Programs
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We're proud to help build Smart Homes for our nation's most severely wounded veterans.
Our Goal The Gary Sinise Foundation is proud to partner with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to build several completely customized Smart Homes for our nation's severely wounded veterans.
All of our warriors encounter difficulties when they return to civilian life, but these heroes face an unimaginable life change. Help us honor their incredible sacrifice with a new home. 
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Gary discussing the project on the CBS Early Show. 
Gary visits Brendan Marrocco's new Smart Home. |
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Upcoming BFAB fundraisers.
Meet some of our severely injured heroes.
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I met Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco in April of 2009 a few weeks after he arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He was the first wounded warrior to survive losing both arms and both legs in a bombing in Iraq and at the time I met him he was on heavy pain medication and very tired. I spoke to his mother Michelle for most of the visit and she was doing her best to stay strong for Brendan. In the car on my way back from the hospital I got on the phone and called my wounded warrior buddy Bryan Anderson, who had lost three limbs in a bombing, as I thought that Bryan could help this family. Bryan was doing well and I asked him if he would be able to visit Brendan at Walter Reed. He was in Pennsylvania and said he would head down right away. He spent two or three days with Brendan and I think it helped the whole family to see how well Bryan was doing. The next time I saw Brendan he was doing much better and I was humbled by his spirit and strength of character. This young man had given so much. What could we do for him? Brendan grew up in Staten Island, NY and so when FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano approached me about building him a custom Smart Home, I jumped at the chance. Sal introduced me to Frank Siller of The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and Frank and I began planning a concert with my Lt Dan band to begin raising the money needed to get the home built. The concert date was set for August 21, 2010. When we were planning that concert we were made aware that a second warrior, Marine Cpl. Todd Nicely, had just arrived at Bethesda Naval Hospital with the same injuries and shortly after that a third quadruple amputee arrived, Marine Cpl. John Peck. So Frank and I made a commitment to help build all three of these wounded warriors specially designed smart homes. The Lt. Dan Band and I performed three concerts to kick off three fundraising campaigns, thus laying the foundation for our official partnership to build homes our severely wounded veterans. And now, it is my great pleasure to formally announce Building for America's Bravest™, a partnership between the Gary Sinise Foundation and Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Ten homes are scheduled for construction in 2012 and the Lt. Dan Band will perform concerts in each community to rally support. We can never do enough for those who sacrifice so much in service of our country, but we can always try to do a little bit more. Please support this worthy program to give these great American heroes a specially-designed place to call home. Thank you and God bless. |
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