Fundraiser for Building Homes for Heroes & 2 Severely Wounded Local Veterans Dec. 4

Randy Wise Homes, Inc. and First Florida Bank will hold a fundraiser to benefit Building Homes for Heroes. This benefit will help to provide two local wounded veterans, Army Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Deslauriers with new homes. Attendees will enjoy dinner, a silent auction and a presentation by Building Homes for Heroes.

Building Homes for Heroes is a national non-profit, organization founded in 2006 that builds homes from the ground up or modifies existing homes to meet the needs of wounded soldiers who have returned home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with severe wounds and disabilities. These mortgage free homes not only help to remove the family’s financial burden, but they also help to restore the individual’s freedom, and enable the veteran to lead a more independent and productive civilian life.

This benefit will help to provide two local wounded veterans, Army Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Deslauriers with new homes. 

On December 8, 2011, Army Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale was severely injured in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated. Hale suffered from multiple facial bone fractures, severe burns to his face and upper thighs, crushed sinuses, blown ear drums, and as a result of the blast and the shrapnel, Hale was left completely blind.

To help with his disability, Building Homes for Heroes will make the Hales’ new home a “smart house” with electronic devices, including an upgraded kitchen, which will help Aaron be more self-sufficient. Kim Vesey, director of military relations with the group, said it also will install different flooring in each room to help Aaron know where he is. Aaron’s wife, Kelly, is fighting melanoma, so the home will have a Florida room so she can have a place out of the sun to watch their four children play. The home is scheduled for completion on December 15th. Hale, of the 760th EOD (explosive ordinance disposal), served a tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Deslauriers was injured in September 2011 when on a combat operation in Afghanistan. Deslauriers was mounted in a mine resistance vehicle conducting a post blast assessment of an IED explosion. In an effort to get a closer look at the damage done by the IED blast, Tech. Sgt. Deslauriers dismounted and stepped on a secondary mine. The explosion that ensued resulted in Deslauriers losing both legs above the knee, and his left arm at the elbow. Deslauriers carried out two tours of duty in Afghanistan and served in Iraq, Kuwait and Kosovo.

Randy Wise Homes, Inc. of Niceville, Florida has been selected by Building Homes for Heroes to build the homes for both families. “We are working closely with them to ensure that we meet all of their needs and desires. These are two honorable men that have made an incredible sacrifice by defending our country. We feel it is time to give back to them,” said Randy Wise.

For more information call (850) 678-9473 or email info@randywisehomes.com.

CAN’T ATTEND? All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated. Please make checks to: Building Homes for Heroes. Mail checks to: Randy Wise Homes, 127 N. Partin Drive, Niceville, Florida 32578

ABOUT HOMES FOR HEROES: Building Home for Heroes is a non-profit organization that builds custom homes from the ground up, or renovates homes, to meet the unique needs of combat wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. The homes are provided mortgage-free. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jim Rogers, Southern Regional Representative, Building Homes For Heroes, 407- 803-5398. Email: James.Rogers@BuildingHomesForHeroes.org (Website: http://buildinghomesforheroes.org/)

ABOUT RANDY WISE HOMES: Randy Wise Homes, Inc, is a locally owned general contracting company located in Niceville, Florida. For the past 30 years, they have provided building and remodeling services across Northwest Florida, including Niceville, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Freeport and Crestview. Randy Wise Homes specializes in custom built homes and remodeling. Our Classic and Craftsman Homes divisions in new construction provide a variety of floor plans from which to choose, and offer both quality and value. Randy Wise Homes' goal is to achieve an honest combination of function and design so that the sum of those is a practical, warm, and inviting living space that you and your family will enjoy for many years to come.

In addition to being a Southern Living Custom Builder Member, Randy Wise Homes, Inc. has earned numerous awards from the Building Industry Association and other prestigious organizations.