Soldier’s Send-Off Raises $1000 for Fisher Houses

Rhode Island Citizens Help Fund Lodging for
Family Members Near Military Hospitals.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        Contact Marna Krajeski (401) 487-2584
                                                                            Marna@HouseholdBaggage.com

(Wakefield, RI, September 21, 2006) A group of South County, Rhode Island residents contributed nearly $1,000 to the Fisher House Foundation in honor of Armed Forces Day on May 20. The fundraiser grew out of a send-off for Army Lieutenant Colonel Paul Krajeski before his deployment to the Middle East. It was attended by locals and members of the University of Rhode Island community who had worked with Krajeski in the ROTC department over the last four years.

“As part of the send-off, we asked our friends to donate to the Fisher House Foundation, and they opened their hearts and their checkbooks. We were thrilled but not surprised by their generosity,” said Krajeski’s wife, Marna. She added that the event also served as a book launch for her recently released collection of stories about military life, HOUSEHOLD BAGGAGE: THE MOVING LIFE OF A SOLDIER’S WIFE (Wyatt-Mackenzie, May 2006).

“Two dollars from the sale of each book that evening went to the Fisher House Foundation,” Marna Krajeski said. The book is available now online and at retail outlets.

Fisher Houses offer low-cost lodging located near major military and VA medical centers. Active duty military and family members can stay in a home-like environment and be close to a loved one at the most stressful times—during hospitalization for an illness, disease, or injury. Annually, the Fisher Houses across the country and abroad serve more than 8,500 families.

“We are delighted to receive this very generous donation honoring Colonel Krajeski,” said Fisher House Foundation vice president Jim Weiskopf.  “We continue to make support to service men and women wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan and their families our highest priority.  By the end of this year, we will have built five new Fisher Houses, each with a mission of supporting combat casualties.  This could not be done without the support of organizations and individuals who make all this possible.”

Fisher Houses rely entirely primarily on donations to operate. Since the foundation only began its work in 1990, many people still do not know about it. “We felt honored to advocate for this worthy cause and I hope the support continues,” Lieutenant Colonel Krajeski said. Interested people can find out more at www.FisherHouse.org.