Simonton Donates 23 Casement Windows to Homes for Our Troops Montana Project Home
Thursday, August 30, 2007
By: Kathy Ziprik

Founding corporate sponsor continues to provide support around the country to Homes for Our Troops by donating products.

PARKERSBURG, W. VA. One house at a time. That’s how Homes for Our Troops helps severely injured veterans put their lives back together. And, for SSG John Bennett, that one house has made all the difference.

            While serving in Iraq, SSG Bennett was shot in the stomach by a sniper and left paralyzed from the waist down. Prior to his deployment, Bennett, his wife and their four children lived in a very small house that was not handicap accessible. To make matters worse, the children’s bedrooms were in a leaky basement area of the house.

            When Homes for Our Troops learned of Bennett’s need for new housing, they stepped up by building the family a new universal design home in Cascade, Montana. With one call, Simonton Windows® also joined the effort.

            A founding corporate supporter of Homes for Our Troops, Simonton Windows has donated vinyl windows and doors to the majority of the home projects organized by the non-profit group. For the Bennett home, Simonton contributed 23 casement style windows. From his wheelchair, Bennett can now open the easy-to-operate crank-out windows throughout his Montana home.

             “The Bennett family sacrificed so much for our country,” says John Gonsalves, president and founder of Homes for Our Troops. “They deserved better living conditions than they had. Working together with our volunteer contractor, Curnow Construction, we’ve all been able to give John and his family a promising future and more suitable housing.”

            The Simonton ProFinish® white vinyl windows included in the Bennett home are all specially made for new construction projects. The stylish windows feature white sculptured perimeter grids and a Low E/Argon-filled glass package that is ENERGY STAR® qualified.

            “We hope the windows donated to this project create a warm, positive home environment for the Bennett family,” stated Mark Savan, president of Simonton Windows. “At Simonton, we applaud the selfless work of our servicemen and servicewomen being done worldwide. We appreciate the opportunity to give back to them through Homes for Our Troops.”

In June of 2007, Simonton Windows was presented with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. The award was given in recognition of Simonton’s support of Homes for Our Troops since its inception.

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. The company was ranked #1 in quality in the 2007 Brand Use Study sponsored by Builder magazine and has won two consecutive Best In Class Awards for being ranked “Overall Top Rated Vinyl Window Brand” in unaided industry studies.

 Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in seven days or less. Part of consumer products company Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton has manufacturing facilities in Pennsboro, Harrisville and Ellenboro, W.Va.; Paris, Ill.; McAlester, Okla.; Lyons, Ga.; and Vacaville, Calif. For information, call (800) SIMONTON or visit www.simonton.com.