Rebuilding Together and Countrywide Volunteers Provide Home Improvements for Injured Soldier |
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By: Rebuilding Together; Countrywide Financial Corporation Posted: 2007-02-26 06:24:50 |
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Rebuilding Together(R), the nation's largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization, is providing modifications and repairs at the home of Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Christopher Edwards through its Serving Those Who Serve(SM) program today. Countrywide(R) Financial Corporation, America's #1 home loan lender*, has contributed more than $1.2 million as the founding sponsor of a nationwide program that provides free home modifications to severely-injured soldiers and veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"It's comforting to know that the sacrifices I made for this country are appreciated and that appreciation makes what I am going through worth it," stated Sgt. Edwards. "My wife and I are grateful for the work Rebuilding Together and Countrywide are doing at our home." Volunteers from Countrywide and Rebuilding Together-San Antonio are joining with local contractors and vendors to assist Sgt. Edwards and his family. "Rebuilding Together is proud to be working with our San Antonio affiliate to assist Sgt. Edwards," said Gary Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "Veterans and soldiers like Sgt. Edwards have sacrificed so much for our country, and with this generous grant from Countrywide Financial Corporation, we are making this house and many more homes safe and accessible for soldiers injured during service abroad." In early 2005, Sgt. Edwards was stationed in the Sunni Triangle in Iraq, where his unit went on daily security patrols throughout the region. That April, Sgt. Edwards volunteered to fill in for an ill soldier and was sent to investigate reports of insurgents planting bombs. While riding in his M2A2 Bradley fighting vehicle, Sgt. Edwards and his group came to a dirt-covered bridge. While crossing the bridge a 500 pound bomb exploded beneath his vehicle, igniting the gun turret where Sgt. Edwards stood and setting fire to the vehicle and Sgt. Edwards. He was pushed out of the burning vehicle by his platoon sergeant and made it to a canal near the bridge where he extinguished himself in six inches of water. The explosion left Sgt. Edwards with third degree burns covering 79 percent of his body. "In the debate over ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must not forget the individual American heroes who are serving our nation, and particularly those, like Sgt. Edwards, who have come home with life-changing injuries," said Robert Power, executive vice president of public affairs for Countrywide. "Through private contributions to Rebuilding Together, from Countrywide and others, Serving Those Who Serve honors our forces and lets them know the nation will not forget their sacrifice." Sgt. Edwards, his wife Tammy and their young son Riley live in a two-story home just outside of San Antonio in Cibolo, Texas. Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve program is improving accessibility in the home by providing modifications that include remodeling the master bathroom with a zero entry shower; installing ceiling fans, mini blinds, lever door handles and a wheelchair ramp; painting and landscaping. "Chris and I are both thankful for the support Rebuilding Together and Countrywide have shown for injured veterans," stated Tammy Edwards. "The assistance they are providing in helping us to modify our home is wonderful and will help to ease some of the stress in daily activities." The Feb. 24th ceremony will feature presentations from Gary Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together; Rep. Henry Cuellar, 28th Congressional District; Texas State Rep. Edmund Kuempel, District 44; Joan Headley, executive director, Rebuilding Together-San Antonio; Robert Power, executive vice president of public affairs for Countrywide; and Homeowners Christopher and Tammy Edwards. Previous Serving Those Who Serve projects have been completed in Rosedale, Md.; Manassas Park, Va.; Birmingham, Ala.; Clinton, Md.; Miramar, Fla.; Houston, Texas; and Lake View Terrace, Calif. For further information about the Serving Those Who Serve program or to make a contribution online, go to http://www.ServingThoseWhoServe.org. About Countrywide In 2007, Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC) is celebrating its tenth anniversary as a national sponsor of Rebuilding Together. Countrywide is a member of the S&P 500, Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune 500. Through its family of companies, Countrywide provides mortgage-centric financial services. Mortgage banking businesses include loan production and loan servicing principally through Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., which originates, purchases, securitizes, sells, and services prime and nonprime loans; and loan closing services provided by the LandSafe group of companies. Diversified financial services encompass banking, capital markets and insurance, largely through the activities of Countrywide Bank, N.A., a bank offering depository and home loan products; Countrywide Capital Markets, a mortgage-related investment banker with offices in the U.S., U.K. and Japan; Balboa Life and Casualty Group, whose companies are national providers of property, life and casualty insurance; and Balboa Reinsurance, a captive mortgage reinsurance company. Headquartered in Calabasas, California, Countrywide has a global work force of 55,000 and more than 1,000 offices. For more information about the company, visit Countrywide's website at http://www.countrywide.com. About Rebuilding Together Rebuilding Together is America's largest volunteer-based organization preserving and revitalizing houses and communities, and assuring that low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly and disabled and families with children live in warmth, safety and independence. Our goal is to make a sustainable impact in partnership with the community. For more information, visit http://www.rebuildingtogether.org. About Serving Those Who SERVE Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who SERVE was developed to meet the needs of injured soldiers and veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We focus on providing home modifications and repairs to help ease the transition of the veteran or soldier back into their home after a life altering injury. The projects focus on the rehabilitation of their homes to help make them safer, more comfortable and to improve the quality of life for the veteran or soldier by helping them live with greater independence and improved mobility. The projects will not only modify the home; we believe it will help the individual, the family, and the community to heal. Serving Those Who SERVE focuses on helping veterans who suffer from one or any combination of four injuries including loss of sight, loss of hearing, mobility impairments, and traumatic brain injury. |
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