Stewart Partnership Aims to Help Wounded Army Veteran
March 15, 2012
Stewart Title Guaranty Co. has partnered with HelpingaHero.org and ABC television’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EM:HE) to build a custom home for a wounded U.S. Army veteran, and assisted in helping the charity’s goal of raising more than $1.1 million for additional homebuilding projects to benefit injured military personnel and their families.
Through Stewart’s philanthropic program, Community of Sharing, more than 1,900 associates of the company’s independent agencies participated to raise more than $42,000, exceeding Stewart’s $35,000 donation goal, to help make home ownership possible for one wounded veteran, Staff Sergeant Shilo Harris, USA (Ret.).
As part of its contribution to the effort, Stewart Title also coordinated a mortgage payoff and clear title for Harris’ previous home. In addition, HelpingaHero.org and EMHE hosted a VIP fundraiser, which raised more than $1.1 million. Funds will be used to pay off the mortgage on the Harris family’s new dream home and support 10 additional homebuilding projects to be undertaken by HelpingaHero.org this year. The project will be featured next December as one of four special holiday episodes that will conclude the successful television series.
“Stewart Title is proud to have worked side-by-side with our network of independent title agencies, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and HelpingaHero.org to help support our wounded veterans who have given so much to this country,” said George Houghton, Stewart’s group president, agency operations. “It’s always rewarding to help families get into their adapted dream homes, and it was especially so in this case as evidenced by the tremendous outpouring of support from our independent agencies who were inspired by this hero.”
Harris, a third generation Army veteran, was severely injured in Iraq when an explosive device hit his truck and burned more than 40 percent of his body. Even after numerous surgeries and an extensive recovery time, Harris continues to have issues with regulating his body temperature and breathing that were difficult to contend with in the mobile home he shared with his wife and children. His new home, which will be revealed to viewers in December, features an air filtration and conditioning system which will help ease his health challenges due to his extensive burns.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.