Industry rallies for injured vet

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jay Fondren and his family were officially welcomed to their new R.I.S.E. specially adapted smart home in Texas, a gift of the Gary Sinise Foundation

Jay Fondren lost both of his legs and suffered other severe wounds from a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004. “This home will not only help Jay to regain independence and mobility that was lost as a result of his injuries but will also ease his reliance on his family. We wish them a lifetime of blessings and happiness in their forever home,” wrote the foundation.

The Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, Fondren will live in the house mortgage-free with his wife and six children.

Among the two dozen companies that donated time or resources for the project were a handful of familiar industry names. The list includes: US LBM Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, Owens Corning, Benjamin Moore, Huber Engineered Woods, Broan, Daltile, and Rheem Manufacturing.