Read Stories


 

Building free homes for wounded vets

posted by Miaa Clancy

Alexander Reyes' boyhood dream of a military career ended when he was hit by an improvised explosive device during a patrol two years ago in Baghdad.

"Laying in that hospital bed ... sometimes I felt I'd rather [have] died," Reyes said. "My life came to a complete halt."

Reyes sustained severe blast injuries that led to his medical discharge; he's on 100 percent medical disability. Like many soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, Reyes, now 24, found the transition to civilian life difficult.

But he and a handful of other injured veterans are getting help from what may seem an unlikely source: a custom home builder in Houston, Texas.

Dan Wallrath recently presented Reyes and his wife with an unexpected gift: a home built especially for them, mortgage-free.

"Thank you. That's all I can say," Elizabeth Reyes said, sobbing and clutching her stunned husband's arm as Wallrath surprised them with the house.

For Wallrath, giving wounded veterans a place to call home is his way of saying thanks. Since 2005, his organization has built four houses. Five more are under construction, and he's expanding his idea into a national campaign called Operation Finally Home.

Wallrath spent 30 years making upscale clients' dream houses a reality. But he found a new mission in 2005 when he met with Steve Schulz about a very different type of project.

Schulz's 20-year old son, a U.S. Marine, had been gravely injured in Iraq. Schulz desperately needed to remodel his house to accommodate his son's wheelchair.
Video: Operation Finally Home
RELATED TOPICS

Veterans' Affairs
Injuries and Traumas
Baghdad
Houston (Texas)

"I had no idea how I was going to pay for it," Schulz said. "I just knew that I had to get it done."

Wallrath went to advise Schulz on remodeling his house as a favor to a friend. It was a meeting that changed Wallrath's life.

He remembers Schulz showing him photos of his son Steven.

"He was a big, strapping Marine," Wallrath said. But the pictures he saw of Steven taken after his injury told a different story.

"He was ... half his size. It was so sad," he said. "It dawned on me that people are facing this all over the U.S."

Wallrath mobilized an army of carpenters, plumbers and suppliers who took on the remodeling job for free. They widened doorways, built a ramp to the back door and made the bathroom handicapped-accessible.

"Anything that needed to be done, Dan said, 'We'll take care of it,' " Schulz recalled. "It was just a huge, huge relief."

When the work on Schulz's home was complete, Wallrath realized he was just getting started.

"It really broke my heart to think [about] these young men and women," he said. He decided the best way he could help wounded veterans was by doing what he knew best: building them homes.

"It was like someone hit me upside the head with a 2x4. ... I just felt like this is what God wants me to do."

He took his idea to his local trade group, the Bay Area Builders Association, and convinced members to start a home-building program for wounded veterans.

With donations from suppliers and contractors, Wallrath said, the group can build a $300,000 house for $25,000 to $50,000. Each house is fully furnished and customized to meet the needs of each family and is mortgage-free. The group also covers the taxes and insurance for two years.

Wounded veterans or their spouses often have to find a new career or go back to school, making it hard to make ends meet, Wallrath said.

"If you can alleviate a financial burden off these young kids where they can concentrate on rebuilding their lives, you can really make a difference," he said.

Lt. Erasmo Valles is one such story. As a Marine, he was injured by an IED in Iraq in 2004 and ultimately had one of his legs amputated. Returning to civilian life was hard, and his family rapidly burned through its savings.

"We'd saved money for rainy days, but ... it was raining," Valles said.

Receiving a home from Wallrath in November 2008 turned their fortunes around. Valles, 34, is now studying for his doctorate in public safety; his wife earned her master's degree and is now a special education teacher.

"It saved us," he said. "We're moving on and moving forward. ... For someone to think about me and my family ... to build a home -- wow. That's a hero."

Wallrath is determined to help as many families as he can. He's trying to enlist builders' associations across the country to join his crusade, with the goal of building 100 homes. His program got tremendous interest at an industry event in January, and it soon hopes to break ground on a house near Chicago, the first outside of Texas.

Considering the industry was hard-hit by the recession, Wallrath says he's been heartened by the response.

Now retired, Wallrath dedicates about half of his time to this effort without pay. He says it's the least he can do to repay some of the more than 30,000 troops who've been wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"These kids ... they're doing it for me and you," he said. "So we're the ones that need to step up and do something."

Story found on:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/11/cnnheroes.wallrath.vets.houses/

Inspired  2
 
Bookmark and Share  
 
 
Close

World Improvement Program for Individuals:


(Watch Video Number 1 and 2 on Our Landing Page)

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

At World Improvement Number (WIN), we go even further! We prove that just one individual can make a difference... a big difference. In fact, it is a part of our mission to give absolutely everyone the opportunity to share stories of positive action and if they choose …. to even become a world leader.

The Key Benefit:
We show that one person (You!) can make a difference … a BIG difference.

The Program:
Personal World Improvement Number: The WIN point tracking automatically calculates your personal "WIN" and shows you just how significant the ripple effect of a positive action or idea can be. You (as a user) would post your positive experience or idea onto the WIN site after signing up.
Positive stories and actions are divided into four easy categories –
  • A positive action that you took for people, animals or the environment.
  • A positive idea that you have learned about or thought up (for a full list view examples of positive actions).
  • A positive action that someone else did for you.
  • A positive action that you learned about whether that be by seeing it in person, seeing it on TV or the internet, reading about it or hearing about it from someone else.


How It Works:
Once your story is posted, you are immediately credited with a point. If you give others access to view your story your points will grow exponentially. Someone then reads your story and is inspired so they click on the inspired link underneath the story. You are then immediately credited with another point. Should another user be inspired by your story, they can click on inspired and you receive another point for each of them. Should you inspire any of those people to post a story and they inspire others, you receive a point for everyone that they inspire and everyone that they inspire and so on and so on.
The possibilities are endless. You could literally inspire thousands of people around the world with a single story. The system will track your total accumulated points, your year to date points and your month to date points. You can have fun competing with your friends in all sorts of ways.
You will be able to track the butterfly effect of your stories about how they have impacted friends, strangers, and communities far and wide.

Download this as a PDF.
Close

World Improvement Number Program for Professional / Trade Associations & Unions:


(See Video Number 7 on Our Landing Page)

The Key Benefit:
The WIN program helps Professional and Trade/Industry Associations significantly enhance their public image by demonstrating the value of their contribution to society.

The Program:
Professional and Trade Associations have many challenges including enhancing the image of their profession / industry / trade, encouraging members to contribute to the communities in which they work, attracting key talent to enter the category and working with government relations amongst others.

A World Improvement Number can help the association track and quantify the value of the truly positive actions taken by its members, employees, associates and partners. In addition member companies can have their own WIN and tag those stories to multiple levels including their business, location and to the association/industry itself.

The system automatically calculates a WIN number and also creates a knowledge center that can be accessed for training, public relations and best practices. In fact, a WIN number can be a key differentiator when members, potential members, investors, government, employees, potential employees and partners (etc.) consider their alternatives.

Here is how it works:
The association sets up a community in worldimprovementnumber.com and then encourages its members, employees, channel partners, customers and vendors (etc.) to join and record stories about the positive work that is being accomplished in every part of the industry or trade. There can be an overall WIN number for the association as well as WIN numbers for member companies, members, employees etc.

One of our partners, TheMindSuite.com can even work with you to consolidate that information from a reporting metrics perspective. For more information about the possibilities of an integrated reporting system including promotional opportunities please visit www.themindsuite.com/industryimprovementnumber

These individuals then tag those stories of great service, community work, employee relations, and community programs to the association (and company etc.) and a knowledge centre will be established and fed from every location in just about any language. This knowledge centre can be accessed by various participating stakeholders to recognize their work, and by others who may want to support their efforts.

Advertising, sales and marketing efforts can then encourage their target market to join World Improvement Number and view firsthand the stories and case studies of the positive work that is being accomplished throughout the world by the members of that industry or trade.

Download this as a PDF
Close

World Improvement Number Programs for Companies / Businesses


(Watch Video Number 4 on our Landing Page)

The Key Benefit:
The WIN program helps companies of any type demonstrate social responsibility by creating its ‘Business World Improvement Number’ which clearly shows the value of its contribution to customers, employees and the communities within which it operates.

The Program:
Global competition, transparency, educated consumers, the environment and corporate responsibility are all key issues facing companies today. A Business World Improvement Number can help the organization track and quantify the value of the truly positive actions taken by its employees, associates and partners.

The system automatically calculates a company’s WIN number and also creates a knowledge center that can be accessed for training, best practices and benchmarking. In fact, a company’s WIN number can be a key differentiator when customers, potential customers, employees, potential employees and partners consider their alternatives.

Here is how it works:
The organization sets up a community in worldimprovementnumber.com and then encourages its employees, channel partners, customers and vendors to join and record stories about the positive work that is being accomplished in every part of the organization. There can be an organizational WIN number as well as WIN numbers for branches, divisions, departments etc.

One of our partners, TheMindSuite.com can even work with you to consolidate that information from a reporting metrics perspective. For more information about the possibilities of an integrated reporting system including promotional opportunities please visit www.themindsuite.com/businessimprovementnumber.

These individuals then tag those stories of great customer service, community work, employee relations, and community programs to the organization and a knowledge centre will be established and fed from every location in just about any language. This knowledge centre can be accessed by various participating stakeholders to recognize their work, and by others who may want to support their efforts.

Advertising, sales and marketing efforts can then encourage their target market to join World Improvement Number and view firsthand the stories and case studies of the positive work that is being accomplished throughout the world.

Download this as a PDF
Close

World Improvement Number Program for Not-for-Profit & Charities:


(Watch video number 3 on our landing page)

The Key Benefit:
The World Improvement Number (WIN) program for Not-for-profit and Charity organizations clearly demonstrates how that organization works and clearly demonstrates a “Return on Investment” to their supporters and potential supporters.

The Program:
Not-for-profits and charities have many challenges including; finding ways to show their value, continually maintain and increase donations, and provide support and encouragement to their employees and volunteers working in often difficult situations.

The system automatically calculates an organization’s WIN number and also creates a knowledge center that can be accessed for training, best practices and benchmarking. In fact, a company’s WIN number can be a key differentiator when donors, potential donors, employees, potential employees and partners consider their alternatives. World Improvement Number helps to demonstrate this “ROI: by capturing and consolidating real stories on field activities going giving great clarity on how the donation money is being used. This will show the true value of the work in a well organized and easily accessible way.

Here is how it works:
The organization sets up a community in worldimprovementnumber.com and then encourages its members, workers and supporters to join and record stories about the positive work that is being accomplished throughout their area of influence.

These individuals then tag those stories to the organization and a knowledge centre will be established and fed with stories from every location in any language. This knowledge centre can be accessed by supporters to recognize their work, and others who may want to support their efforts through donations.

The organization will have its own WIN number and can easily show the return on investment (ROI) that its supporters are achieving.

The system can be set up for an ongoing group or association or it can be for a specific initiative such as disaster relief. Imagine having many heartfelt positive stories all gathered in one place.

Advertising, canvassing and fundraising efforts can then ask their target market to join World Improvement Number and view firsthand the stories and case studies of the positive work that is being accomplished as a result of their support.

Download this as a PDF
Close

World Improvement Number Programs for Schools:


(Watch Video Number 5 on Our Landing Page)

The Key Benefit:
The WIN program helps schools to document and organize their community efforts and demonstrate the positive outcome of these initiatives to students, parents, teachers and the community.

The Program:
Grade schools have many challenges including; providing means to improve their community, teach the values of contribution to students and parents, continually maintain and increase funding and donations, and provide support and encouragement to their students, parents, faculty and staff.

World Improvement Number can help demonstrate this “Return On Time’ invested by capturing and consolidating stories on the activities going on in the school and the surrounding community. In addition, the learning’s and positive outcomes will be documented for further reflection and inspiration to others, both within the school system and around the world.

Here is how it works:
The school (or group within the school such as a sports team or interest team or parent group) sets up a community in worldimprovementnumber.com and then encourages its members, fellow students, staff and parents to join and record stories about the positive work that is being accomplished throughout their area of influence.

These individuals then tag those stories to the school community and a knowledge centre will be established and fed with stories from all participants in any language. This knowledge centre can be accessed to help everyone understand how they as a group can improve and better support their communities. In addition this is a way to clearly recognize those who ‘go above and beyond’ in their efforts.

The school group will have its own WIN number and can easily compete in a friendly way with other schools in their respective communities.

The system can be set up for a ongoing initiatives or it can be set up for a specific initiative such as community education, clean up or even disaster relief. Imagine having many heartfelt positive stories all gathered in one place.

The groups can then gain community support when they ask others to join World Improvement Number and view firsthand the stories and case studies of the positive work that is being accomplished as a result of their support.

Download this as a PDF
Close

World Improvement Number Program for Universities & Colleges:


(Watch Video Number 6 on Our Landing Page)

The Key Benefit:
The WIN program helps Colleges and Universities to document and organize their community efforts and demonstrate the positive outcome of these initiatives to students, professors and the community.

The Program:
Colleges and Universities are often an incubator for social innovation, community development and education. Many great social programs were first thought through in an academic environment. Many students and professors seek to explore new ideas and find ways to improve the world through discussion, debate, experimentation and action.

Often the true impact of these efforts can be lost because they are not linked together to show the greater good.

World Improvement Number can help show the greater impact and demonstrate the “Return on Time Invested” so that everyone involved can track the progress. In addition the learning’s and positive outcomes will be documented for further reflection and inspiration to others both within the academic environment and around the world.

Here is how it works:
The University or College (or group within … such as a sports team, faculty or special interest team) sets up a community in worldimprovementnumber.com and then encourages its members, fellow students, staff and supporters to join and record stories about the positive work that is being accomplished throughout their area of influence.

These individuals then tag those stories to the appropriate community and a knowledge centre will be established and fed with stories from all participants in any language. This knowledge centre can be accessed to help everyone understand how they as a group can improve and better support their communities and the world. In addition this is a way to clearly recognize those who ‘go above and beyond’ in their efforts.

The group will have its own WIN number and can easily compete in a friendly way with other Colleges and Universities around the world.

The system can be set up for a ongoing initiatives or it can be set up for a specific initiative such as community education, clean up or even disaster relief. Imagine having many heartfelt positive stories all gathered in one place.

The groups can then gain support when they ask others to join World Improvement Number and view firsthand the stories and case studies of the positive work that is being accomplished as a result of their support.

Download this as a PDF
Close

World Improvement Number Programs for Communities (Local, State/Province, Country) & Community Groups:


(See Video Number 8 on Our Landing Page)

The Key Benefit:
The WIN program helps any community significantly tap into the resources, knowledge and creativity of its citizens to fully understand the sense of possibility on what can be accomplished when working together.

The Program:
Communities and community groups have many challenges including engaging youth, education, crime prevention, productivity, unemployment, poverty, high costs, limited budgets, alienation and many others.

A World Improvement Number can help any community tap into the combined brilliance of its members and track and quantify the value of the truly positive actions and ideas created by its citizens. The community WIN number will motivate positive change within the community and help create a sense of possibility for other communities to create and build their WIN number.

The system automatically calculates a WIN number and also creates a knowledge center that can be accessed for training, best practices and benchmarking. In fact, a WIN number can be a key driver to help communities community groups and neighborhoods help themselves and others.

Here is how it works:
The community sets up their own unique community in worldimprovementnumber.com and then encourages its citizens, employees, and businesses to join and record stories about the positive work that is being accomplished in every part of the community. There can be an overall WIN number for the community as well as WIN numbers for specific parts of the overall community including communities, community groups, regions, or neighborhoods.

The citizen members then tag their stories to the community (or group within) and a knowledge centre will be established and fed from every location in just about any language. A true sense of possibility and collaboration will soon fuel positive change.

Download this as a PDF