My name is Bill Citelli and I am the Chairman of the Board for the Middle Tennessee Fisher House Foundation and the SE Division Fisher House Chairman and I am here to help you.

What Is a Fisher House and why should the Southeast Division support ALL Fisher Houses everywhere? That is a great question with an easy answer. The answer is because we are Marine Veterans, we lead the way and someday our family or other Veterans we know may need this home to be near a loved one in a time of trouble. So for those of you not in the know I will tell you what a Fisher House is.

 The Fisher House™ program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.

There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves about 10,000 families, and have made available nearly 3 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. By law, there is no charge for any family to stay at a Fisher House operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Fisher House Foundation uses donations to reimburse the individual Fisher Houses operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. No family pays to stay at any Fisher House!

So now you have the corporate view on the Fisher House. Now let me tell you what really happens. Just what it says!! There is no charge; they provide everything from food and clothing to laundry facilities and a play area for the kids. Once you get the key to your room it is your house to do as you please. The best part is you are not alone, you can be by yourself or if you choose converse with other people going through the same situations.
All Veterans living more than 50 miles from the VA Hospital they are going to receive treatment at can stay at a Fisher House without any time restraints. One day or six months it is there for you and your family. There are 43 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and 12 VA medical centers. In our Division alone there are 3 in Florida, 1 in Georgia and 1 in Mississippi.

There are 2 more slated to be built in Florida, 1 in Georgia, 1 in Tennessee and 1 in Alabama. These homes cost an average of 4 million dollars each. The DOD pays for the homes on a military Base but those going on a VA Facility must be paid for by a 50 -50 split between the Fisher House Foundation in Maryland and the local Fisher House Foundation.
Remember Marines, these Homes are for all Veterans and Military Families no matter what state they are from so it is important that we as Marines support them all. The Home here in Tennessee that I am Chairman of the Board for got it’s first contribution from a Marine Corps League Detachment and then the Department of Tennessee. As usual the Marines lead the way.

I am here to pass on any information I have to you and for your project. I can be reached at 615-653-0975 or at garlicbear@comcast.net .

Semper Fi,

Bill Citelli