Tampa, FL, Feb. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Fisher House in the Tampa Bay area was dedicated today by Department of Veterans Affairs Chief of Staff Pamela Powers, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation, Ken Fisher, and Mr. Joe Battle, Director of the JamesA. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. This is the second Fisher House at the VA Hospital in Tampa, a Level One Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center that provides intensive specialized and comprehensive rehabilitation care for military and veterans.
This home will provide lodging for an additional 16 families of veterans and military at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved ones at the most stressful time – during their hospitalization at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. This will bring the total number of available nights of lodging in Tampa Bay up to 36 a night. Thanks to the Fisher House program, this will mean a savings to military and veterans’ families of more than $1.7 million a year.
A Fisher House creates an instant community for its residents, united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, but also provides each individual with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge.
“Fisher Houses are built on partnerships. And partnerships begin with community,” said Fisher. “It’s what we do together that makes the biggest impact and I am so proud to partner with the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. Together, we ensure that not only our military and veterans are cared for, but also their families can be nearby and recuperate in a safe and welcoming home.”
The new 16-suite, 12,000+ sq.-ft.“comfort home” joins the original Fisher House opened in 2007. Like the first one, this Fisher House will be gifted to 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.
“We are so grateful to the Fisher House Foundation for nurturing our families in their healing process. This second Fisher House gives a tremendous amount of support to families who want and need to be near the Veteran at such a crucial time. The resource of an accommodating and beautiful place to stay gives comfort and strengthens loved ones so that they can carry on and be supportive in the healing process. This haven alleviates the stress of traveling from their hotel to the Hospital and eases the burden of financing a short or long-term stay,” said Battle.
“When you go to a Fisher House, they are more of an extended family to help Veterans and their Families through the most difficult of circumstances,” said Powers. “That is what makes them so extraordinary, and why their partnership with the VA is so critical.”
Construction of this Fisher House was supported by: Wohlers Family Foundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, The USAA Foundation, Inc. and USAA Bank, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, Holiday House Distributing, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Team Fisher House Fundraisers, Vehicles for Veterans,and the many gifts of a grateful nation.
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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
About James A. Haley Veterans’Hospital
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics (JAHVH) in Tampa, FL is a clinical referral, complex level 1A health care system with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion. The facility has more than 5,200 full-time employees and sees more than 97,000 unique patients annually. As one of the largest VA teaching facilities, JAHVH is affiliated with the University of South Florida and in fiscal year 2018, trained over 1,500 trainees including medical students, residents and fellows.
The 499-operating bed medical center includes hospital medical-surgical, acute psychiatry, community living center, hospice and palliative care, spinal cord injury, level 1 polytrauma center, pain/rehab along with multiple outpatient primary and specialty care services and an off-site domiciliary.
JAHVH also operates a Primary Care Annex near the main hospital and four community clinics all offering primary and mental health care, including the New Port Richey OPC, Brooksville CBOC, Lakeland CBOC and Zephyrhills CBOC with a brand-new clinic opening in South Hillsborough County in Spring 2019.
https://www.tampa.va.gov/
HI RES EVENT PHOTOS AVAILABLE AT:https://www.flickr.com/photos/fisherhousefoundation/sets.
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