A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS For the Greater Cleveland Fisher House!

A new chapter began for The Greater Cleveland Fisher House with the official groundbreaking for the two, sixteen suite houses taking place on Friday, March 23, 2018! Approximately 200 members of the community were in attendance for the event along with U. S Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center Director Susan Fuehrer, and Brian Gawne of The Fisher House National Foundation.  According to Gawne, this was the largest Fisher House groundbreaking crowd in some seven years.

The patience shown by all in this incredible journey has been greatly appreciated by all associated with this initiative.  We cannot say “thank you” enough for your continued support.

(LEFT: Greater Cleveland Fisher House Tom Sweeney thanks the Northeast Ohio community for its support. RIGHT: The Greater Cleveland Fisher House “shovel line” breaks the first ground for the two new Cleveland Fisher Houses.)

(LEFT: Greater Cleveland Fisher House Tom Sweeney thanks the Northeast Ohio community for its support.  RIGHT: The Greater Cleveland Fisher House “shovel line” breaks the first ground for the two new Cleveland Fisher Houses.)

All eight parcels of the designated project site (East 105th Street and Orville – a block north of The Louis Stokes VA Medical Center) were assembled under one title for transfer to the Veterans Administration.  That transfer officially took place on June 30, 2017.

It is our intention to begin winding down the formal capital campaign early in 2018 and then transition from a capital campaign task force to The Friends of the Cleveland Fisher Houses committee.  Funds donated going forward will be used to purchase deep-discounted airline tickets for Fisher House families traveling to and from Cleveland (done through the Fisher House Hero Miles program).  Funds will also be used to obtain “entertainment values” for the families in the community such as museum passes, Goodtime cruise tickets, and tickets for family events being held at various venues in Northeast Ohio.  Finally, funds will be used to assist Fisher House families with children who may have educational scholarship needs.

Again, to ALL who have supported us in this incredible journey… THANK YOU!!