Funds raised by Team Fisher House at the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon were designated towards the construction of the newly dedicated Fisher Houses at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The 2010 MCM team is recognized as a 3-star donor on the bronze plaque permanently displayed in the foyer of each new house.
In preparation for the shift of patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Bethesda, the capacity at the Bethesda Fisher Houses will increase from 15 to 68 families. There are now five Fisher Houses at Bethesda, all near each other and within walking distance of the medical facilities. About a dozen families have moved into one of the new houses already.
Fisher House Foundation builds and furnishes the houses, then gives them to the military services or the Department of Veterans Affairs to operate. These three new houses at Bethesda bring the total number of Fisher Houses to 53.
The very first Fisher House was opened at Bethesda nearly 20 years ago. Since then more than 130,000 families have been served, with nearly 3 million days of lodging, saving them an estimated $150 million.
Without the dedication and commitment from fundraisers, donors, and volunteers from around the world, Fisher House Foundation would be unable to fulfill its mission: Helping Military Familes. Thank you for recognizing that "'Thanks for your service' is no longer enough."
I have also enclosed a photo of my son taken at his birthday party, and a yellow ribbon craft magnet that we made for everyone who donated to our cause. Thank you for the wealth of information and personal stories we found on your website. Many people told me how wonderful it was to give something back to soldiers and their families, and we were happy to spread the word about Fisher House!
