1 Fisher/Nightingale Houses Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio Chris Stanley Executive Director Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. Touching Lives with Compassion

2 Wright-Patterson AFB – the Birthplace, Home and Future of Aerospace…. but, did you know it is also the birthplace of compassionate care in the Department of Defense?

3 The Wright-Patt Fisher and Nightingale Houses provide an opportunity for military families to stay together and support each other when a loved one is undergoing medical treatment. The Houses provide physical and emotional support to our servicemen and servicewomen and their families. The Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher Houses assisted more than 500 Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines (active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve) and their families in 2009!

4 The Beginning…..  Foresight of Captain Gretchen Lizza  Involved and gained support of base leadership and private organizations  Nightingale House opened in May 1990 Captain (ret) Gretchen Lizza and family  Converted base housing across the street from the Medical Center  First compassionate care facility in the Department of Defense

5 Along come the Fishers…..  Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher were asked to build one Ronald McDonald-type house at Bethesda Naval Medical Center  Due to prior involvement with military, they agreed  First Fisher House opened in 1991  Now 45 Fisher Houses at 18 military installations and 15 VA medical centers world-wide  Twelve more under construction or in design  Long-term plan: beyond current plans -- another 5 or 6 per year for next eight to nine years – get to nearly 100 houses!

6 “My thoughts of life have always been to do something in life that will outlast life. I was fortunate to find something that fulfills that goal completely.” Zachary Fisher

7 Existing Houses…..  Nightingale House  Converted base house (two 3 bedroom units in a duplex)  Eight bedrooms; four bathrooms; two half baths  Two kitchens, two dining areas, two living rooms  Enclosed porch

8 Existing Houses…..  Fisher House (opened in May 1994)  Nine bedrooms  Seven bathrooms; one half bath  One kitchen, one dining area, one living room  Gazebo  Manager’s office

9 House occupancy and volunteers…..  Seventeen bedrooms between the two Houses equates to 6,205 bed nights a year; we average in excess of 95 percent occupancy  Unfortunately, demand for rooms fluctuates and each month some families have to be turned away due to unavailability of space  Based on a priority system  In addition to small paid staff, numerous volunteers support the House guests  Provided the equivalent of another staff person’s hours in 2008  Staff could not have supported guests without this unselfish giving of time by these volunteers

10 Houses serve everyone…..  In the last 20 years, the Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher Houses have served thousands of families….averaging more than 600 families every year  From all branches of the military  From stateside and overseas  Active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve and their families  Average length of stay is 11 days  Some stay for only a day or two and others for months…. even up to one year

11 Guest charge…..  In October 2006, the Fisher House Foundation started paying the previously-charged $10 per-night guest fee  Guests now stay in the Houses for free

12 Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc.  A private, 501(c)3 nonprofit, registered in the State of Ohio  Sole mission: raise funds to support compassionate care lodging for patients and their families receiving treatment at the Wright-Patt Medical Center

13 Air Force’s involvement…..  The Fisher House and the Nightingale House are owned, managed and supported financially by the Air Force and the Department of Defense  The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. donates funds to the Air Force and Department of Defense each month to cover all costs associated with the day-to-day operation of the Houses  The organization also donates additional funds, services, and items (large and small) to the Air Force and Department of Defense specifically in support of the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patterson AFB

14 FNHI Finances……  Program expenses for 2008 were $158,444 (81.92% of total expenses)  Fund-raising expenses for 2008 were $20,813 (10.76% of total expenses)  Administrative expenses for 2008 were $14,174 (7.32% of total expenses) Note: Final/audited 2009 figures will be available once the formal audit is concluded in the Fall of 2010

15 Why a new Fisher House?  The Nightingale House is a converted base house  From two three-bedroom units to an eight bedroom facility (including the conversion of the two garages to two bedrooms)  Constructed in 1975 as military family housing and, compared to the current Fisher Houses, is not handicapped accessible  Two of the eight bedrooms have private baths; the other six bedrooms share two small upstairs hallway baths  There are two small kitchens and two dining/living room areas

16 Details….  The new Fisher House will replace the existing Nightingale House (Fisher House II)  The Nightingale House (304 Red Bud Lane) will be returned to Military Family Housing  The Fisher House Foundation conducted a groundbreaking ceremony on November 7 th, 2008  Actual construction started in early August 2009  Twelve to fourteen month construction project  Currently on schedule for completion by end of October 2010

17 Location of the new House…. Current Fisher House New Fisher House Fisher Houses are a one block walk down Schlatter from the Medical Center

18 Proposed House plans from the Fisher House Foundation….  13 bedrooms with 13 handicapped-accessible ADA compliant bathrooms  Single story, 10,000 square feet  Two living rooms, kitchen and dining room  More laundry capabilities Will also add 1,825 bed nights a year

19 Proposed design plans from the Fisher House Foundation….

20 Proposed floor plans from the Fisher House Foundation….

21 Capital campaign….  The projected cost of the new House is $3.15M  The Fisher House Foundation has challenged the FNHI to raise $1M towards the new House  As of early July 2010: $935,000  Cash-in-hand, less expenses, plus firm commitments

22 Capital campaign committee….  Some FNHI Board members  Chair: John Thrasher, Former FNHI President  Janice Beckett, FNHI President  Larry Sweeney, Treasurer  Chris Stanley, Executive Director

23 Capital campaign committee….  Other community leaders  Frank Beeson, Publisher, Times Community Newspapers  Steve Brown, Brown and Bills Architects  Major General (Retired) Lou Ferraro  Major General (Retired) Ed Odgers  Lieutenant General (Retired) Dick Reynolds  Libby VanHook  Lieutenant General (Retired) Mike Zettler

24 The Wright-Patt Fisher Houses provide an invaluable service to military men and women and their families – won’t you consider reaching out a caring hand to help a military family today?

25 Consider helping, please…..  Consider a donation to the Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. Capital Campaign  Contact the Executive Director, Chris Stanley, for more information  Mail: Post Office Box 33871, Wright-Patterson AFB OH  Home phone:  Cell phone:  The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. is a private organization. It is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status.