Purple Heart Homes Provides Housing Solutions to Older Veterans Thanks to a Grant from the Home Depot Foundation

STATESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Purple Heart Homes and The Home Depot Foundation have announced a joint partnership that will provide housing solutions to older Serviced Connected Disabled Veterans that have served our country. The grant from The Home Depot Foundation will enable Purple Heart Homes to help make needed modifications to eight homes including installing ramps where steps have become obstacles, and making doorways wider and bathrooms more accessible.

Purple Heart Homes is a non-profit co-founded by Dale Beatty and John Gallina, two Iraq combat wounded Veterans. Both Beatty and Gallina want to help older Veterans remain in their homes so they do not have to consider costly alternatives.

"We founded Purple Heart Homes to help older Veterans and their caregivers to be able to remain in their own homes by making needed adaptations and modifications," said Dale Beatty. "We found raising funds to help older veterans more challenging, but now thanks to a grant we received from The Home Depot Foundation we are able to help make life easier for those who served before us."

The grant, in return, will not only help these veterans - it will also help their caregivers, who tend to be decision makers when older veterans do not specifically identify their needs.

"There are 3.5 million Service Connected Disabled Veterans that served our country and two out of five fall into the 55-74 age category," said John Gallina. "The unsung heroes are their wives and family members that are caregivers to older Veterans who, each day, help with activities of daily living," Gallina added.

In Franklin, NC, for example, an Air Force Master Sergeant, 58, who served our country in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars lives with his wife and their grandchildren they are raising. He suffers from congestive heart failure and has skeletal conditions making it difficult for him to move safely in his home. The housing solutions of wider doorways, a handicap-accessible bathroom and grab bars will not only ensure his safety but allow his wife and caregiver to feel more at ease.

Also, in Norwich, CT, a female veteran who served eight years in the U.S. Army has a 100% non-functional right hand from a Service Connected injury. Replacement windows installed in her home and a safer, more accessible kitchen will allow her to age in place in the comfort of her own home.

"The Home Depot Foundation's pledge to veterans has allowed us to help people from different walks of life," said Kelly Caffarelli, President of The Home Depot Foundation. "Veterans are men and women, young and old, able bodied and physically challenged. We are happy to team up with Purple Heart Homes to continue in our mission to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home."

To apply for a housing solution or to learn more visit www.purplehearthomesusa.org or call toll free 866-787-7539.

ABOUT PURPLE HEART HOMES
Purple Heart Homes is founded by and for our veterans and is operated as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization founded in 2008 by Dale Beatty and John Gallina. Both joined the North Carolina National Guard in 1996 and both were severely wounded in Bayji, Iraq on November 15, 2004. During their years of service to our nation both Beatty and Gallina responded not only to calls from the governor of North Carolina to help victims of Hurricane Fran and Hurricane Floyd but ultimately a call from the President of the United States to defend our country against terrorism by serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Their journey together is one of friendship, service, courage and leadership. Their shared experiences have created a strong sense of community and have instilled in them a humanitarian spirit to give back and make a difference in the lives of Service Connected Disabled Veterans of all conflicts. Currently the Purple Heart Homes organization is made up of volunteers and professionals from all walks of life that share a common belief and a common desire to give back to those who have given so much for their country. A volunteer Board of Directors is maintained for fiscal responsibility, approval and prioritization of projects and fundraising assistance.

ABOUT THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION
In 2011, The Home Depot Foundation committed $30 million over three years to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the homes of economically disadvantaged veterans. The Home Depot Foundation surpassed the pledge more than a year ahead of schedule. As part of its second annual Celebration of Service campaign, the Foundation is now committing an additional $50 million to housing nonprofits over the next three years in an effort to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home.  

Through Team Depot, the company's associate-led volunteer program, thousands of Home Depot associates volunteer their time and talents to positively transform neighborhoods and perform basic repairs and modifications to homes and to the facilities serving veterans with critical housing needs.

Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $300 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.

Media Contacts:

Vicki Thomas – Purple Heart Homes PR
203-984-2138

John Gallina – Purple Heart Homes Co-founder
908-721-4714

Catherine Woodling- The Home Depot Foundation
770-384-2304

This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Purple Heart Homes