Fisher House Foundation expanding into Arizona
On Thursday, May 7, the Fisher House Foundation broke ground on a new Fisher House for military families to support a loved one hospitalized for wounds, injuries, or illnesses.
Fisher House Foundation vice president for community relations, Derek Donovan joined Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) director Jonathan H. Gardner, Chairperson Arizona Fisher House Foundation, Dr. Dana T. Staggs, U.S. rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, and Martha McSally, as well as State reps. Sonny Borelli and Mark Finchem to officially commence construction on the new Arizona Fisher House.
“Rep. Borrelli and I were proud to have played a part in raising awareness to such a noble cause,” stated Rep. Mark Finchem. “As the prime sponsors of the Fisher House bill in the AZ House we’ve learned that support grew for the effort immediately after the bill was passed. More work is to be done, but we will see this through.”
“We are very excited to bring a Fisher House to the Veterans and their families served by the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System,” said Donovan. “It has been quite impressive to watch the Arizona community embrace their Veterans through this project. Dr. Dana Staggs along with the other members of the local Arizona Fisher House organization have been absolutely amazing in raising funds and awareness for this house.”
The new 13,000 sq. ft. Fisher House will feature 16 suites, and welcoming common areas including a well-appointed kitchen; large communal living, dining and family rooms, and patio.
“The Arizona Fisher House will be a valuable asset to the Tucson community and also the state of Arizona,” said Gardner. “The Fisher house will complement the world-class health care our staff provides the Veterans we serve.”
The entire Southern Arizona community to include major corporations, non-profit organizations, local and state businesses, Veteran Service Organizations and state law makers have all quickly responded to the need the help Veterans by unselfishly giving to the new Arizona Fisher House.
This Arizona Fisher House will open in 2016 to serve military and Veterans’ families.
Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $282 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) located in Tucson Arizona has been serving veterans, since its dedication on October 13, 1928. SAVAHCS currently serves over 170,000 Veterans located in eight counties in Southern Arizona and one county in Western New Mexico. SAVAHCS is a 277-bed hospital providing primary care and sub-specialty health care in numerous medical areas for eligible veterans. In fiscal year 2014, SAVAHCS treated over 8,000 inpatients, performed over 5,100 surgeries and completed an excess of 680,000 outpatient visits.