Building Homes for Heroes celebrates Veterans Day with new home for Marine Corps veteran

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ABCO HVACR Supply + Solutions (ABCO), a distributor of Luxaire heating and air conditioning products from Johnson Controls, and contractor Elm Air Conditioning Corporation teamed up with Building Homes for Heroes to provide United States Marine Corps Corporal Kevin Vaughan with a new, mortgage-free home. The Purple Heart recipient received keys to his Merrick, New York, home during a Veterans Day-inspired Welcome Home ceremony on Nov. 7.

Building Homes for Heroes is a national organization that recognizes the tremendous sacrifices of men and women of the United States Armed Forces by supporting the needs of severely wounded or disabled soldiers and their families. The organization strives to build or renovate quality homes and gift the homes to severely injured veterans nationwide, mortgage-free.

"Our mission is to make sure wounded men and women who bravely served and sacrificed for the United States receive the highest level of appreciation we can provide," said Andy Pujol, president and founder of Building Homes for Heroes. "We gift homes and other assistance to veterans in order to provide them a better tomorrow and some financial freedom that lets them focus on rehabilitation and their families."

Johnson Controls, through its distributor ABCO, donated a Luxaire Acclimate Ultra-High Efficiency cooling system for the new home. Luxaire contractor Elm Air Conditioning provided installation services at no cost.  

"We're proud to play a part in providing resources to such a worthy and honorable cause," said Dominick Drab, associate vice president, sales management, at ABCO. "It's a small price to pay, considering what our service men and women have given on our behalf."

"It was a real privilege to work alongside Building Homes for Heroes and give back to Corporal Kevin Vaughan and his family," added Scott J. Oest, president, Elm Air Conditioning. "He has made truly honorable sacrifices for our country, and we're happy to provide our services to help make his home more comfortable."

Corporal Vaughan, a member of the Third Battalion, 6^th Marine Regiment, was wounded in Afghanistan in September of 2011, when the vehicle he was travelling in struck an improvised explosive device. In addition to the Purple Heart, the decorated marine earned the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Navy Sea Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

"It doesn't even seem like reality. It's too good to be true, but it is, and I love it," said Corporal Vaughan.

Johnson Controls announced its sponsorship of Building Homes for Heroes in 2014. Since that time, the company has donated and installed quality heating and cooling systems, including installation and labor costs, to 22 military families. These donations were made to homes that were renovated or built from the ground up.

"The support of companies like Johnson Controls and its high-quality Luxaire heating and cooling equipment distributors and contractors, like ABCO and Elm Air Conditioning, enables our organization to reach more injured veterans in need and help them begin to rebuild their lives," said Chad Gottlieb, director of construction development, Building Homes for Heroes.

Luxaire^® products from Johnson Controls include high-performance residential central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories, and light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a network of distributors and delivered to home- and building-owners through independent Luxaire heating and air conditioning contractors. For more information about Luxaire, visit www.luxaire.com or follow us on YouTube and @LuxaireHVAC on Twitter.

To learn more about Elm Air Conditioning, please visit www.elmairconditioning.com.

About Building Homes for Heroes

Building Homes for Heroes®, Inc. recognizes the tremendous sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces by supporting the needs of severely combat wounded or disabled soldiers and their families. It is a national organization committed to supporting these brave men and women, with a goal to build homes for families in dire need. For more information on these projects, please call 516-684-9220 or visit the organization's website at www.buildinghomesforheroes.org.

About ABCO HVACR Supply + Solutions

ABCO is the nation's leading independent HVAC and Refrigeration resource, with 18 branch locations throughout the Northeast. We are committed to providing the highest level of service for contractors, builders, architects and engineers. With ABCO you'll be supported with extensive inventory delivery capabilities, and smarter strategies to help ensure success and profitability.

About Johnson Controls 

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 130,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and seating components and systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2015, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

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SOURCE Johnson Controls

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