Concert raises $2.4 million for wounded soldiers
A Kix Brooks concert event for Operation Finally Home hosted at the Las Vegas House of Blues by American Country Countdown and manufacturer LP Building Products rallied building industry attendees to commit an estimated $2.4 million toward homes for wounded soldiers. The concert was held during the International Builders’ Show.
During the event, eight builders from around the nation representing cities such as Nashville, Tenn.; Amarillo, Texas; and Charlotte, N.C., pledged to join Operation Finally Home in their mission to provide mortgage-free homes for wounded soldiers across the United States. American Country Countdown and LP Building Products recently announced plans to support Operation Finally Home in the construction of homes for six wounded veterans in the next two years. Pledged support from eight builders will allow for further expansion of these plans.
“The sense of community in our industry has always set us apart. I’ve never seen it more evident than when I watched these builders come forward to offer their time and resources in order to provide homes for our nation’s veterans,” said Rick Olszewski, executive VP specialty products, sales and marketing. “LP Building Products is honored to be a part of an effort bringing together so many companies and people across the industry in support of these wounded heroes.”
The first American Country Countdown/LP Building Products-sponsored home will be built in Las Vegas for wounded soldier Army Cpl. Christopher Bales, a Purple Heart recipient who served two tours of duty -- in Iraq from 2007 to 2008 and in Afghanistan in 2010.
Born out of the Bay Area Builders Association Support Our Troops effort, Operation FInally Home was founded by Dan Wallrath in 2005. Daniel Vargas, a retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant, runs the organization out of New Braunfels, Texas. The program provides custom-made homes to wounded and disabled veterans as well as to widows of the fallen to help them get their lives back on track.