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Randolph-Brooks Gives $100,000 to Help Military Families; Challenges Community to Do More

Press Release
Sonya McDonald
05.23.06

Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union has announced a $100,000 contribution to the Fisher House Foundation and issued a challenge to the community to help support America's military and their families by raising at least $200,000 which the credit union will match.

"When a wounded service member comes to San Antonio to heal from a serious injury, it is usually an unexpected stay that could keep a family apart for months," explains Randy Smith, President and CEO of Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union. Many service members who are wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan get treatment in San Antonio at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) or Wilford Hall.

"For these soldiers, having their family around to help deal with the traumatic changes in their lives can make all the difference in the healing process" says Smith. "Fisher Houses help relieve families from the financial burden of being together during a stressful time so they can concentrate on getting better. Randolph-Brooks is proud to support Fisher House and we believe it's important to spread the word so others can support them."

David Coker, President of the Fisher House Foundation accepted the initial contribution, along with Becky Ziegel from Metamora, Illinois, whose son, Ty, was badly wounded in Iraq and has been staying at the BAMC Fisher House for 16 months.

"The wounds of these soldiers are unlike any that we've seen before," said Coker. "Having their family around to help deal with the traumatic changes in their lives can be the best medicine of all. By partnering with businesses and individuals in San Antonio, together we have the opportunity to make a real difference in this community."

A Fisher House is a "home away from home" so that America's military families can be together during extended treatment for a serious illness or lengthy therapy. In San Antonio, there are five Fisher Houses ­ three located at Wilford Hall Medical Center and two at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). Two more houses are under construction at BAMC and are expected to open in January 2007 in conjunction with a new rehabilitation hospital. The new houses will help relieve the current waiting list which stands at more than 50 families.

More than 20,000 service members have been wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Soldiers being wounded in battle is nothing new, but the wounds of these wars are unique. Thanks to reinforced Kevlar vests and helmets, and advances in lifesaving battlefield and post-combat treatment, combat casualties who would have died in earlier conflicts are surviving; however, the price of survival is often the loss of limbs.

The Randolph-Brooks campaign will run from Memorial Day through Independence Day. Anyone who wants to contribute can visit their website at www.rbfcu.org, or stop by any Randolph-Brooks branch.

Randolph-Brooks serves more than 240,000 members world-wide and has 22 branches in South Central Texas. The Fisher House Foundation has 33 homes throughout the United States and in Germany, and five new houses are currently being built. Since 1990, the Fisher House program has been able to help more than 70,000 families by providing "a home away from home" so family members can be close to their injured loved ones.

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