Project H.E.R.O.

Project H.E.R.O. Initiatives Underway

Code Council CEO Rick Weiland (seated‚ center)‚ who also serves as ICC Foundation Board President‚ and Rebuilding Together President/CEO Gary Officer (seated, right) sign a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on the Project H.E.R.O. program. Also present are ICC and Foundation Board member Barbara Koffron (seated, left)‚ ICC COO and Foundation Board Treasurer Dominic Sims (standing left)‚ ICCF Managing Consultant Leslie Chapman-Henderson and Rebuilding Together Director of Veterans Housing T.J. Cantwell.

Project H.E.R.O. (Homes Eliminated of Restrictions and Obstacles) is an innovative program with a goal to improve the lives of disabled veterans across America by combining the volunteer spirit and expertise of the International Code Council and Foundation with the home rehabilitation expertise of Rebuilding Together and its dedicated Veterans Services Department. H.E.R.O. initiatives are underway in Kansas and New York while other projects are being planned in Arizona and Florida.

One Project H.E.R.O. initiative is being led by members of the Heart of America Chapter, who are assisting a severely injured Iraq veteran. The ICC chapter began working with the veteran's family earlier this year and Rebuilding Together was able to obtain materials to complete the project. Chapter President Tina Rakes and the volunteer team hosted an open house during December to showcase the finished product to local media.

Another upcoming project will assist a 95-year-old World War II veteran in Long Island, New York, who recently had his leg amputated. The veteran needs a wheelchair ramp installed at his home and will soon receive one thanks to the efforts of the local Long Island Rebuilding Together chapter and Nassau County Code Council members and families.

One project was completed in Tampa, Florida, that assisted Katie Kruger, an Army veteran, and her 12-year-old son Josh who has multiple sclerosis. H.E.R.O. volunteers worked together to provide Katie and Jon with improvements and general upkeep on their home.

ICC members in Arizona are in talks with Rebuilding Together to identify new ways to collaborate in the future. If you are interested in getting involved with Project H.E.R.O., contact T.J. Cantwell at Rebuilding.