Celebrate America’s Military Kick-Off Luncheon Features Ken Fisher

Celebrate America’s Military Kick-Off Luncheon Features Ken Fisher

The Chamber

11.01.11

The Chamber’s Celebrate America’s Military series of events began with a Kick-Off Luncheon on October 28. The event featured philanthropist Ken Fisher, Chairman of The Fisher House Foundation, who spoke to Chamber members and military servicemen and women on the benefits of philanthropy within our nation’s armed forces.

Serving more than 142,000 families since its inception in 1990, the Fisher House has saved military families an estimated $165 million in lodging and transportation costs. The Fisher House Foundation provides “comfort homes” to military families free-of-charge, enabling them to be near loved ones during the hospitalization. Within the next few years, The Fisher House expects to build five more homes, including another one in San Antonio.

“The Fisher House mission is well-defined and achievable: meeting customer’s needs. This translates to the military and their families,” Fisher said. “To be successful in the philanthropic world, you must give the public the option to join in the collective efforts of the Foundation.”

Fisher discussed the importance of public-private sector partnerships and the positive results philanthropy has achieved for America’s military. He also encouraged businesses and the government to be a part of the solution, promoting a system and a nation that cares because he stated that “thank you for your service” is not enough.

After Fisher’s remarks, Whataburger presented him with a check in the amount of $104,000 to be donated to the Fisher House Foundation.

The Greater Chamber created Celebrate America's Military in 1970 as a way for the business community to say thank you to men and women who serve and have served in the military. The tradition has grown to become the nation's largest and longest-running celebration of its kind. For details on this 17-day salute to the military, please visit www.celebrateamericasmilitary.com.