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Sneak Peak at Our New Website
Latest News
Meet Our Newest Heroes
Join Operation Enduring Support
Completed Homes
New Home Building / Remodeling Projects
Awards & Recognition
Major Supporters
Supporter of the Month
Heartwarming Letters from Young Americans
Donate to Homes for Our Troops
Here's a sneak peak at our exciting new online community website to be lauched in late April / early May!
 Not only is this site for you, our supporters to connect with each other but it will help us do more with your generous donation dollars by reducing the amount of valuable resources spent on traditional mailings.
- Send free e-cards to your friends to help us get the word out about Homes for Our Troops!
- Create your own Tribute or Memorial page to honor a loved one and in your own words, ask others for donations to Homes for Our Troops in honor of the person you choose.
- Get your own web page to create and organize your Homes for Our Troops team fundraising event online, tell others about it with your own emails, and let people register for your event right online!
- Track your volunteering progress through your Team, Memorial or Tribute pages!
- Read articles and heartwarming stories about the American heroes that we serve.
- Let us send correspondence with you via email instead of costly postal mail for:
Donation Acknowlegements
Monthly Newsletters and Updates
Rewards Notifications and much much more!
We will send you a special email announcement when the site is ready for you to use!
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MEET JUST A COUPLE OF HEROES WHO ARE IN NEED OF YOUR HELP! |
 "Oh gosh, here they come!" Bobbie Harrison yelled as the red and white ambulance carrying her grandson Russell Kyle Burleson came into view. Her cell phone rang, with some friend wanting to know the latest. "They're here -- No, I'm not kidding! He's coming up the ramp! Bye!"
With those words, the lives of Burleson -- Kyle to everyone -- and his wife, Kristi, changed again, as they had changed one fateful August day in Baghdad.
Read More...
 Wharton, NJ - The explosion on the Baghdad roadside ripped through Army Spc. James "Jimmy" Benoit's 9,000-pound armored Humvee, en route to train Iraqi police.
The 23-year-old from Wharton heard the boom and knew it was an improvised explosive device, or IED -- the bombs soldiers know are out there..
Read More...
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Monthly Donations to Support our American Heroes.
Click Here for more details.
Join our monthly support program and receive:
$10.00/ mo = HFOT bumper sticker
$25.00/mo = HFOT Magnet Ribbon
$50.00/mo= T-Shirt & bumper sticker
$100.00/mo = All 3 items!
10,000 people x $1.00 = a kitchen
500 people x $10.00 = a heating system
1 person x $ 20.00 = a box of nails
100,000 monthly donors of $10.00 or more = America taking care of our disabled veterans!
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HFOT President, John Gonsalves, was invited to the White House by President George W. Bush.
Mr. Gonsalves was one of fifteen "America Supports You" grassroots organizations invited by President George W. Bush to a private meeting at the White House on Friday, March 10, 2006 to discuss the importance of their work, and to thank them for their support of the military at home and abroad.
Time Square, NY - John S. Gonsalves, Founder of Homes for Our Troops was voted one of the Top 25 Newsmakers for 2005!. Selected by the editors of ENR for their contributions to the construction industry in 2005, Mr. Gonsalves was honored at a reception and luncheon for his efforts in creating Homes For Our Troops.
Read article here... (pdf)
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We will be highlighting in our e-newsletter special companies from around the country who have gone the extra mile to help raise funds for Homes for Our Troops.
http://www.alpinerv.com/
Alpine Recreation of Morgan Hill, CA is a new contributor and friend of HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS.
This company thought up a very successful way to tie sales and service activities to donations from the company (each unit sold was worth $100.00, etc.), Some of the employees and customers gave donations directly for the mission as well.
The ladies in the company decided to have a bake sale one weekend, and that raised almost $700.00 on its own!
They sat in the showroom and sold all they baked.
A quote from Alpine, "This cause really hit home for our employees and our customers. When we announced the promotion, we ran the video from your website, and it was very emotional for our employees. We have a few who have seen active duty and they were particularly moved. We think that you guys have an outstanding organization, and we are working on ways to continue to contribute in get the word out in a meaningful way."
GOOD NEWS!!!!!
With your help Alpine Recreation was able to raise over $12,000 dollars in March for Homes For Our Troops. We at Alpine would like to thank you for your help and look forward to seeing what we can do for the month of April.
Thank you Alpine RV! Keep up the great work!
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Spring Is Here! It's been an exciting few months for Homes for Our Troops since our last newsletter in November and we want to share our progress and great news with you!
 We broke ground on our first home for Sgt. Peter Damon in Middleboro, Massachusetts not very long ago in December 2004. Little more than a year later, we have completed five projects, have 7 more underway and have six to eight more to be done in 2006!
Homes for Our Troops is able to accomplish this important work thanks to the efforts of volunteers helping out in many ways to make the organization run smoothly and also to the many volunteers that helped out at the home building sites. We could not have done it without them and want to take this opportunity to thank each and every donor, volunteer and supporter around the country. You are making a difference in the lives of our severely wounded service men and women and their families and you can be proud to support Homes for Our Troops.
Here is a summary of what we have accomplished to date and a list of projects that are now underway! We are in need of volunteers, donors and private and corporate supporters for all of these projects. Read further to see if we are in your area then sign up to help or donate!
1. Sgt. Peter Damon lost both arms while serving in Iraq- Sgt. Damon of the Massachusetts National Guard, his wife Jenn and two children Allura and Danny were the recipients of the very first specially adapted home built by Homes For Our Troops in Middelboro, MA. [Story and Photos]
2. Cpl. Bobby Isaacs - lost both legs in an explosion while serving in Iraq- Cpl. Bobby Isaacs, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY, joined the armed forces after 9/11 and was deployed to Iraq in spring of 2003. Homes for Our Troops purchased a home in Roxboro, North Carolina and adapted it for handicap accessibility.
[Story and Photos]
3. CWO Juan Beltran - near total paralysis from the neck down - Chief Warrant Officer Juan Beltran was severely injured in Iraq while piloting an Apache helicopter. Juan is now in a quadriplegic and Homes for Our Troops is aiding the effort to have his existing home adapted for his needs. The bathrooms and doorways of his home are not wheelchair accessible and Juan needs these adaptations to be made to his home in Pico Rivera, California. [Story and Photos]
4. MSG Luis Rodriguez - lost one leg while serving in Iraq MSG Luis Rodriguez an Army Medic of 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY was injured when his Humvee was blown up by a roadside bomb while trying to pick up supplies for orphans. Homes for Our Troops participated with ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to build a new home in Clarksville, Tennessee for Sgt. Rodruquez and his family.
[Story and Photos]
5. PFC Sam Ross lost one leg, other leg severely damaged, blind, deaf in one ear Pfc. Sam Ross, a combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division, was wounded on May 18, 2003, while disposing of munitions that were wounding and killing Iraqi children in a area near Baghdad. Homes for Our Troops built Sam a new log cabin home on land he owns in Dunbar, Pennsylvania. [Story and Photos]
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1. SPC Kyle Burleson paralyzed from neck down building new home on his land in Springhill, Louisiana. [Story and Photos]
2. HM3 Joe Dan Worley lost one leg, other leg severely damaged looking for home to purchase in Georgia which will be adapted for handicap accessibility. [Story and Photos]
3. Sgt. Jared Luce lost both legs, damaged left hand and left eye will be building new home on his land in Connecticut. Plans are drawn up and land clearing has begun. [Story and Photos]
4. SSG Eugene Simpson paralyzed from waist down bought home in Dale City, Virginia, initial planning begun on making it handicap accessible. [Story and Photos]
5. Cpl. Brian Johnston lost right leg and right arm reviewing whether to build a new home or purchase and adapt an existing home in Connecticut. [Story and Photos]
6. SPC James Benoit severe injuries to back of his body, confined to wheelchair his home town arranged for land on which we will build a new home in Wharton, New Jersey. [Story and Photos]
7. SSG John Bennett paralyzed from waist down - will be building new handicap accessible home on his land in Montana. [Story and Photos]
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While it is an honor just to be able to do the work we do and to be a part of the life of the incredible veterans we have served, the work of Homes for Our Troops has been recognized by many different people, and in many ways. Here are a few examples.
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Daughters of the American Revolution 2006 Medal of Honor
John Gonsalves, the founder and president of Homes for Our Troops, is being honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor. The DAR Medal of Honor is the most prestigious honor awarded by the DAR. Past recipients include Senator Robert Dole, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Admiral & Senator Jeremiah Denton. Mr.Gonsalves will be accepting this award at the DAR National Conference in June 2006.
Engineering News Record (ENR) Magazine Top 25 Newsmakers of 2005
ENR Magazine, the premiere construction industry magazine, recognized Mr. Gonsalves as one of the top newsmakers in 2005. The award is given to people who show innovation and achievement in the construction industry.
Home Magazine’s 2005 Home Shelter Award
Mr. Gonsalves was a recipient of the 2005 Home Magazine Home Shelter Award. Per Home Magazine’s web site, the awards event “saluted six compassionate community activists and raised over $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity's Hurricane Recovery Effort.”
White House Ceremony Honoring Military-related Non-Profits
Mr. Gonsalves was one of fifteen AmericaSupportsYou.mil grassroots organizations invited by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush to a private meeting at the White House on March 10, 2006. At the meeting, the President and First Lady discussed the importance of their work, and thanked them for their support of the military at home and abroad. Other organizations in attendance included Fisher House and organizations that provide many services to active duty and retired military, and to the families of deceased veterans.
Major Supporters
Homes for Our Troops has many generous donors and supporters. While each and every one of them is important to us, the following are some notable people and organizations that have shown tremendous dedication to our cause.
The Avon Foundation was an early supporter, providing us with $105,000 to fund two projects.
Phil Mickelson, 2004 and 2006 Masters Champion, has been a major supporter of Homes For Our Troops since 2004 with his Birdies for the Brave Campaign and other fundraising events.
Billy Joel has made significant contributions in each of the last two years.
ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has highlighted Homes for Our Troops in two episodes last year. http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/
Simonton's dedication to its employees, commitment to manufacturing only high-quality vinyl windows and patio doors, and desire to put a Simonton window into every home in the country have enabled the company to grow into one of the biggest and most respected vinyl window companies in the United States. http://www.simonton.com/
The Texas Roadhouse has raised over $100,000 by accepting donations for Homes for Our Troops as well as coordinating fundraising events to benefit HFOT.
Please visit your local area Texas Roadhouse for some legendary food and service and thank them for all they are doing for our soldiers! http://www.texasroadhouse.com/
Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004, was the guest of honor and performed several songs at the screening of our second appearance in the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show.
The Professional Golfers Association donated $140,000 to Homes for Our Troops in 2005 and has committed to assist us once again in 2006.
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LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG SUPPORTERS |
We have experienced support from many people and have learned that Great Americans can be of any age! Please read these letters and think about the young peope who gave some of their favorite things up to be able to support our severely wounded veterans. Visit our website for kids! http://www.kidsforourtroops.org/
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This young man held a fundraiser and also donated his birthday money. |
This young lady contributed her First Communion gifts, and later donated more from her lemonade stand. |
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Please make a much needed donation today! We offer many different ways for your to donate to help our mission of building and remodeling homes for handicap accessibility for our most severely wounded veterans.
Thank you!
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