Fisher House 2017 Annual Report

FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION, INC. 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

OUR MISSION Fisher House Foundation, Inc. is an international not-for-profit organization established to improve the quality of life for members of the military, retirees, veterans and their families.

The Foundation builds comfort homes at military and VA medical centers and gifts them to the government. It assists with the coordination of private support and encourages public support for the network of comfort homes known as “Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Houses.” It works to educate and inform the military and veterans’ communities, their families and the general public about Fisher Houses and provides necessary support to individual Fisher Houses as needed. Other Quality of Life programs include scholarship programs, a grants program for volunteer organizations with innovative plans for quality of life projects, the “Hero Miles” and “Hotels for Heroes” programs and individual assistance to members of the military and their families during a crisis.

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LETTER FROM KEN FISHER Dear Friends: What a wonderful year for the Fisher House program. With your support, the 75th Fisher House was opened and another milestone was reached—1,000+ families can now call Fisher House home on any given night. Along with the increase in the number of houses, the size of the house has also increased. What began as an eight-room-suite home, is now built with up to 21 suites. The kitchens and common areas are twice as large as earlier homes and specially designed to foster a community of friendship and healing.

With the addition of new Fisher Houses in Charleston, SC; Keesler Air Force Base, MS; West Haven, CT; and Houston, TX, the program annually provides more than 30,000 families lodging and has provided nearly eight million nights of lodging to families since 1990.

Fisher House continues to effectively steward the funds that have been entrusted to us. We were honored this year to receive a 14th consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing Fisher House in the top one percent of nonprofits monitored.

Ken Fisher

Yet, what touches me the most are the tributes from the families we are so privileged to serve, like this one from Vicki Carter, on the cover, the mother of an airman who lost her leg. “In your darkest hours, when you think you have nowhere to turn, Fisher House offers a glimmer of hope. It was like a hand reaching down and pulling you up. You knew it was going to be okay.”

All the numbers in the world could not add up to this touching sentiment: Thank you for your support and commitment to the Fisher House families.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Kenneth Fisher Chairman & CEO Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

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2017 IMPACT l

30,941 Families served by Fisher House

CONSTRUCTION

OUR SUPPORTERS

At the heart of Fisher House Foundation’s mission is

At Fisher House, we strive to maintain the highest

our homes for military and veterans’ families. In 2017 we

financial responsibility to the thousands of donors

added Fisher Houses at the following locations:

who support us each year. For the 14th consecutive

o Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center—Houston, TX (third house)

year, the Foundation received a four-star rating from

o Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center—Charleston, SC

Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. The Foundation also holds an A+ rating from charitywatch.org, an online charity

o Keesler Air Force Base—Biloxi, MS (second house)

ratings guide distributed by the nationally prominent

o VA Connecticut Healthcare System—West Haven, CT

charity watchdog service, the American Institute of Philanthropy.

1,000 families Daily lodging capacity

$47 million

Construction is ongoing for homes at:

In 2017, individuals contributed 40 percent of Fisher

o James J. Peters VA Medical Center—Bronx, NY (two houses)

House Foundation’s total revenue. With 12 percent

o James A. Haley VA Medical Center—Tampa, FL (second house)

received from organizations including foundations,

o Orlando VA Medical Center—FL

In-kind contributions equated to 11 percent of total

o Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson—Anchorage, AK (second house)

awarded by the U.S. government, 37 percent was corporations, and nongovernmental organizations. revenue.

2017 CONSTITUENT SUPPORT

o Dayton VA Medical Center—OH

In-Kind: 11%

Saved costs to families in lodging and transportation

Individuals: 40%

Foundation: 21%

100,969

Corporate: 11%

Volunteer hours Government: 12%

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NPOs: 5%

HERO MILES

HOTELS FOR HEROES

TELLING OUR STORY

The Hero Miles program uses donated airline

The Hotels for Heroes program uses donated hotel

RADIO

frequent flyer miles to bring loved ones to the

points to provide hotel rooms to families of wounded,

Fisher House Foundation maintains powerful partnerships

bedside of wounded, injured and ill service

injured and ill military service members who are

with the nation’s radio stations. Created in-house, Fisher

members.

undergoing treatment at authorized medical centers

House Foundation’s Memorial Day show for news/talk

when a Fisher House room is not available.

stations told the story of Congressman Brian Mast, who lost both legs in Afghanistan and went on to continue serving his country in DC. Meanwhile, more than 100

2017 IMPACT:

leading country stations and iHeartRadio ran Holiday

Tickets: 4,826

2017 IMPACT:

Cost savings to families: $3,561,466

Nights of lodging: 4,081

legend host Chris Young. The estimated value of the

Cost savings to families: $777,332

donated airtime for all four shows was nearly $2.5 million.

SINCE PROGRAM INCEPTION IN 2004:

Families served: 1,312

Numbers of tickets booked: 70,834 Cost savings to families: $105,172,163

SINCE PROGRAM INCEPTION IN 2012: Nights of lodging: 14,974

AIRLINE PARTNERS: Alaska Airlines

programming with songs and storytelling by country

NEWS STORIES More than 10,600 news stories mentioned Fisher House Foundation in 2017. Impressions amounted to more than 20.9 billion views by individuals.

Cost savings to families: $2,510,935 Families served: 4,888

American Airlines

Stories ran on Fox & Friends, both TV and online, AP Broadcast, Bethesda Magazine, Tampa Bay Times, Stars and Stripes, AARP Magazine, Tucson local TV and

Delta Air Lines

HOTEL PARTNERS:

newspaper, Chronicle of Philanthropy and Phoenix New

Frontier Airlines

AmericInn

Times, to name just a few.

United Airlines

Best Western

Fisher House Foundation also had coverage in key national

Choice Hotels

golf trades for the World’s Largest Golf Outing, including

Hilton

American Golfer, Golf Advisor and Golf Now. Additionally,

La Quinta Inns and Suites

the top golf markets were identified and 11 stories were

Marriott

placed in publications across the country.

Wyndham

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SINCE 1990 l

335,000+ Families served in Fisher Houses

FAMILY SUPPORT

INVICTUS GAMES

WARRIOR GAMES

Fisher House Foundation was a proud sponsor of the

For the 8th year, Fisher House Foundation supported

Invictus Games Toronto 2017. The Invictus Games

the Warrior Games, a week-long competition where

are the only international adaptive sporting event for

more than 200 wounded, injured and ill service mem-

wounded, injured and ill military and veterans. The

bers and veterans competed in Paralympic sports

Games featured 550 athletes from 17 nations and

in Chicago, IL. Additionally, the Foundation ran the

countless families who joined them to share in their

Warrior Games Family Program and provided Hero

recovery and successes.

Miles flights to families of participating athletes, to ensure they were able to attend the games. Fisher House is often present during a medical crisis, and we

8 million+

are honored to help bring families together during the triumphs as well.

Number of lodging days offered

76 Number of Fisher Houses

$407 million Saved costs to families in lodging and transportation

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Photo at left: Heather Carter serves during sitting volleyball at the Warrior Games in Chicago. Photo above: Fisher House Trustee Lynne Pace and Chief of Staff Mary Considine congratulate Anthony Pone on his Invictus wins.

SCHOLARSHIPS

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

evening program included special remarks by Joint

In its 17th year, the Scholarships for Military Children

TEAM FISHER HOUSE

Staff Vice Director for Operations, Rear Admiral

Program awarded 700 scholarships to sons and

2017 marked Team Fisher House’s 12th year. More than

Andrew Lewis, USN and was emceed by Fisher House

daughters of active, retired or reserve military

400 dedicated runners raised $620k and engaged

Board of Trustee and CNN Correspondent, Kyra Phil-

members, for a total of $1.4 million. The Heroes’

thousands of new donors. This year the Team Signa-

lips and FOX News Chief White House Correspondent,

Legacy Program provided $1.45 million in grants to

ture Races included Army Ten-Miler, Marine Corps

John Roberts. The event committee successfully

290 children of service members killed or severely

Marathon, Star Wars™ Half Marathon—The Dark Side

raised $750,000-plus in support of the construction

disabled since September 11th, 2001. The Foundation

races, and the TCS New York City Marathon.

of the Connecticut Fisher House.

contributed $200,000 to the National Military Family Association (NMFA) to provide scholarships to military spouses. In addition to its own scholarship programs, Fisher House Foundation provides a free online scholarship search engine to help military families identify other scholarships, grants and funding resources for higher education.

FISHER HOUSE GOLF CLASSIC The 14th Annual Fisher House Golf Classic was held on May 8, 2017 at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, VA. Wounded warriors, Fisher House families and Medal of Honor recipients joined corporate VIPs on the golf course. The morning program included remarks by Gold Star Mother Jan Edens and Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Florent Groberg, USA (Ret.). The

Left: Team Fisher House volunteers cheer on runners throughout the Marine Corps Marathon course in Washington, DC. Above: Dale Beatty, an avid golfer and Fisher House trustee, takes a swing during the 2017 Golf Classic.

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ELIZABETH’S CIRCLE PRESIDENTIAL DONORS ($1,000,000 +) Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Fisher House of Greater Cleveland, Inc. Greener Pastures Foundation Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.

PLATINUM DONORS ($500,000–$999,999) Delta Air Lines USAA Foundation, Inc.

GOLD DONORS ($100,000–$499,999)

Zachary and his wife, Elizabeth, are the founders of the Fisher House program. In the early years, Elizabeth and Zachary personally funded the first houses. Fisher House Foundation proudly recognizes the individuals and organizations who help to continue Zachary and Elizabeth, including those listed on these pages, and the thousands more who gave in 2017.

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Anonymous (2) AUSA - Aberdeen Chapter Barbara W. Gomez Trust Bernice Elbin Revocable Trust Billy Casper Golf - World’s Largest Golf Outing Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation Capital One Services, LLC Car Donation Foundation Cardinal Health Foundation Shirley E. Cobb Estate of Anna M. Preston Estate of Bernard M. Mollner Estate of Clarence O. Sauer Estate of Mary E. O’Connor Estate of Mary Y. Moore Estate of Melbourne M. Schmidt Estate of Rita M. Cea Fisher House Michigan Fisher House of Alaska Friends of Arizona Fisher House Jumping Mouse Foundation Kahlert Foundation, Inc. Kristen M. Lienemann Irrevocable Trust La Quinta Inns & Suites Laurence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation

James McGinity Oath, Inc. Oshkosh Corporation Richard and Karen MacLeod Charitable Lead Annuity Trust SAP Semper Fi Fund Sergey Brin Family Foundation William R. Shepard Shipley Foundation Tennessee Fisher House Foundation, Inc. United Airlines Foundation United Rentals United Technologies Corporation VFW - Post 1156 Wiley Rein, LLP Wohlers Family Foundation

SILVER DONORS ($50,000–$99,999) 2017 Gingerbread Ball Anonymous Judith Best Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation Clifford & LaVonna Graese Foundation Costco Wholesale EcoMedia - A CBS Company Elite Hearing Network Barbara J. Erickson Estate of Frank Alberti Fisher Brothers Foundation Friends of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House FoodTec Solutions, Inc. H-E-B Infor Corp.

ISEC Foundation Lamb Family Foundation Legal & General America, Inc. Leonardo DRS Lockheed Martin - MS2 - Integrated Defense Technologies

MCS Charitable Foundation Eugene Morrison Motorola Solutions Foundation Margaret M. Murphy Jack Nickert Overseas Service Corporation Richard & Norma Sarns Richard E. Capri Foundation Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP Robert H. Smythe State of New York Office of the Attorney General Tee It Up For The Troops, Inc. TGF Educating Heroes Inc. The Biella Foundation The Glenn and Janice McCoy Family Foundation The Kevin & Bean Show-KROQ Radio The Mark and Joanne Webb Philanthropic Fund The Randi & Clifford Lane Foundation, Inc. The Wasily Family Foundation Trostrud Charitable Fund WJO Foundation Wainwright Terminating Trust Wakefern Food Corporation - ShopRite LPGA Walter N. & Alberta H. Drake Foundation Wildflower Foundation, Inc. William Thompson

PATRIOT DONORS ($25,000–$49,999) 522 Foundation, Inc. Acosta Sales and Marketing Mark Aitken-Cade Allstate Alorica, Inc. Anonymous (2) Arconic Foundation Avineon, Inc. Axiom Resource Management, Inc. Belvedere Vodka Bergen Foundation Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide Sandy Boyce Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Commerce Trust Co. Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation, Inc. DELTA Resources, Inc. Divot Charities Don Schaff + Friends, Inc. Dorothy D. Smith Charitable Foundation EJ Foley, Inc. Eye Productions, Inc. John Faloon Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange FedEx Global Disbursements Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, Inc. Fuzzy’s Spirits LLC Leslie Goldberg Good Nation Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys Harlan Family Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Help Our Wounded Hickel Family Trust IBM Employee Services Center Intalere Isidore C. & Penny W. Myers Foundation Philanthropic Fund

James M. & Margaret V. Stine Foundation Kathryn J. Dinardo Fund L. A. T Sportswear, Inc. Donald C. Lewis Linden Root Dickinson Foundation Gordon McKernan National Football League Players Association Neal C. Nichols Foundation, Inc. OdysseyRe Foundation George L. Olsen Orchard Supply Hardware O’Shea Family Foundation Others First PRNT, LLC. Pepsi Quest Diagnostics Reinicke Family Trust ReSound North America Robert Nightangle Jr. Trust Samsung Electronics America Amy Schumer James Seiberlich William Shufflebotham Soule Foundation SpartanNash Foundation Christopher Spathelf Superfeet Worldwide, Inc. Sutter Health Sysco/Hilton Supply Management Golf Event The Mark P. Norman Charitable Lead Annuity Trust The Scoob Trust Foundation The Sheppard Foundation The Wine Group, LLC. United Concordia Veterans United Foundation Wellington Management Company, LLP Matching Gift Program Wells Fargo Foundation

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FRIENDS OF FISHER HOUSE COMMUNITY GROUPS

FINANCIAL STATEMENT EXCERPT

There are 34 independent 501c(3) nonprofits across the country that work in concert with Fisher House Foundation, the military services, and Veterans Affairs to support the Fisher House at their local military hospital or VA medical center. These groups help raise money and awareness for the construction of new Fisher Houses in their region, as well as provide assistance to their local Fisher House once it opens.

REVENUE & EXPENSES JANUARY 1, 2017—DECEMBER 31, 2017 SUPPORT & REVENUE

COMMUNITY GROUPS SUPPORTING EXISTING HOUSES Andrews AFB Fisher House, Inc. Denver Fisher House Foundation Fisher House Charleston Fisher House in St Louis Fisher House Inc. and Wilford Hall Fisher House of Boston, Inc. Fisher House of the Emerald Coast Fisher House Southern California Inc. Fisher House Wisconsin Fisher Nightingale Houses, Inc. Friends of Cincinnati Fisher House Friends of Fisher House Connecticut Friends of Fisher House Houston Friends of Fisher House Illinois Friends of Fisher House Orlando Friends of Fisher House, Inc. Friends of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House

Friends of Travis Fisher House Gainesville Fisher House Foundation Nevada Veterans Foundation Pittsburgh Fisher House Richmond Fisher House Tennessee Fisher House Foundation The Fisher House of Keesler, Inc West LA Fisher House Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher House of Alaska, Inc.

COMMUNITY GROUPS SUPPORTING FUTURE FISHER HOUSE CONSTRUCTION Fisher House Michigan Fisher House of Columbia, Inc., SC Friends of FH Southern Louisiana Friends of Lexington Fisher House Friends of the Bronx Fisher House Greater Cleveland Fisher House New Mexico Fisher House Group

Contributions 49,541,993 Special Events (net of expenses) Donated Goods, Services & Media Time Interest & Dividend Income Total Support & Revenue

1,697,529 5,468,999 206,364 56,914,885

EXPENSES Programming Services

52,521,836

Management & General

2,779,040

Fundraising 1,374,933 Total Expenses Change in Net Assets

56,675,809 239,076

NET ASSETS Beginning of 2017

80,390,053

End of 2017

80,629,129

2017 EXPENSES Program Expenses 92.67% Administrative 4.9% Fundraising 2.43%

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOUNDERS

TRUSTEES

Zachary Fisher (1910-1999)

Gerry Byrne

Elizabeth M. Fisher (1913-2004)

Paul W. Bucha General Michael P.C. Carns, USAF (Ret.)

OFFICERS

James W. Carrier

Kenneth Fisher Chairman and CEO

Cecily M. Carson

Arnold Fisher Vice Chairman

Lieutenant General John A. Dubia, USA (Ret.)

Audrey Fisher Vice Chairman

Tammy Fisher

Winston Fisher Vice Chairman

Barbara Gentry

Nancy Edelman Vice Chairman

Lieutenant General Charles S. Mahan, USA (Ret.)

John W. Lowe Vice President & Secretary

Bruce Mosler

David D. Fox CFO and Treasurer

Mary Jo Myers

Patricia L. Courter Martin L. Edelman Crystal Fisher “Ranger” Mark Jones David J. McIntyre, Jr. General Richard B. Myers, USAF (Ret.) Lynne Pace Kyra Phillips

IN MEMORIUM Staff Sergeant Dale Beatty, USANG (Ret.) (1978-2018)

Congressman Brian Mast and his family stayed at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Fisher House during his arduous rehabilitation after losing his legs to an IED.

Suzie Schwartz Lieutenant General Martin R. Steele, USMC (Ret.) Gail Berry West Montel Williams ADVISORY COMMITTEE Lynne Pace, Chairman Erin Mosely Jack Nickert William Pope Denzel Washington Pauletta Washington

FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP David A. Coker President Mary B. Considine Chief of Staff Kerri Childress Vice President, Communications Denise Dolan Chief Advancement Officer Brian Gawne Vice President, Community Relations Tish Stropes Vice President, Strategic Partnerships James Weiskopf Vice President, Consultant

Gail Berry West

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Charleston, SC Fisher House

Fisher House Foundation, Inc. 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 410 Rockville, MD 20852-1650 (888) 294-8560 info@fisherhouse.org

www.fisherhouse.org