Trusant Technologies raises more than $100,000 for new Bethesda

Trusant Technologies raises more than $100,000 for new Bethesda

City Bizlist Baltimore

12.08.10

Trusant Technologies, LLC, an information technology and construction management firm, has donated more than $100,000 to help with the construction of the Fisher House Foundation's newest facility in Bethesda.

Fisher House, based in Rockville, MD, provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. The 16,500-square-foot, 20-bedroom suite Bethesda House, which officially opened yesterday, is one of three new Fisher Houses to be located at the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. The other two houses, which are currently under construction, are scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

The Fisher House Foundation officially opened the new Bethesda House on Dec. 2 with the help of First Lady Michelle Obama.

"Every day, this house and others like it across this country remind us of a simple truth: that when our men and women in uniform are called to serve, their families serve, too," Mrs. Obama said at the Fisher House tour and ribbon cutting. "Their sacrifice is their families' sacrifice, as well."

Years ago, Trusant chose the Fisher House as the recipient of its charitable contributions based on an employee's recommendation. Trusant officials visited Fisher House and quickly determined it was the organization they wanted to support based on the nonprofit's foundation and mission. They made a commitment in November 2006 to raise $100,000 for Fisher House. At the time, Trusant had just 18 employees.

"Although is seemed an almost insurmountable goal for a company of our size, we knew that it was the right thing for our organization to do," said Joe DiGangi, a principal at Trusant, which now has 39 employees. "The service men and women that the Fisher House supports are the epitome of what it means to serve our country, and we just knew we had to share with them in whatever success we would have as a company."

In order to achieve their goal, the firm created the Trusant Eagle Classic golf tournament in 2008, which has raised between $33,000 and $39,000 each year. In total, Trusant raised nearly $118,000 since their initial commitment in 2006.

"As a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, it is an honor and our pleasure to have been a small part in supporting the construction of the Bethesda Fisher House," said Vincent Marucci Jr., another principal at Trusant.

In addition to the newest Bethesda Fisher Houses, the Bethesda Naval Medical Center also has two existing Fisher Houses, which maintain a near 100 percent occupancy rate. The majority of the residents are families of wounded warriors.

"The Fisher House Foundation is grateful for the support provided by Trusant," said Cindy Campbell, vice president of community relations and media affairs for Fisher House. "They have been strong supporters of the troops for over three years. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment to supporting our military families."

Since its inception in 1990, Fisher House Foundation has served 130,000 families, saving them more than $150 million in lodging and transportation costs. There are 50 Fisher Houses located at military and VA medical centers.