Military families who have a loved one receiving medical treatment at
the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton have a new “home away from home” at
which to stay at no cost with the opening of the first Fisher House at
the military installation. Military members, families and community
leaders celebrated the new facility with a ribbon cutting and tour.
Bill Christiansen, representing the Office of Congressman Darrell Issa, presents a United States flag to VADM John. M. Mateczun, USN (Ret), President of UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans (left), and Mr. Kenneth Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation (right) in honor of the opening of the Fisher House at Camp Pendleton. The flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in honor of Fisher House at Camp Pendleton (Photo: Jamie Rector).
United Health Foundation provided a $2.65 million grant to fully fund
the construction of the Pendleton Fisher House, the first to be funded
through the support of a single donor. The new, eight-suite, 8,000-plus
square-foot home is expected to serve more than 280 families and provide
nearly 3,000 nights of lodging annually, saving families more than
$360,000 a year in lodging expenses. The Pendleton Fisher House stands
adjacent to the Naval Hospital and has a view overlooking the Pacific
Ocean.
“We are grateful for the work of Fisher House and United Health
foundations, and their commitment to our military members and their
families,” said Brig. Gen. Edward D. Banta, Commanding General, Marine
Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “This home is
a symbol of hope and will be an important resource for military families
while their loved ones receive medical care.”
“We are extremely proud to open the doors of this new Fisher House at
Camp Pendleton,” said Kenneth Fisher, Chairman and CEO, Fisher House
Foundation. “With the generous support from United Health Foundation,
this home will provide an environment where families can focus solely on
the healing process, free from any financial burden or need to find
child care.”
In addition to the $2.65 million grant, United Health Foundation,
through its Caregiver Support Program, will make child care available to
military families staying at the Camp Pendleton Fisher House through a
special grant to the Zach and Elizabeth Fisher Child Development Center
located on Camp Pendleton.
Childcare can be a critical need for families visiting loved ones, as
children are not typically allowed access to in-patient wards, and
caring for children in a hospital environment is not an ideal situation
for families. This trendsetting program will provide additional
support to caregivers and families of wounded warriors and other
military service members who are recovering at Naval Hospital Camp
Pendleton.
“We are supporting the Fisher House Foundation to help ensure that when
our veterans return home from duty, they have the best medical care, the
best health services and the support they need to recoup and recover,”
said John Mateczun, M.D., president, UnitedHealthcare Military &
Veterans. “United Health Foundation understands the important role
families play in the healing process for our nation’s service members
and veterans, and this new Fisher House at Camp Pendleton takes a huge
burden off family members by providing housing, resources and
compassionate care when they need it most.”
The new Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton serves more than 70,000
active-duty and veteran members of the military and their families.
The new Fisher House will allow loved ones to be close to a hospitalized
service member at Camp Pendleton, and will augment the lodging needs of
the Fisher Houses located at the nearby Naval Medical Center San Diego
where many critically wounded service members receive treatment and
rehabilitate.
About United Health Foundation
Through
collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts,
United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a
diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local
communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth
Group (NYSE:UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation
dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health
Foundation has committed more than $285 million to programs and
communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
About Fisher House Foundation
Fisher
House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where
military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is
receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA
medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center
or hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private
bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities,
a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation
ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program
has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $282 million in
out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using
donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of
injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using
donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near
medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant
program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for
military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
Click
here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150515006033/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2015