Fisher House Foundation facts for kids
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| Founded | 1990 |
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| Founder | Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher |
| Type | Non-Profit Organization |
| Focus | Service members, veterans and their families |
| Location |
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| Method | Construction of comfortable temporary lodging facilities near military hospitals and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers |
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Key people
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Kenneth Fisher, Chairman and CEO |
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Employees
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25 |
Fisher House Foundation is a special non-profit group. It helps military members, veterans, and their families. They work with the Veterans Health Administration. The foundation builds comfortable homes. These homes are like a temporary place to stay. Families can live there while their loved ones get medical care. These homes are usually close to military hospitals.
The foundation also has other helpful programs. These include "Hero Miles" and "Hotels for Heroes." They offer scholarships too. They also help military families during tough times.
Contents
How Fisher House Started
The Fisher House program began in 1990. It was started by Zachary Fisher and Elizabeth Fisher. They saw that military families needed a place to stay. This was especially true when a family member was in the hospital.
The very first Fisher House opened in 1991. It was at the National Naval Medical Center. This center is now called Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. President George Bush Sr. and Mrs. Bush were there for the opening.
The Fishers worked with the government. This was a "public-private partnership." It allowed them to build homes on government land. After building, these homes were given to the military. The goal was to give families a "home away from home." This helped families be part of the healing process.
The Fishers used their own money to build more homes. Zachary Fisher passed away in 1999.
Today, Kenneth Fisher leads the foundation. He is Zachary’s grand-nephew. He is the Chairman and CEO. In 2022, he received a special award. It was the Sylvanus Thayer Award. This award recognized the great work of Fisher House.
Where Fisher Houses Are
As of September 2023, there are over 95 Fisher Houses. They are located in the United States. You can also find them in Germany and the UK. In the UK, they work with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity. They also partner with Help for Heroes. These homes help patients at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.
Many Fisher Houses have grown bigger. They can now help even more families.
Inside a Fisher House
Fisher Houses can have up to 21 suites. Each suite has a private bedroom and bathroom. Families share common areas. These include a kitchen and laundry rooms. There is also a warm dining room. A cozy living room is available too.
How Fisher House Helps
The foundation has helped many families. Since 1990, over 445,000 families have stayed in Fisher Houses. This has saved them a lot of money. They saved over $575 million on lodging and travel.
The organization has also helped families during government shutdowns. They covered payments for soldiers killed in duty. For example, during the 2013 government shutdown, they gave $750,000. This helped 30 families.
Who Fisher House Works With
Fisher House Foundation works with many groups. They partner with other foundations and companies. These partnerships help them raise money. They also help stock the homes. This support helps military families. Some of their partners include:
- Newman's Own
- Suave
- Fuzzy's Vodka
- National Football League Players Association (NFLPA)
- Hope for the Warriors
- Food Lion Feeds
- Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
- Samsung
- Walmart (for Operation: Deck the Walls)
Awards and Recognition
In 2018, Fisher House was named a top charity. They were recognized for helping military families. This was based on how they manage money. Charity Navigator is a US charity rating group. They gave Fisher House a four-star rating. This happened for 16 years in a row by 2019.
See also
- Naval Support Activity Bethesda
- Ronald McDonald House Charities, a similar charity for civilians
