Dayton, OH, Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steve Young, VA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations and Management joined Jill Dietrich, Dayton VA Medical Center Directorand Fisher House Foundation President David Cokerhere today to dedicate the newest Fisher House at the Dayton VA Medical Center. This home will provide lodging for up to 16 families of eligible veterans and military at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved one at the most stressful time – during the hospitalization for a combat injury, illness or disease.
The Dayton Fisher House will not only create an instant community for its residents, united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, but it will also provide each individual with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge.
“VA is grateful for the new edition to the Fisher House program,” said Young. “We value the Department’s long-standing partnership with Fisher House Foundation. We appreciate their commitment to our veterans, active duty military and their families.
The 16-suite, 14,000 sq.-ft.“comfort home” joins more than 75 other Fisher Houses operating in the United States and Europe and was gifted to VA as part of today’s ceremony.Each bedroom suite comes equipped with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom. The common areas include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and patio.
“This Fisher House is a wonderful addition to our historic campus,” said Dietrich.“We have a heritage of healing on this campus going back over 150 years. This home continues that dedication to our local veterans and takes the strain off them and their families as they undergo a trying time in their lives allowing them to focus on the healing process.”
“Supporting our military, veterans and their families is a privilege, but it’s not something any one organization can do alone,” said Coker. “It takes partnership between the government and the nonprofit sector. More than that, it takes community. The excitement and tireless efforts of the Ohio community will continue to go a long way for those who call Fisher House their home.”
Construction of this Fisher House was supported by: Greener Pastures Foundation, Fisher-Nightingale Houses, Inc., Cardinal Health Foundation, AMVETS Post 51-Thornville, Ohio, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association-Chapter 12-1, Team Fisher House Fundraisers, and Vehicles for Veterans.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ 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 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 lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $400+ 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
HI RES EVENT PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM AESTILL@FISHERHOUSE.ORG.
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