755 Washington Ave.Statesvi l le, NC 28677

Current ProjectsDonna Menefee - U.S. Army - OIF - NCJose Sanchez - U.S. Army, National Guard - OEF - FLLarry Smoak - U.S. Marine Corps - OIF, OEF - SCBen Carpenter - U.S. Air Force - Cold War - NCGary Carrigan - U.S. Army - Vietnam - MICynthia Reid - U.S. Army - Gulf War - NCJohn Bentley - U.S. Marine Corps - OEF - WIJackie Drakeford - U.S. Marine Corps - Vietnam - SCSteven Lowry - U.S. Army - Vietnam - INFrank McGinnis - U.S. Navy - Vietnam - NC

CONNECTIONS 2018 SPRING EDITION

CONTACT US: 704.838.4044 info@phhusa.org www.purplehearthomesusa.org

Chapter Projects

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDPERMIT #112

28677

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

Lewis Miller - U.S. Army - Korea High Country NC ChapterHeidi Altgilbers - U.S. Navy - OIF, OEF

West Michigan ChapterCleveland Greene - U.S. Army - Vietnam

Metro Atlanta ChapterRichard Imershein - U.S. Air Force - Korea

Golden Corner SC ChapterVernon Timmons - U.S. Marine Corps - Vietnam

Northeast Ohio ChapterTodd Kumro - U.S. Navy - Cold War, Gulf War

Colorado Front Range Chapter

2018 MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PURPLE HEART HOMES

By Melanie Balousek, Communications Specialist

The mission of “Improving Veterans’ Lives One Home at a Time” came to life when John Gallina and Dale Beatty co-founded Purple Heart Homes back in 2008. The two combat-wounded, Iraq veterans weren’t sure just how far their vision would take them. However, both of them knew that a movement needed to commence.

Purple Heart Homes wasn’t able to complete its first project for a veteran until 2010. Since then, the number of completed projects has grown consecutively each year. By the end of 2017, Purple Heart Homes completed over 300 projects total for Service Connected Disabled Veterans in 30 states across the nation. John and Dale both admitted, “Our vision has traveled further than we ever anticipated in the beginning.”

In 2018, that vision will continue to travel even further. Purple Heart Homes has several new ventures planned throughout the remainder of the year, including a partnership with Bronze Star Builders to construct custom-designed modular additions for veteran homes. This partnership will allow Purple Heart Homes to increase its capabilities in accomplishing even more for the housing needs of America’s Service Connected Disabled Veterans.

None of the projects that Purple Heart Homes completed would have been possible without the crucial support and generosity from volunteers, individual donors, corporate partners, and other organizations. To find out how you can to contribute to the mission, visit: www.phhsusa.org and click on the “Get Connected” tab at the top of the page. No matter how you choose to help the over 3.8 million Service Connected Disabled Veterans living in the U.S., the ultimate motivator for improvement comes from com-munities across the nation deciding to unite in the realiza-tion that the living conditions of wounded veterans matter.

Above: Dale Beatty and John Gallina built their first ramp together for Richard’s Coffee Shop & Military Museum in 2010. Below: John Gallina and Dale Beatty hold a mission complete ceremony for Navy Veteran, James Schenk, in late 2017.

CO-FOUNDER’S CORNER ESTORE LAUNCH

People asked over the years how they could purchase our “swag” to support the work we do for Service Connected Disabled Veterans. The only solution we could offer at the time was to find our table at an event and hope that we brought enough

of our tshirts and hats with us that day.

After much feedback from our supporters, we gathered our resources to launch our own Estore! The PHH Estore currently features one of our classic hats plus a

variety of new items. If your needs range anywhere from keeping the inside of your car from overheating to drinking hot coffee or tea, then Purple Heart Homes

has you covered!

One of the new items that we want to highlight is our PHH Grill Master Apron Kit. This is not your typical kitchen apron. (Family members and friends might not be able to see you behind its camouflaged pattern.) Complete with multiple pockets, oven mitt, towel, bottle opener, and drink holder, this culinary accessory will be

your new best friend any time you face the grill!

Some other items that are available in the Estore include our bowtie designed for Bowtie Cause, as well as two different types of custom-made knives. We will

continue adding more items over time, so be sure to stay up to date by following our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Alternatively, you can

receive updates by signing up for our email at www.purplehearthomesusa.org/contact-us/.

100% of sales from the Estore will benefit our mission of providing quality houing for Service Connected Disabled Veterans. Visit our website at

www.purplehearthomesusa.org to shop our Estore. If you have any questions about our items or the shipping process, please contact

Tammy Pate at tpate@phhusa.org.

HEARTS OF HONOR

Greetings, Purple Heart Homes Supporters:

The first quarter of 2018 was an interesting one, to say the least.

Little did the Purple Heart Homes staff and I know just how this quarter of the year would intersect with the passing of my battle buddy and fellow Purple Heart Homes Co-founder, Dale Beatty.

Dale passed away unexpectedly on February 12, 2018, due to a double pulmonary embolism. This shook our entire Purple Heart Homes family, as well as thousands of other people who were impacted by Dale individually. We shared a lifetime of memories together from turning 21 and coming of age, to marrying our sweethearts, births of our children, burial of good friends, and recovering from injury. Working together was as natural as eating peanut butter and jelly together. Through it all we held our faith, laughed together, and committed to living life to its fullest. Over the last 14 years, we’ve done just that. Despite the enemy’s attempt to steal our joy, through injury we have persevered, overcame, and laughed every day. Through Purple Heart Homes, Dale and I found a new purpose in life, not just to build or renovate homes, but to help build up a life and a community around the heroes who walk among us. Dale was bigger than life in all of his ways. Whether he was playing drums on stage or talking one-on-one to a complete stranger, Dale was always filling up someone with pride and confidence. I will never forget the blessing of time with my friend, as I know you will not either. He was one of a kind.

Dale and I often discussed the idea that Purple Heart Homes was not ours, but rather the greater community’s, and that it must live on beyond us. There were veterans before us, and the last decade has produced generations more since we left the battlefield. Many of you may have been aware that I was planning to run for public office; something I had not been shy about sharing with people who would ask me, “What’s next?” However, with Dale’s passing, I decided that it would be selfish of me to leave Purple Heart Homes at such a time, as Dale was an integral part of my succession plan. Untimely as it may be, I believe now that I am an integral part of his succession plan.

Our plans going into 2018 have been, by and large, focused on completing our 5-year goals, hitting the 100-projects-per-year marker, celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and publishing our first book, Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront. During the first week of February, we were finishing the final touches on our book manuscript prior to sending it to the publicist. This was a huge relief, as it was a nearly two-year project Dale and I had worked on. Having served together for 22 years, we had a lot of ground to cover. The book tells the story of our background and history together along with the varying aspects of our return home from combat and re-integration process. Those experiences lead ultimately to the creation of Purple Heart Homes. Additional-ly, the book includes stories told directly by veterans we’ve assisted, how their homecomings affected them, and how Purple Heart Homes helped them feel truly welcomed home.

While we continue to realize an increase in capacity, the need continues to prove an increasing backlog of projects. Over 55 project appli-cations have been submitted so far in 2018, on top of a backlog of over 100 pending veteran applicants. Throughout the course of January, we completed a number of organizational projects ranging from our Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) updates to the completion of our 3rd consecutive audit. Congratulations to Cathy, our Operations Manager, Mark, our CFO, and Jewelye, our Bookkeeper for making all of that happen. Oftentimes, this type of work is unseen and overshadowed by the work we do on our Service Connected Disabled Veter-ans’ homes. However, as we cross the 10-year mark for Purple Heart Homes, we realize more than ever that these are the parts and pieces that are vital to success and progress.

One thing about having battle buddies is that you learn to changes roles and jobs seamlessly. Our plans and goals for Purple Heart Homes remain in place and we continue to “Carry On!” We will continue to laugh and live the resiliency that Dale exemplified so well, and we will carry his memory forward. We have a great list of upcoming events and opportunities to promote further growth. I hope to see you all soon at an upcoming project, fundraiser, or book signing. We invite you to have a personal impact on our mission. The list of ways to help our Service Connected Disabled Veterans is still limitless. You can learn more by visiting our “Get Connected” page at www.purple-hearthomesusa.org/get-connected/.In closing, I want to give my sincere thanks and personal gratitude for all of the calls, messages, letters, flowers, food, donations, prayers, love, and support that has showered the Beatty family, my family, and our Purple Heart Homes family over the last several weeks since Dale’s passing. Dale’s spirit will remain in the heart of our work.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

By Kerry Burdick, Donor Relations Manager

I am so excited to tell you that Hearts of Honor has reached close to 200 members!

Also, I am thrilled to announce the winners of our 150th member contest. All winners were drawn at random, and all prizes were donated graciously for this contest by iHeart Media Charlotte. The winners are: Ellery Q. of Illinois, who won a foursome of golf at Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC; Charlie E. of South Carolina, who won six rink side tickets to a Charlotte Checkers hockey game; and Brandon M. of South Carolina, who won a pair of club tickets to a Charlotte Hornets basketball game. Congratulations to our lucky winners and thank you for being Hearts of Honor members!

If you are not yet a member, please consider joining us as we need even more people to step up and help. There are hundreds of veterans on our waitlist that are forced to wait on funding. These veterans aren’t able to sleep in their own beds or take a shower because they simply can’t fit a wheelchair through the doorway. Many are literally imprisoned in their homes because they cannot navigate steps and do not have a ramp. You can be their hero! You can improve their quality of life in a way that truly thanks them for their service to you and all of our great nation. Your monthly gift of $10 a month or more will secure your membership, and becoming a member of Hearts of Honor is so easy! Simply go to our website www.purplehearthomesusa.org and fill out your information. If you have any questions about membership in Hearts of Honor, or would like to join over the phone or by mail, please contact Kerry Burdick at kburdick@phhusa.org or (704) 818-3424.

John Gallina Executive Director

Purple Heart Homes’ custom-made Grill Master Apron Kit with all of its accessories, available for $40.00 on the Estore

3

CO-FOUNDER’S CORNER ESTORE LAUNCH

People asked over the years how they could purchase our “swag” to support the work we do for Service Connected Disabled Veterans. The only solution we could offer at the time was to find our table at an event and hope that we brought enough

of our tshirts and hats with us that day.

After much feedback from our supporters, we gathered our resources to launch our own Estore! The PHH Estore currently features one of our classic hats plus a

variety of new items. If your needs range anywhere from keeping the inside of your car from overheating to drinking hot coffee or tea, then Purple Heart Homes

has you covered!

One of the new items that we want to highlight is our PHH Grill Master Apron Kit. This is not your typical kitchen apron. (Family members and friends might not be able to see you behind its camouflaged pattern.) Complete with multiple pockets, oven mitt, towel, bottle opener, and drink holder, this culinary accessory will be

your new best friend any time you face the grill!

Some other items that are available in the Estore include our bowtie designed for Bowtie Cause, as well as two different types of custom-made knives. We will

continue adding more items over time, so be sure to stay up to date by following our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Alternatively, you can

receive updates by signing up for our email at www.purplehearthomesusa.org/contact-us/.

100% of sales from the Estore will benefit our mission of providing quality houing for Service Connected Disabled Veterans. Visit our website at

www.purplehearthomesusa.org to shop our Estore. If you have any questions about our items or the shipping process, please contact

Tammy Pate at tpate@phhusa.org.

HEARTS OF HONOR

Greetings, Purple Heart Homes Supporters:

The first quarter of 2018 was an interesting one, to say the least.

Little did the Purple Heart Homes staff and I know just how this quarter of the year would intersect with the passing of my battle buddy and fellow Purple Heart Homes Co-founder, Dale Beatty.

Dale passed away unexpectedly on February 12, 2018, due to a double pulmonary embolism. This shook our entire Purple Heart Homes family, as well as thousands of other people who

were impacted by Dale individually. We shared a lifetime of memories together from turning 21 and coming of age, to marrying our sweethearts, births of our children, burial of good friends, and recovering from injury. Working together was as natural as eating peanut butter and jelly together. Through it all we held our faith, laughed together, and committed to living life to its fullest. Over the last 14 years, we’ve done just that. Despite the enemy’s attempt to steal our joy, through injury we have persevered, overcame, and laughed every day. Through Purple Heart Homes, Dale and I found a new purpose in life, not just to build or renovate homes, but to help build up a life and a community around the heroes who walk among us. Dale was bigger than life in all of his ways. Whether he was playing drums on stage or talking one-on-one to a

complete stranger, Dale was always filling up someone with pride and confidence. I will never forget the blessing of time with my friend, as I know you will not either. He was one of a kind.

Dale and I often discussed the idea that Purple Heart Homes was not ours, but rather the greater community’s, and that it must live on beyond us. There were veterans before us, and the last decade has produced generations more since we left the battlefield. Many of you may have been aware that I was planning to run for public office; something I had not been shy about sharing with people who would ask me, “What’s next?” However, with Dale’s passing, I decided that it would be selfish of me to leave Purple Heart Homes at such a time, as Dale was an integral part of my succession plan. Untimely as it may be, I believe now that I am an integral part of his succession plan.

Our plans going into 2018 have been, by and large, focused on completing our 5-year goals, hitting the 100-projects-per-year marker, celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and publishing our first book, Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront. During the first week of February, we were finishing the final touches on our book manuscript prior to sending it to the publicist. This was a huge relief, as it was a nearly two-year project Dale and I had worked on. Having served together for 22 years, we had a lot of ground to cover. The book tells the story of our background and history together along with the varying aspects of our return home from combat and re-integration process. Those experiences lead ultimately to the creation of Purple Heart Homes. Additional-ly, the book includes stories told directly by veterans we’ve assisted, how their homecomings affected them, and how Purple Heart Homes helped them feel truly welcomed home.

While we continue to realize an increase in capacity, the need continues to prove an increasing backlog of projects. Over 55 project appli-cations have been submitted so far in 2018, on top of a backlog of over 100 pending veteran applicants. Throughout the course of January, we completed a number of organizational projects ranging from our Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) updates to the completion of our 3rd consecutive audit. Congratulations to Cathy, our Operations Manager, Mark, our CFO, and Jewelye, our Bookkeeper for making all of that happen. Oftentimes, this type of work is unseen and overshadowed by the work we do on our Service Connected Disabled Veter-ans’ homes. However, as we cross the 10-year mark for Purple Heart Homes, we realize more than ever that these are the parts and pieces that are vital to success and progress.

One thing about having battle buddies is that you learn to changes roles and jobs seamlessly. Our plans and goals for Purple Heart Homes remain in place and we continue to “Carry On!” We will continue to laugh and live the resiliency that Dale exemplified so well, and we will carry his memory forward. We have a great list of upcoming events and opportunities to promote further growth. I hope to see you all soon at an upcoming project, fundraiser, or book signing. We invite you to have a personal impact on our mission. The list of ways to help our Service Connected Disabled Veterans is still limitless. You can learn more by visiting our “Get Connected” page at www.purple-hearthomesusa.org/get-connected/.In closing, I want to give my sincere thanks and personal gratitude for all of the calls, messages, letters, flowers, food, donations, prayers, love, and support that has showered the Beatty family, my family, and our Purple Heart Homes family over the last several weeks since Dale’s passing. Dale’s spirit will remain in the heart of our work.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

By Kerry Burdick, Donor Relations Manager

I am so excited to tell you that Hearts of Honor has reached close to 200 members!

Also, I am thrilled to announce the winners of our 150th member contest. All winners were drawn at random, and all prizes were donated graciously for this contest by iHeart Media Charlotte. The winners are: Ellery Q. of Illinois, who won a foursome of golf at Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC; Charlie E. of South Carolina, who won six rink side tickets to a Charlotte Checkers hockey game; and Brandon M. of South Carolina, who won a pair of club tickets to a Charlotte Hornets basketball game. Congratulations to our lucky winners and thank you for being Hearts of Honor members!

If you are not yet a member, please consider joining us as we need even more people to step up and help. There are hundreds of veterans on our waitlist that are forced to wait on funding. These veterans aren’t able to sleep in their own beds or take a shower because they simply can’t fit a wheelchair through the doorway. Many are literally imprisoned in their homes because they cannot navigate steps and do not have a ramp.

You can be their hero! You can improve their quality of life in a way that truly thanks them for their service to you and all of our great nation. Your monthly gift of $10 a month or more will secure your membership, and becoming a member of Hearts of Honor is so easy! Simply go to our website www.purplehearthomesusa.org and fill out your information. If you have any questions about membership in Hearts of Honor, or would like to join over the phone or by mail, please contact Kerry Burdick at kburdick@phhusa.org or (704) 818-3424.

John Gallina Executive Director

Purple Heart Homes’ custom-made Grill Master Apron Kit with all of its accessories, available for $40.00 on the Estore

3

I, along with the rest of the Board, have experienced a variety of sentiments since the beginning of 2018. Inspiration, drive, and eagerness are an example of what we’ve been feeling over the past few months. Unfortunately, grief was another sentiment that was felt.

The sudden passing of Dale Beatty, one of the beloved founders of this great organization, was an unexpected blow to us all. I feel honored to have gotten to know Dale and his family through our work at Purple Heart Homes. He’s been our country’s role model for selfless service to others and a clear example to all of us how to live a full and dedicated life. We are heartbroken by his passing, but we are each grateful for our time with Dale; the love and humor that is evident in the stories we hear when his friends reflect on their relationship with him, his leadership, and the legacy he leaves behind. And, of course, his devotion to his fellow veterans.

Although the grief was unwelcomed, it encouraged us to develop another sentiment, perhaps the most necessary sentiment for moving forward: resilience.

The Board is dedicated more than ever to propelling the mission initiated by two combat-wounded veterans to pay it forward to other wounded veterans. It was resilience that created Purple Heart Homes. It is resilience that will continue to push Purple Heart Homes further. After the various obstacles that stood in their way, John and Dale have proven time and time again that resilience is the key to progress. It’s through the mission of Purple Heart Homes that we are able to help Service Connected Disabled Veterans find resilience within themselves and progress beyond the limits of an ill-fitted home.

It’s been a difficult time, but our Board of Directors is clearly focused on supporting and uplifting the continuing work that Dale and John began 10 years ago. There will always be veterans who need assistance with their housing in order to age safely in place. Won’t you join us in continuing to “Improve Veterans’ Lives One Home at a Time”?

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN CONSTRUCTION ZONEBy Brad Borders, Construction Director

Greetings from the construction team of Purple Heart Homes!

I took over this position in August of 2017. I met John and Dale several years before and was familiar with the mission of Purple Heart Homes, although I never had any thought of serving here. I joined the Army in 2003 after the events of 9/11 and the run up to the Iraq war. I couldn’t help but think about all of those young men and women leaving their families to serve, fight, and risk their lives half a world away. So, I raised my right hand at 38 years old and entered service in the Army as a Chaplain in the reserves. During the height of the GWOT, there was really no such thing as a traditional reservist. I was mobilized and/or deployed for over 10 years during that time. I spent most of my time in the Special Operations community at Fort Bragg. Through the relationships established there, I devel-oped a deep love for those who serve. My dad had instilled in me a respect for the military, especially those who served in Viet Nam. As my active time was coming to an end, I longed for some way to remain connected to the military community. After a chance meeting with Dale Beatty at Walter Reed, I now find myself serving with Purple Heart Homes and their Service Connected Disabled Veterans.

With Dale’s passing, we are committed to continuing the mission that he and John have worked so hard to turn from vision into reality. Our team is comprised of talented and caring people. Charli Straight handles administrative loads that would cripple most. Ashley Doan continues to serve as an outstanding Project Superintendent as he has for the last seven years. Recently, we added Rob Harrell, who has a wealth of experience and a heart for others, to spearhead Volunteer Coordination. I could not be more pleased to work with these incredible people. We have the distinct honor of engaging with veterans daily, building relationships with them, and mobilizing communities to come along side to meet the safety and accessibility needs they might have. We meet at the homes of veterans who served in jungles of Viet Nam, the deserts outside Mosul, and everywhere in between. Some saw no combat in their years of service but were injured while faithfully performing the duties assigned to them. As Dale used to say, “Regardless of when you served, where you served, we’re all the same.” It’s our honor to focus full attention on our mission each and every day, and we will press on in spite of great loss, because that’s what Dale would want us to do.

Charles PageChairman of the Board

During a press conference that took place on February 27, 2018, John Gallina announced the pre-sale for our new book, Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront. The press conference was held at Richard’s Coffee Shop & Military Museum in Mooresville, North Carolina -- the same location where John and Dale built their very first ramp together.

John and Dale served together, were injured together, and established Purple Heart Homes together. In this book, they share the details of their story while showcasing the stories of other Service Connected Disabled Veterans from various conflicts. The juxtaposition of similarities and differences from the over 3.4 million injured service members who live in the United States casts a new light on what it means to exist as a disabled veteran.

Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront will be available on May 8, 2018. 100% of sales will go toward the Purple Heart Homes mission of providing housing solutions for Service Connected Disabled Veterans that are substantial in function, design, and quality, fit to welcome home the fighting men and women of America. The price for the book, including tax, shipping, and handling, is $22.97. To pre-order the book, go to our website at www.purplehearthomesusa.org, click on the “Pre-Order” button, and fill out your information. Please send any questions to Melanie Balousek at mbalousek@phhusa.org or call (704) 818-3435.

PRE-SALE LAUNCHED FOR PURPLE HEART HOMES BOOK

Front cover of Purple Heart Homes’ new book, Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront From left to right: Brad Borders, Construction Director, with Vietnam Army veteran, Bill Mullis and his dog, Cody; Ashley Doan,

Project Superintendent, with Korea Army veteran, Sheila Douglas; Charli Straight, Projects Director, with Afghanistan Marine Corps veterans, Samantha and Benjamin Christopher, and their daughter, Melonie4 5

I, along with the rest of the Board, have experienced a variety of sentiments since the beginning of 2018. Inspiration, drive, and eagerness are an example of what we’ve been feeling over the past few months. Unfortunately, grief was another sentiment that was felt.

The sudden passing of Dale Beatty, one of the beloved founders of this great organization, was an unexpected blow to us all. I feel honored to have gotten to know Dale and his family through our work at Purple Heart Homes. He’s been our country’s role model for selfless service to others and a clear example to all of us how to live a full and dedicated life. We are heartbroken by his passing, but we are each grateful for our time with Dale; the love and humor that is evident in the stories we hear when his friends reflect on their relationship with him, his leadership, and the legacy he leaves behind. And, of course, his devotion to his fellow veterans.

Although the grief was unwelcomed, it encouraged us to develop another sentiment, perhaps the most necessary sentiment for moving forward: resilience.

The Board is dedicated more than ever to propelling the mission initiated by two combat-wounded veterans to pay it forward to other wounded veterans. It was resilience that created Purple Heart Homes. It is resilience that will continue to push Purple Heart Homes further. After the various obstacles that stood in their way, John and Dale have proven time and time again that resilience is the key to progress. It’s through the mission of Purple Heart Homes that we are able to help Service Connected Disabled Veterans find resilience within themselves and progress beyond the limits of an ill-fitted home.

It’s been a difficult time, but our Board of Directors is clearly focused on supporting and uplifting the continuing work that Dale and John began 10 years ago. There will always be veterans who need assistance with their housing in order to age safely in place. Won’t you join us in continuing to “Improve Veterans’ Lives One Home at a Time”?

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN CONSTRUCTION ZONEBy Brad Borders, Construction Director

Greetings from the construction team of Purple Heart Homes!

I took over this position in August of 2017. I met John and Dale several years before and was familiar with the mission of Purple Heart Homes, although I never had any thought of serving here. I joined the Army in 2003 after the events of 9/11 and the run up to the Iraq war. I couldn’t help but think about all of those young men and women leaving their families to serve, fight, and risk their lives half a world away. So, I raised my right hand at 38 years old and entered service in the Army as a Chaplain in the reserves. During the height of the GWOT, there was really no such thing as a traditional reservist. I was mobilized and/or deployed for over 10 years during that time. I spent most of my time in the Special Operations community at Fort Bragg. Through the relationships established there, I devel-oped a deep love for those who serve. My dad had instilled in me a respect for the military, especially those who served in Viet Nam. As my active time was coming to an end, I longed for some way to remain connected to the military community. After a chance meeting with Dale Beatty at Walter Reed, I now find myself serving with Purple Heart Homes and their Service Connected Disabled Veterans.

With Dale’s passing, we are committed to continuing the mission that he and John have worked so hard to turn from vision into reality. Our team is comprised of talented and caring people. Charli Straight handles administrative loads that would cripple most. Ashley Doan continues to serve as an outstanding Project Superintendent as he has for the last seven years. Recently, we added Rob Harrell, who has a wealth of experience and a heart for others, to spearhead Volunteer Coordination. I could not be more pleased to work with these incredible people. We have the distinct honor of engaging with veterans daily, building relationships with them, and mobilizing communities to come along side to meet the safety and accessibility needs they might have. We meet at the homes of veterans who served in jungles of Viet Nam, the deserts outside Mosul, and everywhere in between. Some saw no combat in their years of service but were injured while faithfully performing the duties assigned to them. As Dale used to say, “Regardless of when you served, where you served, we’re all the same.” It’s our honor to focus full attention on our mission each and every day, and we will press on in spite of great loss, because that’s what Dale would want us to do.

Charles PageChairman of the Board

During a press conference that took place on February 27, 2018, John Gallina announced the pre-sale for our new book, Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront. The press conference was held at Richard’s Coffee Shop & Military Museum in Mooresville, North Carolina -- the same location where John and Dale built their very first ramp together.

John and Dale served together, were injured together, and established Purple Heart Homes together. In this book, they share the details of their story while showcasing the stories of other Service Connected Disabled Veterans from various conflicts. The juxtaposition of similarities and differences from the over 3.4 million injured service members who live in the United States casts a new light on what it means to exist as a disabled veteran.

Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront will be available on May 8, 2018. 100% of sales will go toward the Purple Heart Homes mission of providing housing solutions for Service Connected Disabled Veterans that are substantial in function, design, and quality, fit to welcome home the fighting men and women of America. The price for the book, including tax, shipping, and handling, is $22.97. To pre-order the book, go to our website at www.purplehearthomesusa.org, click on the “Pre-Order” button, and fill out your information. Please send any questions to Melanie Balousek at mbalousek@phhusa.org or call (704) 818-3435.

PRE-SALE LAUNCHED FOR PURPLE HEART HOMES BOOK

Front cover of Purple Heart Homes’ new book, Wounded Homecoming: The Uphill Journey of Wounded Veterans from Battlefield to Homefront From left to right: Brad Borders, Construction Director, with Vietnam Army veteran, Bill Mullis and his dog, Cody; Ashley Doan,

Project Superintendent, with Korea Army veteran, Sheila Douglas; Charli Straight, Projects Director, with Afghanistan Marine Corps veterans, Samantha and Benjamin Christopher, and their daughter, Melonie4 5

PURPLE HEART HOMES CHAPTERS

By Cheryl Campbell, Chapter Development Manager

The PHH Chapter Program started over four years ago. This initiative was spearheaded by Larry Druffle, who at that time served on the Board of Directors of Purple Heart Homes. Larry has been instrumental in building the framework for the program, and even became the President of the first Chapter in the Purple Heart Homes family: The Golden Corner Chapter in upstate South Carolina. It is inspiring how one idea has grown over time!

Since the start of the program, PHH Chapters have completed over 100 projects! This means well over 100 veterans, their family members and caregivers, were impacted positively with renovations or repairs provided by the Chapters to help make their homes safe and accessible. Projects ranged from adding railings to porch steps, building ramps, renovating bathrooms for accessibility, to making a home fully wheelchair accessible. A large part of the work was done by Chapter members and community volunteers. If needed, local contractors were brought in to help with the “big” stuff. The focus has always been on providing the veteran with a quality result that will help them age at home safely.

The Greater Nashville Chapter is our newest chapter. They are working on identifying their first project and have great plans for helping disabled veterans in the Nashville, TN, area. There are now 11 Purple Heart Homes Chapters operating in 9 states. Our goal is to have at least one PHH Chapter in every state. To start a Chapter, all it takes is a few people coming together under the common mission of helping disabled veterans in their local area. To find out more about starting a Chapter or joining one, contact Cheryl Camp-bell at ccampbell@phhusa.org or call 704-818-3428.

WATCH - Starting a PHH Chapter: https://youtu.be/vqQfyXYw688

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Sometimes it’s easy to overlook all of the “behind the scenes” expenses that Purple Heart Homes incurs day-in and day-out in an effort to assist our Service Connected Disabled Veterans. However, this edition of Donor Spotlight showcases a business that is assisting us with just that.

SHARP Business Systems’ Senior Account Executive, Sam LoGrasso, was introduced to Purple Heart Homes at an event in Charlotte, North Carolina, back in 2017. He was captivated by our mission and inspired to help immediately.

SHARP Business Systems (SBS) is a direct sales division of Sharp Electronics Corporation. SBS branches throughout the U.S. combine the resources of a multi-billion-dollar corporation and the value of local representation with local management and community relationships. Their experienced business technology specialists evaluate your current technology environment and document workflow to help improve your company’s efficiency, security, and bottom-line through their best-in-class products, solutions and support.

SBS makes it a point to employ veterans among their staff. The corporate team has realized that veterans possess the ideal abilities for most positions within their company. Additionally, SBS puts many philanthropic efforts toward veteran causes.

Sam and his team from SBS just installed 2 new copier/printer machines in our offices to help offset some overhead expenses, allowing Purple Heart Homes to focus those funds on our veteran projects. SBS has also committed to supplying 65” and 50” televisions for our new house in Denver, North Carolina, which is part of our Veteran Home Ownership Program (VHOP). This generous contribution will enrich the lives of U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Angela Cherico, and her young daughter greatly.

SBS handles many technical needs for businesses, which include managed services, products, and software. If you would like more information about what they can do for your business, you can reach them at (704) 523-3333 or visit their website at www.sharp-sbs.com.

Thank you so much to Sam LoGrasso and everyone at SHARP Business Systems for this awesome partnership! Your support helps Purple Heart Homes allocate more resources to our Service Connected Disabled Veterans!

EVENTS

Purple Heart Homes Metro Atlanta Chapter completed bathroom renovations for Vietnam U.S. Air Force veteran Daniel Cavanaugh

Above: Sam LoGrasso, Senior Account Executive, SHARP Business Systems, with Cathy Morris, Operations Manager, Purple Heart Homes

Below: The SHARP MX-3070V

By Paula Collins, Events Manager

It’s a new year at Purple Heart Homes, which means that we have plenty of events to look forward to! Seeing how 2018 is our 10-year anniversary, the events planned for this year are going to be bigger and better than ever.

The beginning of every year tends to be a slower time for events. However, on February 6, 2018, Purple Heart Homes participated in the Red Ventures Community Involvement Fair at Red Ventures’ headquarters in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Whether it was someone from IT or Marketing, it was encouraging to see how the different employees related to veterans and our mission.

One of our new events that we have planned for this season is our 2018 Spring Golf Classic taking place on April 30, 2018, at The Palisades Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Palisades Country Club offers a private, Nicklaus Design, 18-hole course situated on a high woodland peninsula above Lake Wylie. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Purple Heart Homes. To register for this event, visit our website at www.purplehearthomesusa.org to learn more. Who knew that playing golf and helping Service Connected Disabled Veterans could go hand-in-hand?!

If you are interested in hosting or participating in other upcoming Purple Heart Homes events, please contact Paula Collins at pcollins@phhusa.org.

Kerry Burdick, Donor Relations Manager, Purple Heart Homes, engaged with Red Ventures employees during the Red Ventures Community Involvement Fair

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PURPLE HEART HOMES CHAPTERS

By Cheryl Campbell, Chapter Development Manager

The PHH Chapter Program started over four years ago. This initiative was spearheaded by Larry Druffle, who at that time served on the Board of Directors of Purple Heart Homes. Larry has been instrumental in building the framework for the program, and even became the President of the first Chapter in the Purple Heart Homes family: The Golden Corner Chapter in upstate South Carolina. It is inspiring how one idea has grown over time!

Since the start of the program, PHH Chapters have completed over 100 projects! This means well over 100 veterans, their family members and caregivers, were impacted positively with renovations or repairs provided by the Chapters to help make their homes safe and accessible. Projects ranged from adding railings to porch steps, building ramps, renovating bathrooms for accessibility, to making a home fully wheelchair accessible. A large part of the work was done by Chapter members and community volunteers. If needed, local contractors were brought in to help with the “big” stuff. The focus has always been on providing the veteran with a quality result that will help them age at home safely.

The Greater Nashville Chapter is our newest chapter. They are working on identifying their first project and have great plans for helping disabled veterans in the Nashville, TN, area. There are now 11 Purple Heart Homes Chapters operating in 9 states. Our goal is to have at least one PHH Chapter in every state. To start a Chapter, all it takes is a few people coming together under the common mission of helping disabled veterans in their local area. To find out more about starting a Chapter or joining one, contact Cheryl Camp-bell at ccampbell@phhusa.org or call 704-818-3428.

WATCH - Starting a PHH Chapter: https://youtu.be/vqQfyXYw688

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Sometimes it’s easy to overlook all of the “behind the scenes” expenses that Purple Heart Homes incurs day-in and day-out in an effort to assist our Service Connected Disabled Veterans. However, this edition of Donor Spotlight showcases a business that is assisting us with just that.

SHARP Business Systems’ Senior Account Executive, Sam LoGrasso, was introduced to Purple Heart Homes at an event in Charlotte, North Carolina, back in 2017. He was captivated by our mission and inspired to help immediately.

SHARP Business Systems (SBS) is a direct sales division of Sharp Electronics Corporation. SBS branches throughout the U.S. combine the resources of a multi-billion-dollar corporation and the value of local representation with local management and community relationships. Their experienced business technology specialists evaluate your current technology environment and document workflow to help improve your company’s efficiency, security, and bottom-line through their best-in-class products, solutions and support.

SBS makes it a point to employ veterans among their staff. The corporate team has realized that veterans possess the ideal abilities for most positions within their company. Additionally, SBS puts many philanthropic efforts toward veteran causes.

Sam and his team from SBS just installed 2 new copier/printer machines in our offices to help offset some overhead expenses, allowing Purple Heart Homes to focus those funds on our veteran projects. SBS has also committed to supplying 65” and 50” televisions for our new house in Denver, North Carolina, which is part of our Veteran Home Ownership Program (VHOP). This generous contribution will enrich the lives of U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Angela Cherico, and her young daughter greatly.

SBS handles many technical needs for businesses, which include managed services, products, and software. If you would like more information about what they can do for your business, you can reach them at (704) 523-3333 or visit their website at www.sharp-sbs.com.

Thank you so much to Sam LoGrasso and everyone at SHARP Business Systems for this awesome partnership! Your support helps Purple Heart Homes allocate more resources to our Service Connected Disabled Veterans!

EVENTS

Purple Heart Homes Metro Atlanta Chapter completed bathroom renovations for Vietnam U.S. Air Force veteran Daniel Cavanaugh

Above: Sam LoGrasso, Senior Account Executive, SHARP Business Systems, with Cathy Morris, Operations Manager, Purple Heart Homes

Below: The SHARP MX-3070V

By Paula Collins, Events Manager

It’s a new year at Purple Heart Homes, which means that we have plenty of events to look forward to! Seeing how 2018 is our 10-year anniversary, the events planned for this year are going to be bigger and better than ever.

The beginning of every year tends to be a slower time for events. However, on February 6, 2018, Purple Heart Homes participated in the Red Ventures Community Involvement Fair at Red Ventures’ headquarters in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Whether it was someone from IT or Marketing, it was encouraging to see how the different employees related to veterans and our mission.

One of our new events that we have planned for this season is our 2018 Spring Golf Classic taking place on April 30, 2018, at The Palisades Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Palisades Country Club offers a private, Nicklaus Design, 18-hole course situated on a high woodland peninsula above Lake Wylie. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Purple Heart Homes. To register for this event, visit our website at www.purplehearthomesusa.org to learn more. Who knew that playing golf and helping Service Connected Disabled Veterans could go hand-in-hand?!

If you are interested in hosting or participating in other upcoming Purple Heart Homes events, please contact Paula Collins at pcollins@phhusa.org.

Kerry Burdick, Donor Relations Manager, Purple Heart Homes, engaged with Red Ventures employees during the Red Ventures Community Involvement Fair

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755 Washington Ave.Statesvi l le, NC 28677

Current ProjectsDonna Menefee - U.S. Army - OIF - NCJose Sanchez - U.S. Army, National Guard - OEF - FLLarry Smoak - U.S. Marine Corps - OIF, OEF - SCBen Carpenter - U.S. Air Force - Cold War - NCGary Carrigan - U.S. Army - Vietnam - MICynthia Reid - U.S. Army - Gulf War - NCJohn Bentley - U.S. Marine Corps - OEF - WIJackie Drakeford - U.S. Marine Corps - Vietnam - SCSteven Lowry - U.S. Army - Vietnam - INFrank McGinnis - U.S. Navy - Vietnam - NC

CONNECTIONS 2018 SPRING EDITION

CONTACT US: 704.838.4044 info@phhusa.org www.purplehearthomesusa.org

Chapter Projects

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDPERMIT #112

28677

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

Lewis Miller - U.S. Army - Korea High Country NC ChapterHeidi Altgilbers - U.S. Navy - OIF, OEF West Michigan ChapterCleveland Greene - U.S. Army - Vietnam Metro Atlanta ChapterRichard Imershein - U.S. Air Force - Korea Golden Corner SC ChapterVernon Timmons - U.S. Marine Corps - Vietnam Northeast Ohio ChapterTodd Kumro - U.S. Navy - Cold War, Gulf War Colorado Front Range Chapter

2018 MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PURPLE HEART HOMES

By Melanie Balousek, Communications Specialist

The mission of “Improving Veterans’ Lives One Home at a Time” came to life when John Gallina and Dale Beatty co-founded Purple Heart Homes back in 2008. The two combat-wounded, Iraq veterans weren’t sure just how far their vision would take them. However, both of them knew that a movement needed to commence.

Purple Heart Homes wasn’t able to complete its first project for a veteran until 2010. Since then, the number of completed projects has grown consecutively each year. By the end of 2017, Purple Heart Homes completed over 300 projects total for Service Connected Disabled Veterans in 30 states across the nation. John and Dale both admitted, “Our vision has traveled further than we ever anticipated in the beginning.”

In 2018, that vision will continue to travel even further. Purple Heart Homes has several new ventures planned throughout the remainder of the year, including a partnership with Bronze Star Builders to construct custom-designed modular additions for veteran homes. This partnership will allow Purple Heart Homes to increase its capabilities in accomplishing even more for the housing needs of America’s Service Connected Disabled Veterans.

None of the projects that Purple Heart Homes completed would have been possible without the crucial support and generosity from volunteers, individual donors, corporate partners, and other organizations. To find out how you can to contribute to the mission, visit: www.phhsusa.org and click on the “Get Connected” tab at the top of the page. No matter how you choose to help the over 3.8 million Service Connected Disabled Veterans living in the U.S., the ultimate motivator for improvement comes from com-munities across the nation deciding to unite in the realiza-tion that the living conditions of wounded veterans matter.

Above: Dale Beatty and John Gallina built their first ramp together for Richard’s Coffee Shop & Military Museum in 2010. Below: John Gallina and Dale Beatty hold a mission complete ceremony for Navy Veteran, James Schenk, in late 2017.