guests who felt the same way. She said that she and the other guests prayed together and encouraged each other.
Cassandra was able to stay with Bobby through March. He passed away in June of 2024 at the age of 91.
"It is a blessing to have a Dad that has always been a GIRL DAD and I will miss him for the rest of my life," she wrote.
She’s thankful for the comfort of the Fisher House during her father’s final days.
“So I just feel like the biggest thing is they made you feel comfortable. You didn't have to rush. You didn't have to worry about locking doors or being unsafe. You could keep your car. I didn't have to worry about parking or someone getting blocked in or anything like that. So those are the things that to me as a single woman is really, really important.”
Above: Bobby Grier competes in the 1956 Sugar Bowl as a member of the Pitt Panthers. Grier was the first player to break the color barrier of the Sugar Bowl.
On left: Bobby Grier and his daughter Cassandra at the Pittsburgh Fisher House. Below on the left: Cassandra with her parents. Below on the right: Dorothy and Cassandra Grier enjoying a moment together.
vieTnAm veT CAres for wife And WARTIME nurse
Story by Michelle Horn
Ken MacMillan met Judy while being treated for injuries sustained during the Vietnam War. As a nurse, Judy wouldn’t talk to him as anything other than a patient, despite his best efforts.
“I was in the hospital as I met her before we even talked to one another. I kept going back and trying to talk to her. She wouldn’t talk to me except as a patient. She wouldn't come near me.”
It wasn’t until two months after he was released from active duty that she finally was open to getting to know him. Now, the couple has been married for 55 years, and Ken is caring for Judy through her medical journey.
Ken enlisted into military intelligence but was soon sent to military police where he served as both an MP and a courier. As a Vietnam-era nurse, Judy cared for many patients that had been through extremely difficult injuries.
After their service, the couple used private healthcare for many years before switching to the Department of Veterans Affairs, where they were pleasantly surprised by the quality of care.
In mid-December 2023, Judy was referred to the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System where she was seen for migraines and backaches that led to more tests.
Doctors discovered swelling and blood on her brain that required drainage and other emergency procedures. When the couple learned she would need follow-on physical therapy and recovery care, they knew their day trip was suddenly going to be a much longer stay. That same day, Ken was contacted by Fisher House.
“At that point, it was a temporary rest stop because I wasn’t sure what was all involved. And so when I went over there, and it was very embracing,” he explained. “They checked me in, and they had just had a Christmas party. There was all this leftover stuff. Anything I needed. They were just so cordial. People were sitting in the living room watching tv, talking to each other. They were in the kitchen making food, talking to each other. And that was very nice. And that in itself was a good feeling.”
Ken was grateful for the cost savings but also for the intangibles that come with a Fisher House.
“It saved me a ton of money. I mean, because you’re not going to get a room down there for less than $400 or $500 a night in that area,” he said. “So, it saved me a lot of money while I was down there. But it wasn’t that as much as, like I say, it was just the feeling. It was like a cocoon feeling.”
Fisher Houses foster a community where guests can lean on each other if they need it, but they also offer a private refuge where guests can have their own personal space to decompress.
“That’s good for the person in the hospital to know, that the people that are there are staying in that kind of an environment.”
Photos courtesy of Ken MacMillan
MEET THE STAFF
Fisher House Foundation is comprised of many passionate and talented people. Each issue, you’ll meet someone who helps contribute to our mission of supporting our military, veterans, and their families.
Kathleen Hogan
Rockville,IndividualDirectorofGiving Maryland
Kathleen Hogan Director of Individual Giving
Kathleen Hogan has always had a gift for connections. As the Director of Individual Giving at Fisher House Foundation, she blends a professional background in fundraising with a personal passion for people, especially those who serve.
After a successful career in the corporate sector, Kathleen was ready to change her direction and pursue something more meaningful. After working in non-profit fundraising for many years, she found Fisher House.
“It was the mission that really stood out to me,” Kathleen recalls. “Fisher House helps military families during a critical time in their lives, and that matters.”
Though her corporate experience was invaluable, Kathleen found herself drawn to the one-on-one moments where deep conversations and lasting relationships take root.
“When you can match someone’s passion to the programs of the organization that you are representing, I think that’s where magic happens,” she says.
Kathleen’s passion for the mission is also deeply personal. Her father served in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1963, and military service runs throughout her family. One story continues to motivate her work: the passing of her uncle due to complications from Agent Orange exposure, leaving behind a young wife and two children, ages 18 months and 3.
“There wasn't a Fisher House back then,” she reflects. “But I think about how overwhelming it must’ve been, two young children, and your husband just passed away. That’s why the mission speaks to me. I know what a difference something like Fisher House could have made for my own family.”
Now, Kathleen channels that empathy into every conversation she has with donors. She understands that behind every gift is a desire to create something meaningful.
“At the end of the day, people want a legacy,” she says. “I thrive on helping them bring that to life.”
Kathleen Hogan isn’t just raising funds; she’s building bridges. With every relationship she nurtures, she helps ensure that military and veteran families receive the support they need.
When she’s not sharing the mission of Fisher House, Kathleen enjoys life at home with her husband Dan and their two dogs, Dallas and Oliver. The quartet can often be found exploring dog-friendly restaurants and wineries. A true foodie at heart, Kathleen loves cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and discovering fresh flavors, especially when shared with the people (and pups) she loves most.
On the left: Kathleen's father, Rich Kenny, served in the Army National Guard.
ARMY MP CELEBRATES LIFE AFTER MOTORCYCLE CRASH
Joseph “Joey” Parli was a young Army military police detention specialist, or MP, on a motorcycle ride when a drunk driver ran over him near Joint Base LewisMcChord in Washington State. The driver fled the scene and Joey was left for emergency responders to find.
“Long story short, I was taken to Madigan Hospital,” he said. “And the Army told my parents they needed to fly out. I was pretty much on my deathbed, then.”
“I lost 18 liters of blood through my colon and intestine, and they had to give me a colostomy bag,” he said. “But I guess the hardest part was just the mental fight. You felt really alone in the soldier recovery unit.”
The Parlis rushed to their son’s bedside and waited for 10 nerve-wracking days as Joey remained in a medical coma. But then, slowly, a miracle took hold. Joey survived, but with grievous injuries concentrated on his torso.
“It was good seeing them,” he said, “because I woke up in the hospital like, ‘Why the heck am I in here?’”
“They became a good source of strength for me for that two-year period.”
Joey relied on his parents for both day-to-day assistance and for support.
“They stood up for me in hospitals when I couldn't stand up for myself literally and metaphorically,” he said.
“They helped me with wound care ‘cause I had a colostomy bag, and they just helped with emotional support. My dad would even go to different coffee shops in the area. He gave them my medicine that I had to take and had them put it in a coffee, a Frappuccino or a blended coffee, and bring it back so I could drink it. It was nasty medicine.”
Joey’s parents and his aunt stayed at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army Fisher House and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System Fisher House while supporting him.
Now, Joey is engaged. He’s close to completing a sports management degree, and he’s managed to work past some of his former rehabilitation needs, like the colostomy bag. He still has daily struggles but says, “Life is looking better than it did a couple years ago.”
That support would have been much harder for the family if not for Fisher House Foundation’s Hero Miles program, which covered the cost of flights when Joey’s parents needed to return home temporarily.
Using donated frequent flyer miles and cash donations, Fisher House Foundation’s Hero Miles program purchases round trip airfare for wounded, injured, and ill service members and family members during authorized medical events.
Story by David Nye
THE MANAGER
Maurice Borde
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Springs Annex
Army Fisher House
Story by David Nye
Maurice Borde, the manager of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Forest Glen Annex Army Fisher House has over 20 years of service in Fisher Houses, starting as an assistant manager in 2004 at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland.
Having started in 2004, the job put Maurice front and center with service members injured in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“I have to say, it wasn't just a job,” Maurice said. “It was more of a spiritual calling when I first started because I was around combat wounded because we were at the height of injuries coming in at that time. I got inspiration from being around the wounded and being around the families and helping them and trying to give them strength. And as it turned out, they gave me strength.
“As I tell people, working around the combat vets became inspirational, and then I got strength from the soldiers and gave it to the ones that were recovering. They gave it back triple full because they too were grateful that they had somebody there that supported them and was there to give them empathy, but not sympathy.”
That distinction, between empathy and sympathy, hints at other ways Maurice adapted to the role of caring for survivors of combat. He was used to trying to take care of problems for Army Lodging guests, but he learned he sometimes needed to take a step back for service members in rehabilitation.
In one instance, a disabled soldier dropped his silverware.
“My first human instinct was to drop down on the ground and help him, but I stood back, and I said, ‘Jeremiah, let me know if you need help.’ He said, ‘I got it, Mo,’ and he crawled around on his knees and picked up his silverware with his good arm and his prosthetic.”
The soldier later came to thank Maurice for giving him space to learn and practice. “He came back to the office, and he was like, ‘Maurice, thank you, because when I go out in the real world, no one’s going to stop to help me. So, what you gave me, you showed me support. You showed me that I’m still a man.’”
FISHER HOUSE MANAGERS
Now, Maurice’s house is the overflow for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Fisher Houses, and he attends many families with a child in the neonatal intensive care unit.
We have the little onesies with the dog tags on it,” Maurice said. “And that's sitting on a baby bag when they arrive, with everything that they would need for the baby. I've seen fathers cry because somebody else is showing care. Somebody's reaching out and showing concern about what they're going through, they're giving them empathy for what they're going through.”
Outside of work, Maurice travels with his wife, but his work at Fisher House is never far from my mind. “We like to travel, and my wife loves the beach, and both of us are from the Caribbean. We've been to Greece, we've been to Europe, we've been to several islands. I do enjoy my breaks, but I enjoy working. I'm not going to be ashamed of it. I enjoy my work. It's food for my soul.”
DAY IN THE LIFE
2025 PHOTO CONTEST
Each year the Foundation sponsors a “Day in the Life” photo contest to visually showcase the Fisher House mission. It’s often hard to describe the trials, camaraderie, and bonds formed, so we’ve reached out to the Fisher Houses to help show that through photos. Here, we highlight the winners.
2ND RUNNER UP
1st RUNNER UP
Minneapolis VA Health Care System Fisher House
Tamara plays with her grandchildren at the Fisher House between family visits to see her father in the hospice unit. The youngest children call their greatgrandfather “Ya Ya” when they visit him.
Travis Air Force Base Fisher House
Analise was in Italy, separated from her family for over six months during her medical care. She was finally reunited with her family in the United States just in time to celebrate her son’s 5th birthday at the Travis Air Force Base Fisher House, a milestone that filled their hearts with joy.
3RD RUNNER UP
VA St. Louis Health Care System Fisher House
Justine Young captured this photo of Frank and Shirley Green as they returned to the FH in time to enjoy another home-cooked meal, courtesy of dedicated volunteers. As they sat at the dining room table preparing to break bread, their love for one another was captured in this photo, reminding everyone that true love will endure all things.
These are just the winners from our votes! There are more photo submissions on our website at fisherhouse.org. Do you think you have a great photo from your Fisher House stay? Photos taken between May 2025 and May 2026 are eligible for our next photo contest. Let your house manager know if you have a great shot that you’d like to share.
PHOTO CONTEST WINNER
2025 DAD AND HIS NEWBORN WIN
PHOTO CONTEST IN HAWAII SHOT
Story by David Nye
Jeremiah DeMesa was getting a few rays of sun with his newest daughter when Tripler Army Fisher House Manager Kevin Valera asked if he could take a quick photo of them together. The sun's rays passed over Jeremiah and Mirathea Jae Ocampo DeMesa as Kevin snapped the image in May 2025, less than a month after Mirathea’s birth.
Jeremiah and his wife, Andrea, came to Tripler on short notice from Guam. Jeremiah, an infantryman in the Guam National Guard, and Andrea had two healthy daughters already, Precious Faye and Gianne Shaye. But after two other, failed pregnancies, doctors wanted to keep a close eye on this one.
So, in December 2024, they found that Andrea’s blood pressure was elevated and recommended that the couple take the sevenhour flight to Hawaii for more advanced medical care.
But there was a hiccup. They arrived in December and needed to find somewhere to stay until they baby came in April.
“I just want to thank the Fisher House for having us. They have been a big help because renting or staying in a hotel is very pricey. Actually, before they called us, we were staying in a hotel for 10 days.”
That 10-day stay quickly became unaffordable, and so Jeremiah was close to signing a contract for a short-term rental when he received an email saying that a room was available at the Fisher House, instead.
“That’s why we are very, very grateful for Fisher House.”
They were glad they made the trip, especially when they learned Andrea needed an emergency C-section. Mirathea was coming much sooner than they expected.
“Tripler was really good because my wife wasn’t supposed to deliver until April, but on our last visit, the doctor said my wife’s BP was elevated, so they said, we’re going to induce you,” Jeremiah said. “So good thing that happened too, because my daughter's birth was an emergency C-section as well.”
MANAGERS’ CHOICE
Tripler Army Fisher House
Despite all the drama to get her into the world, Mirathea was born healthy and is growing fast, doubling her birth length in just four months. And the family made new friends from Guam in the Fisher House.
“There were four families there from Guam that we met in the house,” DeMesa said. “When we got back here, to the island, we all had a party.”
One of the other families from Guam at the house was, by coincidence, an officer from Jeremiah’s unit who was also having a baby. Theirs came just one month before Mirathea.
Now both families are back on Guam with their young children. And Mirathea’s older sisters, Precious and Gianne, are helping their parents care for the infant.
FISHER HOUSE SALUTES
Military service members, veterans, and their families are supported by countless organizations that acknowledge their sacrifices. We feature a top-tier organization each issue.
Story by David Nye
WARRIOR STRONG BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH VETERAN, FIRST RESPONDER WORKOUTS
For Tom Tice and the team at Warrior Strong Inc., wellness isn’t just about fitness—it’s about building community.
“I was contracting at Picatinny Arsenal, supporting soldiers through physical training. I loved being part of their journey, but I knew I wanted to do more—something deeper. That drive became Warrior Strong: a way to empower the military and veteran community through health.”
Today, Warrior Strong offers free in-person and virtual fitness classes for service members, first responders, and their families. From high-intensity strength training to restorative yoga and guided meditation, each session is designed to be inclusive and impactful.
Initially launched in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Morris County, New Jersey, the in-person classes quickly built camaraderie across generations—from Vietnam vets to active-duty service members. They stretched together, challenged each other, and joked through sweat.
“We weren’t sure how older vets would respond to things like meditation or yoga,” Tom recalls. “But the reception blew us away. Now we’ve got mixed classes with younger veterans and older veterans flowing side by side. It’s incredible.”
As word spread, Warrior Strong’s reach grew. One veteran asked Tom about joining a class from California. Tom offered suggestions, unsure how to support from the opposite coast.
But the veteran wanted to work with him specifically. So they tried Zoom. It worked, and it stuck.
When COVID hit, remote classes became a lifeline. Warrior Strong pivoted, expanding its digital presence with nightly sessions, a website, mobile app, and YouTube channel. Every offering is free and focused on connection.
The team has even brought their energy to national events like the Warrior Games, hosting yoga classes daily and supporting families with structured stretching, breathwork, and mindfulness.
Inclusivity remains a pillar.
“We were at a golf tournament recently, and I got paired with a Coast Guard veteran who apologized for ‘just’ being him—not a combat-injured guy,” Tom says. “I’ve never worn the uniform, but I believe every person who served belongs in this community. He turned out to be awesome, and we had a blast golfing together. That’s what Warrior Strong is about, lifting each other up.”
To learn more visit warriorstronginc.org.
On the left: Tom Tice takes a selfie with members of a veterans wellness group on a hike.
COMMUNITY GROUPS
IN ACTION
At Fisher House Foundation, we have the support of community groups throughout the country who support their local Fisher Houses or raise funds and awareness for a future Fisher House in their area. Here are some highlights.
This year, thanks to a generous $2,500 grant from a local community organization, we expanded our Food is Medicine program to include a special initiative: Holidays for Heroes. Through this initiative, we offer catered, holiday-themed meals each month to honor and celebrate our nation’s heroes. These meals are thoughtfully planned around major holidays. More than just meals, they are opportunities to create meaningful connections. Community volunteers play a central role in these gatherings. They not only serve the meals but also sit down to share them with our guests, creating an environment of appreciation, unity, and gratitude.
For Fisher House Southern California, one of our most impactful moments this year was our Memorial Day appeal, which honored veterans and military families while raising critical funds to support our mission. The appeal was launched across multiple platforms—including direct mail, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram— and received an incredible response. Our fundraising included images and stories of the guests in the hospitals and Fisher Houses, including who they were when in military service.
Friends of Fisher House West Palm Beach
Friends of Fisher House Southern California
AIR FORCE FAMILY STAYS CLOSE TO NEW DAUGHTERS AFTER TWO TRICKY BIRTHS
Story by David Nye
Photos by Department of Defense and David Nye
“We got to watch people who are now our chosen family heal and got to see their journey while we were going through everything,” Cynthia Phelps said of staying at the Joint Base San Antonio Army Fisher House two times. “So it was great, even though it wasn't something that we originally wanted. You know, nobody is expecting to be there, most of us are just kind of thrown into it.”
Nobody wants to need a Fisher House, but the Phelps family had orders to Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado as James started in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program during his medical retirement in 2022. When Cynthia suddenly went into pre-term labor with their third daughter, they had to immediately pick up everything and head to the best hospital they could think of.
“At that time my wife went into preterm labor and was informed she would not be allowed to fly back to Alaska,” James said, “Peterson didn’t have a NICU so we made the decision to make it to Texas because [Brooke Army Medical Center] was there and had all the services that my wife and our daughter would potentially need.”
While at the house, the Phelps met more families going through other struggles, bonding with them and with their newborn daughter, Rossi, during their five-month stay.
They threw a baby shower for us at the Fisher House,” Cynthia said. “And not just for us, there was another family that was there who had preterm labor with twins, and so our 2-year-old has birthday buddies from the Fisher House.”
Their experience was so good that, when their next pregnancy was ruled high risk and their doctor in Alaska was unable to support the surgery, they asked to go back to San Antonio and Brooke Army Medical Center.
And they tried to give back to the house by taking care of all the kids that were there at the same time as them.
“There was a family that had flown in from Germany,” Cynthia said. “The husband, they believed, had Leukemia, but they were waiting on his diagnosis. And so we watched their five kids along with our four kids at the time, so there were like nine kids in one house, and we helped them so that she could be there for her husband's Leukemia treatments.”
James and Cynthia have celebrated James’s progress along his own medical journey, especially as James competed in Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, earning some medals and
making many memories. Cynthia and their youngest daughter, Laramie, were cheering him on courtside. Fisher House Foundation is proud to support families like the Phelps, not just within the walls at Fisher House but beyond our doors by supporting Team U.S. and the Family and Friends Program at Invictus Games.
The whole Phelps family, including the couple’s other daughters— Dakota Jones, Kimbers, and Oakleigh—are back in Alaska, healthy and growing strong.
A VETERAN’S JOURNEY: FROM SERVICE TO GIVING BACK
Story by Michelle Horn
by Department of Defense and David Nye
After serving as a Master Gunnery Sgt. in the Marine Corps, Carnell Martin is no stranger to supporting service members and their families. His extensive military background makes him a perfect fit as a volunteer at the Camp Pendleton Fisher House.
“You have to be open-minded and talk about family,” Carnell shared. “That might be their low point—the thing they don’t want to talk about because it hurts.”
Carnell dedicated 30 years to the Marine Corps as an infantryman, eventually rising to Senior Enlisted Advisor of the 1st Marine Regiment. He played a critical role in supporting infantry operations both in and out of combat before retiring in 2016. During deployments in 2003, 2004, and 2010, he sustained multiple injuries, including a severe traumatic brain injury. Though he continued to push through the pain, by 2012, the effects became more serious.
“It started to really impact my cognitive skills, balance, concentration, and ability to multitask,” he recalled. “Eventually, I was told to step back and take care of myself, which was the hardest thing to hear, because at that level, as a Marine, you’re used to taking care of others.” Carnell was then transferred to the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California.
A New Mission: Giving Back
Following his retirement, Carnell found healing and purpose in giving back.
“What I do now is help others,” he said. “I never realized how important volunteering could be, not just for those you help, but for yourself as well. It’s the gratification of knowing where you came from and where you are now, and that you have the ability to give back.”
Carnell credits the support of volunteers for helping him through his recovery and feels honored to now pay it forward.
At the Fisher House, he assists with a variety of tasks, from sweeping and pulling weeds to more labor-intensive jobs like cleaning gutters. As a veteran, he considers the Fisher House his home as well and takes pride in ensuring it remains a welcoming space for military and veteran families.
“Being a volunteer has shown me the impact of helping someone who can’t help themselves,” he said. “That’s how it was when I was injured. I wasn’t looking for help, but it found me. Without that support, I wouldn’t be where I am today, physically or mentally.”
Finding Strength Through Adaptive Sports
Beyond volunteering, Carnell also found joy and purpose through adaptive sports. While recovering with the Wounded Warrior Battalion, he was introduced to adaptive athletics, which ultimately led him to compete in the Invictus Games.
Throughout his military career, Carnell had been an athlete, but he never imagined he’d compete again after his injuries. That changed when he
discovered powerlifting and track, which reignited his passion for sports. He competed in the Invictus Games in 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands, and the first-ever Winter Games in Vancouver-Whistler, Canada in 2025 where he competed in biathlon, skeleton, wheelchair basketball, and indoor rowing.
“I wanted a challenge—something I had never done before and might never have the opportunity to do again,” he said. “So, I’m incredibly grateful to the Invictus Games and Fisher House for making this possible and for their ongoing support.”
Since its inaugural event in 2014, Fisher House Foundation has been a proud supporter of the Invictus Games Family and Friends Program.
“We were there for these families when they were first injured or became ill,” said Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “Now, we have the privilege of celebrating with them as they see how far they’ve come in their healing journeys.”
Carnell’s wife Huong and his brother-inlaw Anh were by his side throughout the competition, cheering him on every step of the way.
“It means the world to have their support,” Carnell said. “Not only do I have my teammates and coaches at the Games, but I also have my family here with me. Seeing how far I’ve come—from my lowest point to competing at my physical peak—means so much to me, and I’m grateful they can share in this journey.”
Photos
North Chicago Welcomes the
100th Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation dedicated the North Chicago Fisher House at Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center on July 29, 2025, marking the major milestone of the Fisher House network of comfort homes reaching 100 Fisher Houses. The ceremony included a traditional Native blessing, speeches by government and nonprofit leaders, a passing of the key, and a ribbon cutting. Lovell FHCC is the nation’s only fully integrated VA and DoD medical center. This home offers no-cost lodging to service members, veterans, and their families receiving care at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.
From Struggle to Strength: JP's Journey of LOVE, music, and faith
Story by David Nye
For JP and Crystal Lane, it was “googly eyes” at first sight. Crystal was at the gym with her cousin when the cousin noticed JP working out across the way.
“And I said, ‘Yeah, he's cute.’ And I didn't know that he was on prosthetics yet because there were so many machines around that area. So we continued our workout and he came up to me and complimented our work out on our cable pulldown machine. And he said, ‘You're doing better than half of the men in here.’”
When JP walked away, Crystal noticed JP’s two prosthetic legs, the very expensive souvenirs of a massive IED that nearly killed JP in Afghanistan. Crystal didn’t know it, but JP had been praying for a cute gym girl with curly hair who wouldn’t be turned off by his injuries.
“The rest is history,” Crystal said. “I mean, from there it was like googly eyes back and forth from the gym.”
Crystal moved to San Antonio, Texas to be closer to JP just two weeks later, and they were married in six months. That timeline may seem fast, but the couple embraces life with
a fervor. JP is medically retired from the Army, and they could take things slow if they needed. Instead, Crystal acts as a caregiver for JP as he plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, they work together on a podcast and social media channels, and he’s recording his first Christian music album.
Luckily, his book is already published and his motivational speaking trips don’t get in the way too much.
But JP is open that he nearly quit it all during his initial recovery.
“During my deployment in Afghanistan, our job was to search for IEDs and clear the routes and make sure everyone else could go safe,” he said.
“I was blown up on three different missions, three different days,” he said. “The first two were actually kind of fun for me.”
“But July 2, 2011 was a different IED blast that changed everything.”
Photos courtesy of Craig Orsini
On Opposite Page: JP Lane trains at Athletic Foundations in Spring Branch, Texas. JP and Crystal Lane pose before a wheelchair basketball practice at Bulverde Community Park, Bulverde, Texas. Above: JP Lane trains at Athletic Foundations. JP spins a ball at Bulverde Community Park. JP and Crystal Lane leave the elevator at the Joint Base San Antonio Army Fisher House in Texas.
“I sustained a lot of damage in that moment, but people always ask if I remember the actual initial blast. And I will never forget the initial blast.”
JP suffered a skull fracture, double amputation of his legs as well as the loss of a finger, numerous broken bones, and being “pretty much broken in half,” as he puts it.
At his worst, JP contemplated suicide.
“But after the 12th attempt where I wanted to take my life, I heard a voice say, ‘Do you go to a war zone with just one soldier?’ I was like, ‘No, that’s not how you go to war.’ And I believe it was God telling me, ‘Exactly. So why are you trying to do this by yourself?’”
JP started painstakingly piecing his life, and himself, back together. While doing so, he found the staff at the Joint Base San Antonio Army Fisher House to be a lifeline.
“It was such a blessing having the people around me that were put in my life at the time. I’ll never forget Denise at the Fisher House, that she would just be in a ball of joy every morning, and I would be rolling to therapy at the Center for the Intrepid. Before I would leave, she would just pray.”
JP’s dad traveled to be with his son, but he had to also care for his wife, JP’s stepmom, who was going through cancer treatment in Wisconsin at the same time.
JP’s family and his friends at Fisher House were essential to his eventual recovery.
“I am so grateful for the Fisher House,” Crystal said. “My father-in-law said it best when he said that, ‘I was so worried and concerned about where my son would go, who would take care of him in this new normal for him. And I didn't have to worry about that anymore when he was at the Fisher House.’ And that was, very moving for me, you know? And so I'm very, very grateful for the Fisher House.”
If JP or Crystal need Fisher House in the future, they know it will be there for them.
“I'm so grateful that the Fisher House is all over the nation,” she said. “Wherever JP needs care, they're there. And I just love that I don't have to worry. It takes a weight off my shoulders to know there’s a place we can call home.”
Story by David Nye
Scotty Hastings vividly remembers the day in 2011 when a fighter in Afghanistan suddenly shot him at close range. He also remembers all the people who helped him, from the moment he was injured to today, get back on his feet and started in a musical career.
“He shot me 10 times, five times in the shoulder, four times in the hip, and once in the thigh. The first thing people always ask me is, ‘Well, did you feel it?’ ‘Yes, yes.’ Whoever said, ‘You don’t feel pain because your adrenaline kicks in,’ is 100% wrong.”
The burly Army veteran remembers the long trip to get medical care, going temporarily blind from blood loss, and the many, many people who worked to save his life and to keep him as comfortable as possible despite his 10 gunshot wounds.
First, his platoon made jokes as they evacuated him, including about how heavy he was.
“I’m six foot four, 240 pounds,” he said. “Like I’m not an easy person to carry on a stretcher. And they almost dropped me once, which was hilarious. And I would never let them forget that, ever.... it’s still something we laugh about and they’re like, ‘Man, you’re huge.’ Like, I don’t know what you expected.”
At the Kandahar Airfield Hospital, Scotty remembers soldiers working to replace his missing blood, rehydrate him, and assess his traumas. And then someone whispered in his ear. He distinctly remembers a woman’s voice comforting him and telling him that he could let go, that he was safe, but he was later told that only men were working on him that day.
“I don’t know what that is or who that was, but it was incredible,” he said. “And I still get chills to this day thinking about that. I remember when she said, ‘Hey, you can go ahead and let go. We got you. We got you.’ I remember how at ease I felt and just going to sleep.”
Scotty had a long road ahead of him, and recalls how the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Fisher House supported his family as they supported him.
“When I was there, that's where my family met me. My wife at the time, my mom, my dad, my brother, they all met me there. And the most incredible part of all of it was that they didn’t have to worry about how they were going to afford to stay somewhere because Fisher House had them covered, which was incredible and such a life changer.”
Scotty initially turned to archery as part ofhisrehabilitation, but COVID stopped a lot of his practicing in 2020, and so he turned to guitar, something which has quickly turned into a career. He released his first single in 2021 and albums in 2024 and 2025.
As his career grows, he remains thankful for the time his family was able to spend in Fisher House as he healed.
“I’m kind of a child of Fisher House, at this point,” he said. “So they’ll always be a part of my life.”
Above: Scotty Hastings poses with his motorcycle.
Radio host’s ‘Longest Ride’ just keeps getting longer HEARTS in the COMMUNITY Proud Supporters
Story by David Nye
Radio host Bryan “B-Dub” Washington has been on a tear fundraising for Fisher House, raising over $60,000 in three years. His “Longest Ride,” a solo endurance motorcycle ride, has grown from 1,000 miles to 5,000 while his fundraising has grown from $4,000 in 2023 to over $38,000 in 2025.
B-Dub isn’t a veteran, but he’s the child of military veterans as well as a prospect in a motorcycle club originally founded by special operations veterans, the Pipe Hitters Union.
“My dad was in the Army,” he said. “My father-in-law was in the Marine Corps Reserves. Both my grandfathers were Army Air Forces during the World War II era. So, now I have a family history of military service and this is my small way of giving back to those that have sacrificed so much.”
As he interacts with veterans and with commenters on his social media during his rides, the comments from military and veteran families about Fisher House reaffirms for him that he’s chosen a good cause to lend his talents and time to.
“There are a lot of great options of military charities to help out, but I noticed there wasn’t a ton for military families,” he said. “So I really started to focus on that, who’s helping the families? Obviously, in a perfect world, no one would ever use a Fisher House. But it’s nice to know a place exists where they really can feel like they’re in a home away from home, much better than needing some motel or staying in their car.”
B-Dub is best known for his country music show which airs six nights a week on a variety of stations across the U.S., but he’s also a regular motorcycle rider who enjoys getting on the road. And he has the perfect bike for the endurance rides.
“I’ve got a big, touring bike,” he said. “It’s an Indian Pursuit, and it’s got a trunk, you know? It’s a thousand pounds, give or take. So it’s a big, heavy bike designed for long distances. It’s all about touring, and I’ve added 14-inch high handlebars. It’s a very ergonomically friendly position. So I just have to be careful to manage fatigue, to make sure I rest before I become dangerous. I had days on this 2025 ride where I hit 850 miles a day, back-to-back.”
Despite the grueling schedule on his rides, and the need to record shows just before he leaves and as soon as he gets back, B-Dub is already excited about next year where he hopes to make it bigger.
“Everything is on the table as we keep growing this. Something like Seattle to Key West would be awesome, and maybe we can plan some fun stops on the way next year.”
Corporate & Foundation Giving
Beazer Homes fundraises and volunteers nationwide at Fisher Houses HEARTS in the COMMUNITY
Beazer Homes, an Atlanta-based home construction company that prides itself on its community focus, encourages its employees to volunteer and fundraise for Fisher Houses all year round, and this March it hosted a National Day of Service where it raised over $3 million and provided hundreds of volunteers to Fisher Houses across the U.S.
And they’ve already started planning for 2026, with employees from throughout the organization up to the CEO fully engaged.
“A Fisher house is more than a place to sleep—it’s a critical resource for families in need. For Beazer Homes, we are also building more than just a house. Our vision is to build homes and communities that inspire sustainable and healthy living. This shared emphasis on caring for our communities is one reason our team is so passionate about our support of the military families who call a Fisher house “home” when they need it most," says CEO Allan Merrill. “To come together every year—in growing numbers—is a powerful reflection of the care our team has for giving back and celebrating wellness.”
Beazer has been fundraising for Fisher House Foundation since 2017 and decided to create a National Day of Service for 2025 to activate their employees to give their time and talents to organizations within their communities. Employees volunteered at Fisher Houses in California, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington D.C. the day prior to the Rock & Roll race series in Washington D.C., which many employees ran in as a fundraiser.
“Fisher House Foundation is deeply grateful to Beazer Homes and their partners for this extraordinary commitment,” said Ken Fisher,
Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “Their generosity is measured not just in dollars, but in the comfort and relief it provides to military and veteran families during their most difficult times. Beazer builds houses across the country, and through this partnership, they help us build something equally vital—a home away from home for our nation’s heroes and the loved ones who support them.”
Beazer volunteers cleaned, painted, landscaped, sorted donations, and more for Fisher House guests during their Day of Service. Their hands-on approach helped the employees get closer to the mission that they had fundraised for months to support. They even took the opportunity to write thank you notes to the Fisher House guests for their service and sacrifice.
Beazer says their National Day of Service “reinforces Beazer’s mission of building more than just homes—it’s about building hope, stability, and opportunity for those in need.”
Story by David Nye
On the Left: Beazer runners on race day in Washington, D.C.
Above from top to bottom: Beazer staff help clean a Fisher house living room; Beazer volunteers gather in front of a Fisher House; Beazer CEO Allan Merrill helps with deep cleaning at Fisher House during the Day of Service.
JOURNAL ENTRIES & LETTERS
Palo Alto, CA
“The family has arrived home safely. I have my music blaring, the sun is shining. It’s strange to be here/home again. I feel split in two places still; here and there. Your kindness, hugs, help in the little and big ways meant so much. We are believers in the Fisher Foundation. We would not have been able to stay with our son without the house being available to us. Thank you so much. You will always be in my heart.”
Fort Campbell, KY
“We wanted to thank you for making our stay here very welcoming and for the Fisher House providing a place where we felt at home while we were here for our granddaughter’s major surgery. This home gave us a place to feel peace during a very stressful time. Thank you so much!" —Brad & Suzie, Texas
Las Vegas, NV
“April 10, 2025: This was my first stay at the Fisher House. I’ve seen it many times coming to appointments for my husband but never thought I would need it. Thank God, and the Fishers, for providing this beautiful and peaceful refuge to families going through stressful times. May everyone involved in the creation and support of this lovely home be blessed by God. I cannot thank you enough for being here for Veterans and their families."
Forever grateful, —Cathy H., Mesquite, Nevada
Fort Bliss, TX
“Thank you, I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation to you and your staff. I’m most grateful…" Kind regards, —Xiomy & Tavy
San Antonio, TX
“My journey with the Joint Base San Antonio Army Fisher House began in 1996 after a life-threatening car accident left me clinically dead upon arrival at the Brooke Army Medical Center. Thanks to the skilled medical team and the power of prayer, I was given a second chance. Once stable, I was reunited with my wife at the Joint Base San Antonio Army Fisher House across the street where we were welcomed with compassion and care that deeply impacted my recovery. Since then, we’ve returned to the Joint Base San Antonio Army Fisher House many times. Each stay has given us the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges, offering support and hope. At the Fisher House, kindness is contagious, and community is everything.”
Fort Belvoir, VA
“A legacy of service continues through the care and use of this place. The Fisher family name and associated virtues is evident in the physical space. The staff is attentive. Fisher House is clean and quiet and provides a space for healing and recovery. Many thanks to all who maintain this resource." —Lt. Col. and Mrs. Daniel C. Wheeler
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
OPENINGS, CELEBRATIONS AND DEDICATIONS
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center North Chicago, Illinois
The 100th Fisher House was dedicated in July in North Chicago, Illinois. Ken Fisher, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, Medical Center Director Dr. Robert Buckley, and Deputy Director Capt. Chad Roe all shared remarks for this momentous occasion. The 16-suite Fisher House will support active-duty personnel, veterans, and their families receiving medical care at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, the only fully integrated VA and DoD medical center in the country.
John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Little Rock, Arkansas
James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Fisher House at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas was dedicated in September. This is the first Fisher House built in the state and has 16 suites. It will offer more than 5,800 nights of lodging each year.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Franklin Delano Roosevelt VA Hospital Montrose, New York
Construction has begun on a new Fisher House at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt VA Hospital in Montrose, New York. The Fisher House will have 12 suites and will save veteran families up to $700,000 each year.
DOWN RANGE CONSTRUCTION
The following projects are currently in design.
• Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center Atlanta, Georgia
• H. John Heinz III Department of VA Medical Center (Second House) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center Phoenix, Arizona
• Hospital de Veteranos (VA Caribbean Healthcare System) San Juan, Puerto Rico
• West Palm Beach VA Medical Center (Replacement House) West Palm Beach, Florida
Captain
Little Rock, Arkansas Fisher House
Painting With Purpose
Story by Michelle Horn
Artist Steve Boster has been generously donating commissions from his paintings to Fisher House Foundation for over 10 years.
Based out of San Angelo, Texas, he paints out of a studio at the Chicken Farm Art Center. Steve’s style ranges from realism to early impressionism and he uses vivid colors to depict mostly North American and African animals. He has visited many countries on hunting trips which is where the inspiration for his work comes from.
“I’ve probably hunted in Africa like six times, and I’ve probably hunted in Canada probably six or eight times. And then I've hunted really all over the western part of the United States and Texas and Mexico and New Zealand,” said Steve.
After a 33-year career as an emergency room doctor, Steve has a good idea of how important it is to have family nearby during a crisis. He is also especially proud to support those who serve, such as his brother-in-law, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Oates, who commanded the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. Steve witnessed the impacts multiple deployments had on his sister and her husband.
“Painting the pictures and having Fisher House get the money, gives me a huge sense of purpose. And it’s a pleasure,” he shared. “People say they know I was an ER doctor, and then they say, well, that painting is relaxing. And I say, no, it’s not really relaxing. I said, it's very challenging, but relaxing is not the right word.”
Along with the family connection, San Angelo is located near Goodfellow Air Force Base and there are multiple military installations within a couple of hours of the town making it a popular area for retirees. When Steve speaks with his customers, he finds many have had experience with Fisher House.
“Everybody I’ve talked to, some of the soldiers knew about it and had some experience about it. And it's just a wonderful, wonderful charity,” he explained.
These testimonials along with Fisher House Foundation’s high charity ratings are all reasons Steve gives to Fisher House Foundation through his artwork.
“I asked my brother-in-law what the best organization to give money to was. And he said, every dollar that’s given to Fisher House, over 92% of it, goes to their mission of housing families of injured or ill veterans or active-duty soldiers,” he explained.
Steve proudly supports Fisher House Foundation on his website www.steveboster.com
Above: Steve in his studio in San Angelo, Texas.
One increasingly popular and flexible way to support the causes you care about, including Fisher House Foundation, is through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). A Donor-Advised Fund is a charitable giving account that allows you to contribute cash, securities, or other assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to your favorite nonprofits over time.
If you already have a DAF, recommending a grant to our organization is simple. Just contact your fund provider and suggest a donation to us. Remember to include our legal name, Fisher House Foundation, Inc., and tax ID number 11-3158401.
If your fund allows, we would love to know who the gift is from so we can thank you properly and keep you updated about the impact of your generosity.
If you have questions about donating through your DAF, stock, or IRA, contact Kathleen Hogan, Director of Individual Giving, at 888-294-8560 or donations@fisherhouse.org.
Above Paintings by Steve Boster: “A West Texas Love Story”, “A Crisp Morning in the Rockies," and “Don't Mess With Me”
HOUSE ROUNDUP
We always love to check in and see what Fisher Houses have been up to. Here, we outline a few highlights from houses around the world, submitted by the Fisher House managers.
ALASKA
Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson Medical Center
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson During trying times and uncertainty, music always brings peace in the Alaska Fisher House. Whether it is through a piano or even an ukulele, it is in moments like this that guests share a sense of calmness within the houses.
CALIFORNIA
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego
Members of the Military Spouse Kickball Association (MSKA)—Miramar took the field to start their Spring 2025 season of camaraderie, community,
and competition. For 10 weeks, MSKA teams dedicated their philanthropy efforts to support Fisher House San Diego. MSKA Miramar presented two special philanthropy awards to recognize teams who went above and beyond in supporting Fisher House. Pitches Ain’t Loyal earned the community award for donated goods. Misfits earned the Charity Ribbon for direct donations.
GEORGIA
Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Fort Gordon
On April 14, 2025, the Fort Gordon Army Fisher House received a heartfelt plaque of appreciation from the Canadian Detachment at Fort Gordon. The plaque was presented in appreciation and thanks of the support provided to Mr. Patrick Dunster during the repatriation ceremony of his brother, Corporal Jonathan Dunster, who died December 20, 2023.
The recognition underscores Fisher House’s mission of providing comfort and care to military families during times of medical crisis and loss.
HAWAII
Tripler Army Medical Center
Honolulu
Tripler Army Fisher House recently welcomed a heartwarming visit from USO Hawaii and their furry ambassadors, Puna the Labrador Retriever and Bea the Labradoodle. Decked out in patriotic scarves, the therapy dogs brought comfort and smiles to guests—especially to young Laila Pierson, who is receiving medical care in Hawaii. Their gentle presence lifted spirits all around, and we look forward to their next visit.
KENTUCKY
Blanchfield Army
Community Hospital
Fort Campbell
At Fort Campbell, collaboration and care go hand-in-hand. The Fisher House is proud to support patients and families going to the Intrepid Spirit Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Center. This stateof-the-art facility provides rehabilitation for service members across all branches.
As one recent Navy guest shared, “Thank you for a warm, welcoming stay. It was so nice, it felt like home. Amazing service and hospitality.”
MARYLAND
Walter Reed Army Fisher House at Forest Glen Annex
Silver Spring
The Walter Reed Army Fisher House at Forest Glen extends heartfelt thanks to the Winston Churchill High School Lacrosse Team for their meaningful volunteer service on May 3, 2025. Your act of gratitude toward our nation’s military families is a powerful reminder of the hope and promise in America’s future. Thank you for honoring those who serve.
MICHIGAN
VA Ann Arbor
Healthcare System
Ann Arbor
Tisha Novak was a guest here at the VA Ann Arbor Fisher House which was her “home away from home” for 219 days. She invited our staff to attend the pinning ceremony for her husband, U.S. Army Veteran Anthony Novak, in the VA Palliative Care Unit. We are so thankful we were able to be a part of this family’s journey and that we were able to offer hospitality during the veteran’s lengthy hospitalization. We were also able to utilize the Fisher House Foundation’s Hero Miles program to provide free airline tickets to the Veteran’s son (who is an Active Duty Service member stationed in North Carolina), daughter, greatgranddaughter, and great-great-grandson (who live in Austin, TX) who were able to visit as well.
MINNESOTA
VA Minneapolis Health Care System
Minneapolis
The MN Dept of Human Services Veterans Employee Resource Group hosted an event on June 6, 2025, to commemorate the Minneapolis VA Fisher House’s 14th and 30th year anniversary. The celebration featured a catered meal from Qdoba, root beer floats, and live music performed by the Vets for Music band, creating an atmosphere of great conversation, delicious food, and enjoyable music for all attendees. #Minnesota Department of Human Services, #FisherHouse #Veteran #Minneapolis
MISSOURI
VA Kansas City Health Care System
Kansas City Groceries!! Former Fisher House guests, now forever family. This is a true testament to community support that allows KC Fisher House to continue its mission: serving as a home away from home for our military families.
Thank you to the Nevada Elks Lodge #564, family, friends, and community, that joined together to provide groceries for our guests.
NORTH CAROLINA
Womack Army Medical Center
Fort Bragg
In 2022, guest Genevieve Sims, who took culinary classes as part of her recovery, offered to teach staff to make buñuelos, a crispy pastry dusted with cinnamon and sugar. She loved working in the kitchen
HOUSE ROUNDUP
during her stay and found joy in sharing skills. It became an annual tradition. Each year, families and staff gather in the kitchen to bake the treat together. It reminds us that small acts of kindness can leave a lasting mark.
SOUTH CAROLINA
William Jennings Bryan Dorn
VA Medical Center
Columbia
A heartfelt donation hit the right note one morning at our Columbia VA Fisher House.
Members of the Phlock of the Tri-Lakes Parrot Head Club, joined by friends from the Palmetto Parrot Head Club, generously donated a Red Guitar—part of a initiative by musician Thom Shepherd to give red guitars to every Fisher House across the country.
We are incredibly grateful for this meaningful gift and for the music-loving community that made it possible.
TENNESSEE
Valley
Healthcare System
Murfreesboro
Our guests decided to cook for each other and one of our veterans enthusiastically offered to grill! Everyone had a chance for a great meal and we shared stories around the tables inside.
TEXAS
Carl R. Darnall
Army Medical Center
Fort Hood
The Fort Hood Army Fisher House is honored to receive generous gifts from Perfectly Imperfect Quilts, a dedicated group of artists who pour love into every handcrafted piece. Each quilt is a one-ofa-kind creation, stitched with colors and patterns that reflect the individuality of those who receive them. More than just warmth and comfort, these quilts offer a tangible reminder that someone cares. Our guests often say they feel wrapped in kindness in the masterpieces.
VA North Texas
Health Care System
Dallas
The Soldiers’ Angels have provided a monthly lunch for Fisher House Families since 2024 as part of their mission of providing aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. On June 19, they brought Chik-Fil-A for their monthly meal. Thank you for your help supporting our guest families!
William Beaumont
Army Medical Center
Fort Bliss
The Fort Bliss Army Fisher House hosted a joyful rock painting event that brought guests together in a meaningful way. The kitchen filled with laughter and heartfelt conversation, turning a simple activity into a moment of connection and comfort.
One mother shared how she and her children appreciated the chance to relax and enjoy time together. The handpainted rocks now sit throughout the house as colorful symbols of hope, healing, and the strength of community.
VIRGINIA
Alexander T. Augusta
Military Medical Center
Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir Army Fisher House welcomed volunteers from Progressive’s MILNET team for a meaningful garden revitalization project. The project focused on enhancing our raised garden beds for the families who stay with us. The volunteers planted a variety of herbs and vegetables, creating a more inviting and functional space for guests to enjoy. Beyond adding beauty to our grounds, the refreshed garden offers a practical resource, allowing families to harvest fresh ingredients during their stay.
WASHINGTON
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
For over eighteen years, Quilters Anonymous has shared its talents and compassion with the military families staying at the JBLM Army Fisher House.
Known for their beautiful pillowcases, the group members have recently expanded donations to include handmade baby quilts, bringing warmth and comfort to families facing medical challenges. Many members have deep ties to the military, and their contributions are more than just fabric and thread. They’re a symbol of support, stitched with love.
GERMANY
Landstuhl Army Medical Center
Landstuhl
With deployments increasing and a new school year underway, many guests are balancing complex care needs with parenting, partnership, and extended stays overseas.
One guest recently shared, “The love and warmth that flows within the walls of this home provides comfort and assurance that calms fears.” These moments are a reminder that the Landstuhl Army Fisher House is more than temporary lodging, it’s a place of stability, dignity, and connection when families need it most.
Ways to Give This Holiday Season
As you begin to think about gifts this holiday season, here are a few ways to support military families:
Fundraisers: Create a fundraiser at fisherhouse.org/ fundraise or set up a fundraiser on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitch.
Tribute: Make a donation in honor of a loved one, and Fisher House will send a special message to your honoree.
Join Zach’s Club: Become a monthly donor and honor Zachary Fisher’s legacy at fisherhouse.org/zach
Qualified Charitable
Distribution: Speak with your advisor to see if you qualify to donate from your IRA. Gifts may help you meet your required minimum distribution.
Stocks: We gladly accept gifts of stocks and securities. For more information, please visit fisherhouse.org/stocks.
Frequent Flyer Miles and Hotel Points: Help wounded, injured, or ill service members with their continued recovery with donated airline miles and hotel reward points, allowing them to travel or stay in hotels when a Fisher House is full.
Leave a Legacy: Remember military families in your estate plans by listing Fisher House Foundation, Inc. as a beneficiary in your retirement assets. Visit fisherhouse.org/legacy
Donate a Vehicle: Get rid of an unwanted vehicle, boat, or plane— running or not—and help military families. Visit fisherhouse.org/cars for an alternative to selling or trading.
Don’t forget you can make a donation in support of Fisher House Foundation via the Combined Federal Campaign! CFC code 11453
ZACH’S CLUB
Please scan the QR Code to learn more and donate.
The House that Hope Built
Poem by Charles Domm, Fisher House Guest
In quiet halls where courage sleeps, And whispered prayers the silence keeps, There stands a place with open door— A Fisher House, and so much more.
Where burdened hearts may find their rest, And wounded souls are gently blessed, A haven born from love and grace, A healing light, a sacred place.
No price is asked, no charge, no fee, Just comfort, care, and family. For warriors worn by war and pain, And those who wait through loss or gain.
Each bed, a balm for battle’s toll, Each meal, a way to make them whole. While healing hands in hospitals mend, Fisher Houses house the friend.
They rise beside VA’s proud walls, In nearly a hundred healing halls. And more to come, with hope held tight— A hundred dreams in morning light.
But dreams need strength, and strength needs aid—
From hearts who give, not just parade. From voices bold and hands outstretched, From checks once signed, now purposeetched. So pass it on, from vet to vet, To those who give and won’t forget. Let stories shine and poems tell, Where wounded warriors come to dwell.
Tell of the rooms, the food, the grace, The love that fills each healing place. And may each word and rhyme and song, Bring help where Fisher dreams belong.
For every hero’s road is long— But not alone, when hearts are strong.
Above: Charles Domm presents a painting to the radiation department that helped treat him at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. Charles wrote the poem above.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham 0121-472-6217 fax: 0121-41306897
Manager: Patrick Hogan vs.fisherhouseuk@ssafa.org.uk
A home away from home
For 35 years, the Fisher House program has helped families stay with loved ones receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers, because we believe “A family’s love is good medicine.” These homes provide free, temporary lodging to military and veteran families so they can be close to their loved ones during medical crises.
Since 1990: 534,000 families served | $650 million in savings | 12.5 million+ nights of lodging
