Operation Homefront Launches "Homes on the Homefront" Program

Chase To Donate 100 Homes and Support to Nonprofit

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Operation Homefront, the national nonprofit that provides emergency assistance to military families and Wounded Warriors, today launched a partnership with Chase that will put at least 100 Wounded Warrior, military, and veteran families permanently into homes this year.  The bank is providing the homes and other support to enable Operation Homefront to administer the "Homes on the Homefront" program.  Operation Homefront will provide ongoing transitional services to the families until such time the properties are actually deeded to the recipients.

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Operation Homefront and Chase will match homes in the bank's inventory with deserving families served by the nonprofit.  Some of the requirements that applicants must meet include: 1) be active duty, Guard or Reserve, or have been honorably discharged, 2) not currently own a home, 3) be financially capable of sustaining the home throughout an initial transition period and beyond.   

The program's first priority will be to place families who currently live at an Operation Homefront Village, which provides transitional housing for Wounded Warrior families.  Other Wounded Warriors, surviving single spouses of those killed-in-action, and post-9/11 disabled veterans will also receive priority consideration under the program.  Any veteran of any era, regardless of wounded or disability status, will be eligible to apply.

"This is an incredible gift from Chase to our men and women in uniform," said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Homefront.  "Chase's imaginative, nation-wide approach to providing quality homes to deserving service members and their families will make a huge difference in how these heroes can make that difficult transition and adjustment into productive civilian lives."

"We're proud to partner with Operation Homefront in awarding homes to members of the military and their families," said Frank Bisignano, JPMorgan Chase Chief Administrative Officer and CEO of Mortgage Banking. "These individuals have made tremendous sacrifices for our nation, and as they move back into civilian life in a tough economic environment, we hope that a mortgage-free home will make that transition a little easier."

"This is exactly the type of wonderful, collaborative effort that the First Lady and Dr. Biden hoped to see when they rolled out 'Joining Forces' last year – companies and organizations coming together to better serve veterans, service members and their families," said Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces in the White House Office of the First Lady.

"Every day, we work to give military families financial security so that when service members are in harm's way, they don't have to worry about their families back home," continued Knotts.  "The homes provided by Chase takes that one step further, and will provide these families with additional peace of mind concerning their futures."

Operation Homefront is seeking new donated goods and money from other companies to provide every home fully furnished when the families move in.

Military families can apply for the Homes on the Homefront program by logging on to www.OperationHomefront.net/HomesOnTheHomefront

About Operation Homefront:  A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 23 Chapters and has met more than 590,000 needs since 2002.  A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to assist service members.  More information is available at www.OperationHomefront.net

About Chase:  Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase serves consumers and small businesses through 5,400 bank branches, 16,800 ATMs, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships and schools and universities. Chase also has issued more than 90 million credit cards. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

About Joining Forces:  Joining Forces is a national initiative created by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to energize action from every sector of our society – individuals, businesses, non-profits, philanthropy and faith-based institutions – to give service members, veterans and military families the support they have earned. See www.joiningforces.gov for more information.

SOURCE Operation Homefront