Honoring Service: House of Heroes Comes to Delaware

Organization Dedicated to Providing Free-of-Charge Home Renovations for Military and Public Service Veterans; Kick-Off Weekend this October

Wilmington, Del., (MMD Newswire) August 20, 2015 — House of Heroes (HOH), the Georgia-based non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service of military and public service veterans by providing free-of-charge home repairs and renovations, is coming to Delaware.

House of Heroes Delaware plans to “make a difference in a day” at the homes of several New Castle County veterans on Saturday, October 17, marking the local group’s inaugural series of state veterans projects. The group is seeking donors, sponsors and volunteers with a goal, said HOH Delaware Chapter Executive Director Kathy Eastburn, of raising $30,000 between now and October.

“It is an ambitious goal but we are confident that the people of the great state of Delaware will respond enthusiastically to the challenge,” said Eastburn, a retired Delaware Air National Guard Brigadier General who also directs HOH projects in Connecticut. “House of Heroes honors service and sacrifice by giving back to those who gave to us, a cause I know is near and dear to hearts of the people of this great state.”

The announcement marks a homecoming of sorts for HOH Chairman Bill May, a 24-year U.S. Army veteran and former Blackhawk helicopter pilot who now lives in Connecticut but was born and raised in Wilmington. May called the opportunity to establish a chapter of the growing organization in the state where he grew up “fantastic and rewarding.”

“With my Delaware roots and the continued growth of this great organization, it only made sense to establish a chapter in my home state where I still have so many family and friends,” said May, a University of Delaware and St. Mark’s High School graduate who is hopeful that his large network of alumni friends and colleagues will help jumpstart the cause. “There are tens of thousands of veterans and those who support them here in Delaware. We believe the people here are ready to respond to this kind of special opportunity to demonstrate their gratitude.”

Helping kick-start the fundraising campaign will be May’s fellow University of Delaware alum John “Rusty” Giles, a partner with Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Morris Capital Advisors, LLC, who served on the board of directors of St. Mark’s High School and is active with a variety of Delaware community causes and organizations.

“Every veteran is a hero in my view. Giving something back to those who served is the kind of cause anyone can get excited about,” said Giles. “The work that my good friend Bill May and his wonderful organization are doing is inspiring and I look forward to being part of it.”

Wilmington-based Famous Restaurant Group is House of Heroes Delaware’s first major sponsor. A series of fundraisers is in the early stages of planning at the group’s three Wilmington locations – Famous Jack’s, Famous Joe’s and Famous Tim’s – and the Famous Tom’s and Famous Mike’s locations in Hockessin. Dates will be announced soon.

Founded in 2000, House of Heroes serves our nation’s military and public safety veterans (and their spouses) who are disabled, living on a fixed income, or facing other physical/financial challenges. There are House of Heroes chapters located in Georgia (two chapters), Arizona, Connecticut and Iowa.

House of Heroes volunteers perform minor repairs and make improvements to the homes of veterans and their spouses – at no cost to the veteran – through the generosity of individuals, civic organizations and corporations. Home repair services have been provided to more than ___ veterans and their families since the group’s founding.

Home repairs may include, but are not limited to, cleaning, painting, installation of access ramps, installations of windows and doors, electrical and plumbing work, repair or replacement of basic appliances, and yard maintenance and improvement. Home improvements are supervised by a local contractor and meet applicable codes.

Because House of Heroes relies so heavily on donated time, materials and other resources, every donation to the organization typically translates into work of a significantly higher value.

To qualify for assistance in the program, one must:

- Be a military or public safety service veteran, or their spouse;

- Need financial and/or physical assistance with home repair;

- Own and occupy the home to be repaired.

Those interested in applying for assistance may apply on-line at www.HOHCT.org/Delaware. For additional information or to make a donation, visit the House of Heroes Delaware Facebook page, or contact Kathy Eastburn at [email protected] or 302-332-1213.

Contact: Kathy Eastburn House of Heroes Delaware (302) 332-1213 [email protected]

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