"People Helping People"

At each national party convention, America’s Credit

Launch Video  played at the GAC Convention in Washington, D.C. (new window will open)

Videos (new window will open) HFOT Denver Project - August, 2008 HFOT Minnesota Project - September, 2008 Build Brigades: Minnesota - June, 2008 Build Brigades: Colorado - June, 2008 Groundbreaking: Colorado - April, 2008 Groundbreaking: Minnesota - April, 2008

Unions look for opportun ities to give back to the host cities.  These leave-behind service projects have not only allowed us to help in different ways, but have also gotten the entire credit union movement involved.  For the 2008 national party conventions we are pleased to be partnering with Homes for Our Troops, an organization that builds specially adapted homes for severely injured service members, the Corporate Credit Union Network and the National Journal Group. 

We took on the challenge of building a home for a disabled veteran in each of the convention host cities: Denver, CO and Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.  Each of these homes required a committed effort on behalf of the credit union movement.  In addition to volunteers and donated goods, we also raised money to cover the cost of items that need to be purchased, items such as land on which to build the home, materials, special equipment, etc. 

Please show your support by donating to this worthy project.  Let’s show the troops how grateful we are for their service to our country and that credit unions stand behind them! DONATE NOW *Homes for Our Troops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization and your donations are tax-deductible.

Denver, CO
Specially Adapted Home Building Project

Army SSG Travis Strong

Staff Sgt. Strong, 29, was in the middle of his second tour in Iraq when the Stryker armored combat vehicle he was patrolling in was hit by a roadside bomb called an explosively formed penetrator.

He lost both of his legs in that explosion and has undergone months of rehabilitation, recovery and therapy to learn how to use his new prosthetics.  Travis has a loving wife Misty and two beautiful children Sean and Brianna who have gone on this long journey of recovery along with him. 

Right now, the Strongs live in Navy base housing and as soon as Travis is discharged in a couple of months, they must leave the base and find alternative housing.  Homes for Our Troops is helping this family by building them a specially adapted home and give them a head start on a new life. 

Please visit this page often to see the progress being made on this American hero's home building project!

Key Ceremony Held on August 27th!  We Did It!!

Travis and Misty wave to the camera in front of their new home in Golden, CO.

Thank you for a GREAT Build Brigade!

Homes for Our Troops hosted a 3-day Build Brigade event for the future home of SSG Travis Strong and his family in Golden, CO and with over 300 volunteers, we were able to bring the home from a bare foundation to a weather-tight structure in just 3 days!

 

Photo Gallery

Click here to visit Travis' personal photogallery

Despite the winter storm, lots of supporters attended the ceremony for SSG Travis Strong and his family!

(L to R) John Gonsalves; Major General H. Michael Edwards; Richard Gose; SSG Travis Strong, Misty Strong, daughter Brianna and son Sean; John Dill, President of the Credit Union Association of CO; Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee; Kathy Hartman, Chair of Jefferson County Commission.

 April 10, 2008 Ceremonial ground breaking marks the start of the home building project for SSG Strong in Golden, CO.
Video News Report

St. Paul, MN Home Building Project 

Army SGT Marcus Kuboy

SGT Marcus Kuboy joined the Minnesota National Guard 3 years ago and since joining has been on active duty for most of that time.  In March, 2007, Marcus was wounded in a humvee explosion while serving in Iraq.  His multiple wounds consist of both of his legs being damaged to the point where he can walk only for short periods of time and only with assistance of a walker.  The rest of the time, Marcus relies on a wheelchair.  He also suffered TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), broken arm, back and jaw are among the many injuries he has suffered.

After spending months at Walter Reed Medical Center recovering, he continues to work on his rehabilitation in a VA Rehabilitation center in St. Paul.  With the help of CUNA, National Journal and Co-Op Financial Services, Homes for Our Troops will be building Marcus a home where he can live a more independent life and focus on his future.

Please visit this page often to see the progress of this home building project for SGT Kuboy!

Breaking Ground in Woodbury, MN!

Along with family members and supporters, Sgt. Kuboy digs the first shovelfuls for his new house.
From left to right: Sgt. Kuboy’s brother, Christopher Kuboy; Sgt. Kuboy; Sgt. Kuboy’s father, Peter Kuboy; Gov. Pawlenty; Homes for Our Troops President & Founder, John Gonsalves; Republican National Convention President & CEO, Maria Cino; MnCUN President & CEO, Mark D. Cummins; Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Credit Union National Association Vice Chairman, Kris Mecham; President of Reiling Construction, Brigid O’Malley; and Homes for Our Troops Vice President & Chief Projects Office, Kirt Rebello.

Thank you to the volunteers at the Build Brigade for Sgt. Marcus Kuboy!

From June 26-28 volunteers from the Republican National Convention staff, along with volunteers from local credit unions, and the National Journal Group kicked off a three-day "build brigade" to construct a home for Sgt. Kuboy.

Photo Gallery

Click here to visit Marcus Kuboy's personal photogallery