Minnesota war veteran to receive new home
Friday, February 22, 2008
By: Staff Writers

Credit unions, Republican National Convention, others teaming up for service project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Contact: Kristina Wright
February 22, 2008              (800) 477-1034, (651) 288-5170
       kwright@mncun.org

Minnesota war veteran to receive new home

Credit unions, Republican National Convention, others teaming up for service project

ST. PAUL, Minn. A hometown military hero injured while serving in Iraq will receive a “thank you” this September when construction is complete on his new house in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Saddled with severe injuries incurred in Fallujah, Robbinsdale-native, Armstrong High School graduate, and lifelong Minnesota resident Sergeant Marcus Kuboy, 30, will have a new place to call home this fall through a national organization called Homes for Our Troops.

Minnesota credit unions are teaming up with Homes for Our Troops and the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention for the initiative.

Sgt. Kuboy served three years active duty for the Minnesota National Guard until he sustained serious injuries in March of 2007. He was patrolling the outskirts of Fallujah with his unit when the truck he was riding in ran over an IED bomb, causing it to explode and sending the vehicle airborne and ejecting Sgt. Kuboy. The explosion severely injured his legs, and he broke his back, left arm and jaw.

In his initial nine months of recovery, Sgt. Kuboy endured eight surgeries. He has also suffered some setbacks on the road to recovery, including a serious bone infection in his left leg that could lead to amputation.

Homes for Our Troops
Founded in 2004, Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to assisting severely injured and disabled servicemen and women and their immediate families. This organization works with local contractors to build new homes that are handicap-accessible, often for multiple amputees and individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Sgt. Kuboy’s home will be the first built by Homes for Our Troops in Minnesota.

Minnesota credit unions are the driving force behind this initiative and are responsible for raising the funds for this service project. Homes for Our Troops will construct a specially-adapted home in the St. Paul area in the months leading up to the 2008 Republican National Convention, slated for Sept. 1-4. A parallel home project will take place in Denver, the site of the August Democratic National Convention. Credit union involvement in both states is being coordinated by the Credit Union National Association.

“As Minnesotans and Americans, we are all so proud of our heroes serving in the United States military,” Gov. Tim Pawlenty said. “We need to thank them both with our words and our deeds.  Homes for Our Troops and Minnesota credit unions should be commended for showing their appreciation and support by building a new home for Sgt. Kuboy.” 

Credit unions around the country, as well as the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, are committed to giving something back to the communities that will host the national conventions.

“I am thrilled that credit unions have the opportunity to be so instrumental in a project of this magnitude, contributing time and money to honor a Minnesota soldier who fought for our freedom,” said Mark D. Cummins, President & CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN). “While the convention will come and go, the construction of this new home for Sergeant Kuboy will be a long-lasting reminder of the gratitude and generosity of Minnesota credit union members for years to come.”

The groundbreaking and construction in Minnesota and Colorado is expected to begin in March or early April. The deeding ceremonies for these uniquely-outfitted homes will take place in conjunction with the respective conventions.

“We are committed to giving something back to the community hosting our convention and there are no people we owe more to than those who have served in defense of our nation and freedom,” said Maria Cino, President & CEO of the Republican National Convention. “Taking care of our veterans is not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue, it’s an American issue. We are honored to participate in this initiative.”

Fundraising efforts are currently underway. Contributions are being accepted through the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation (http://www.mncufoundation.org/). Individuals and organizations interested in participating should contact Mara Humphrey of the Minnesota Credit Union Network at mhumphrey@mncun.org. For additional information about Sgt. Kuboy, please contact Dawn Texeira with Homes for Our Troops at dawn@homesforourtroops.org.

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The Minnesota Credit Union Network is an organization representing
the state’s 162 not-for-profit cooperative credit unions serving
more than 1.5 million member-owners in the state.
For more information, visit http://www.mncun.org/.