Welcome to Illinois' Only "Home Away from Home"
$5.7-million Hines VA Fisher House
Doors Opened to Military Family Guests March 1, 2010

This Handsome 20-Private-Bedroom-Suite "Home Away From Home" On The Grounds Of Hines VA Hospital Is Complete
And Fully Furnished. Fisher House Foundation Will Formally Present It As A Gift To Hines VA Hospital
At A Dedication Ceremony May 28, 2010

Memorable Dedication & Evening Reception Celebrate Long-Awaited Official Dedication of Hines VA Fisher House
	Ken Fisher, Fisher House Foundation Chairman and CEO, presents the organization's Patriot Award to major construction fundraiser for Hines VA Fisher House Sam Lazich, President of DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. at special reception.
Fisher House Chairman and CEO Ken Fisher honors major building fundraiser and supporter of Hines VA Fisher House Patriot Award recognizing Operation Support Our Troops – Illinois to President Deb Rickert at evening reception.	Long-Awaited Ribbon-Cutting Finally Becomes a Reality at May 28 Hines VA Fisher House Dedication with attendant dignitaries and major supporters in honor of this special event.
It's Official! Fisher House Foundation President David Coker presents the keys to Hines VA Fisher House to Holly Wright, Hines VA Fisher House Manager.	Non-Profit Friends of Fisher House – Illinois Board Director Mary Vaughan (l) and Mark Garry, FOFH-IL Vice President, (r) enjoy cocktail reception sponsored by Fisher House Foundation with Hines VA Fisher House Manager Holly Wright and Glenn Wright.
Friends of Fisher House – Illinois Board Vice President Harry Theodore (l) chats with Board Director Eddie Jackson at Fisher House Foundation private reception.	Representatives and Supporters from VFW Posts and Veterans Motorcycle Chapters From All Parts of Illinois Joined in on the Festivities.

Hines VA Fisher House Construction Fundraising Phase

Illinois citizens supported a two-year, Illinois fundraising campaign sponsored and spearheaded by DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. of Park Ridge, IL to raise the majority of the $1.75 million necessary to be matched by the Fisher House Foundation for construction of a $5.7 million Fisher House on Hines VA Hospital grounds.

Ongoing Sustaining Non-Profit Support After Groundbreaking

In 2008, Friends of Fisher House-Illinois (FOFH-IL) organized as a fully volunteer, non-profit recognized by Fisher House Foundation as the official community fundraiser dedicated to sustaining all Illinois Fisher Houses beginning with Hines VA Fisher House.

In this capacity, FOFH-IL raised and donated funds to Hines Fisher House for numerous House Warming items needed before its doors opened. Since the Fisher House was gifted to Hines VA by the Fisher House Foundation, FOFH-IL has continued strong support with fundraising for House operations, maintenance, landscaping and a storage facility plus food solicitations.

A 2nd LOVELL FISHER HOUSE AT LOVELL FEDERAL HEALTHCARE CENTER PRESENTS ADDED CHALLENGES

Because FOFH-IL has pledged to support all Fisher Houses in Illinois, our non-profit is now challenged to raise added funds for outfitting the 2nd Home Away from Home before opening is doors to host veterans and their families during medical crises. Also, FOFH-IL must help sustain the 2nd Fisher House.

Financial Reports Available Upon Request at assistance@fofhil.org.

Following the local, grass-roots drive to raise funds for construction, it became apparent that further fundraising efforts are vital to support year-round operations of this Hines VA "home away from home" for military families when it opened March 1, 2010.

The humanitarian need fulfilled by the Fisher House program is not one provided by the
Departments of Defense or Veterans Administration.

Once the 20-private-bedroom-suite Hines Fisher House is constructed in fall 2009, the Fisher House Foundation will present it as a gift to Hines VA. From that point on, funding staffing, operations and maintenance becomes the full responsibility of Hines VA.

Hines administration has indicated the strong need for support to ensure that year-round lodging and other services are provided free of charge to veterans and their families.

Hines is designated by the VA as a VA national polytrauma site. In this capacity, the medical facility is treating younger veterans returning from Iraq with multiple trauma injuries like traumatic brain injuries.  This requires more patients traveling longer distances.  These complicated injuries require longer hospital stays, which will make the Fisher House for Hines that much more important.

Both the Hines Spinal Cord Injury and Blind Rehabilitation Center programs minister to almost 900 Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom veterans with long stays.

These two Centers, alone, draw patients from a total of 17 states: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming plus parts of Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

In addition, Hines VA Hospital continues to service the medical needs of 300,000 Illinois veterans with 536,600 outpatient visits a year. Many of them travel long distances within Illinois for out-patient treatment and cannot afford overnight lodging at motels. These veterans will also qualify for free lodging at the Hines Fisher House.