BLAINE, Minn., June 26, 2014 — With the Fourth of July just around the corner, AT&T, the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) and Chase joined together today to announce that a wounded veteran has been awarded a newly renovated mortgage-free home, provided by Chase bank, in Blaine, Minn., through the Homes4WoundedHeroes program.
AT&T has provided a $100,000 contribution to fund a three-year family and financial mentorship program that helps Homes4WoundedHeroes home recipients across the country.
AT&T is proud to support wounded veterans and their families by teaming with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, an organization that has awarded more than 500 mortgage-free homes nationwide. This home in Blaine was donated by Chase and has been awarded to retired U.S. Army Specialist Jason Smith, a veteran who served from 2009 through 2012 including a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Specialist Smith was injured while on missions in Afghanistan in 2011 when the vehicle he was riding in hit two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
“The men and women of the U.S. military make tremendous sacrifices for our country. This gift is a way for us to not only give back to our veterans, but also help them achieve financial stability and success as they transition back into civilian life,” said Paul Weirtz, president of AT&T Minnesota and a United States Marine Corps veteran. “As a veteran, it is an honor to celebrate this gift alongside Homes4WoundedHeroes, a program that works tirelessly to support those who have suffered severe injuries in service to our country.”
Veterans wounded in action during any American conflict qualify for MWSF’s Homes4WoundedHeroes program, founded in 2007. The program awards mortgage-free homes to wounded heroes injured during combat in service to our country. Various MWSF partners around the county provide the funding for the homes. Chase Bank donated the home in Blaine for retired Specialist Smith and his family, who have relocated to Minnesota from Ohio.
“I am so grateful to Homes4WoundedHeroes, AT&T and Chase for this wonderful home and mentorship support,” said Specialist Smith. “We are excited to be a part of the Blaine community and are looking forward to raising our family in Minnesota.”
Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan officially welcomed Specialist Smith to the community and presented a city proclamation honoring him for his military service and his sacrifices for our country. Specialist Smith was also presented with a letter and American Flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.
“The City of Blaine is honored and proud to welcome Specialist Smith and his family to our community,” said Mayor Ryan, a wounded U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. “This program is a great way to honor the sacrifices of our wounded veterans and help them transition back to civilian life.”
State Senator Alice Johnson, State Rep. Tim Sanders, members of the Blaine City Council, and veterans from the American Legion and VFW were also on hand to honor Specialist Smith.
“Our country owes a debt of gratitude to our troops that can never be repaid,” said Senator Johnson. “This program is a great way to give back to our troops by providing wounded veterans with a place to call home as they readjust to civilian life after their military service.”
“Each and every day, our military men and women make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our nation and our freedoms,” said Rep. Sanders. “It is great to see companies like AT&T and Chase Bank joining together with organizations like the Military Warriors Support Foundation to provide the support our troops need and deserve when they return home.”
For nearly 100 years, AT&T has remained dedicated to supporting active military personnel, veterans and their families. As a company, AT&T sees it as an honor to support them both at home and abroad. Military veterans also possess the skills we need to succeed as a company and are an invaluable part of our workforce. For more information about AT&T’s commitment to our military heroes, please visit our website.
For more information on MWSF and all of their programs, please visit: http://www.MilitaryWarriors.org
About The Military Warriors Support Foundation
MWSF is a 501(c)3 non-profit, founded by Lt. General, Leroy Sisco, USA (Ret), in 2007. MWSF’s Mission is to provide support for our Nation’s combat wounded heroes and Gold Star Families as they transition out of the military and into their new civilian life. Their programs focus on housing and homeownership, employment, as well as recreational activities and travel assistance. For more information on MWSF and all of their programs, please visit http://www.MilitaryWarriors.org.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T, news, filings) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.
About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2010, more than $148.2 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.
© 2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Reliability claim based on data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. 4G LTE availability varies.
– See more at: http://about.att.com/story/att_teams_with_military_warriors_support_foundation_and_chase_to_honor_wounded_veteran_in_blaine.html#sthash.IRivmDA5.dpuf
PR Archives: Latest, By Company, By Date