MEDIA RELEASE Lake Ronkonkoma Ground Breaking
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact : Lois Fricke: 631-232-2345; e-mail: lois@lihbc.org
GROUNDBREAKING EVENT FOR NEW HOME FOR RETURNING IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WAR VETERAN
Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp., a Charitable Arm of the Long Island Builders Institute, Builds Their Second Home for Middle Island Purple Heart Recipient through Their ” Building New Homes for Returning Veterans” Program
For Immediate Release: June 7, 2012
On Wednesday, June 6, 2012, more than 150 people gathered together in support of returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran receiving an affordable new home. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in a charming neighborhood in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, to commence the construction of Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp.’s second home in their “Building New Homes for Returning Veterans” program. The future owner of this home is Purple Heart recipient, Marine Sergeant Ryan Donnelly.
Sergeant Donnelly’s finished home will be a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, full basement ranch, with an attached garage, and will be customized to fit the needs of this heroic veteran. The opportunity to build this home is made possible through the donation of land transferred from the Suffolk County 72-H program to the Town of Brookhaven, which in turn donated the land to Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp. along with donations and/or reduced charges for materials and labor. The estimated completion of the home is November, 2012. In addition, Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp. are working together to make the house as energy efficient as possible. The final house will save Sergeant Donnelly thousands of dollars in energy costs over the next ten years.
Sergeant Donnelly served in the United States Marine Corps. from 2002 through 2006. Donnelly was deployed on two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. During his last tour in Iraq, while on patrol in Fallujah, his Humvee struck an IED. He was severely wounded and received a Purple Heart for his actions during the attack. Even though he had to undergo almost two years of rehabilitation, Sergeant Donnelly has proven to be as courageous in his civilian life as his military life. Since 2007, he has been working with the Long Island Plumbers Union Local 200, and is currently in the fourth year of five year apprenticeship program. Along with him is his fiancée, Tina McGrory, a veteran of the United States Army, who is working toward becoming a Registered Nurse.
Sergeant Donnelly was chosen to receive this new home by a panel of six Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) commanders, namely VFW Post 2649 Commander Joe Cognitore, VFW State Jr. Vice Commander John Mauro, VFW Past County Commander Sid Lynn, DAV Commander Bob Smith.
Speaking at the event was Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko, Deputy Supervisor and Councilwoman Kathy Walsh, LIPA’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Hervey, VFW Post 2649 Commander Joe Cognitore, LIHBCDC President Tom Datre, LIHBCDC Vice President Mark Baisch, LIHBCDC Director of Development Lois Fricke, Long Island Builders Institute President, Clara Datre, and Long Island Builders Institute CEO Mitchell Pally. Also present was Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer, Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy, Brookhaven Receiver of Taxes Louis Marcoccia, Mayor of Islandia Allan Dorman, Suffolk County Director of Affordable Housing and Community Development Jill Rosen-Nikoloff, the six Commanders of the VFW selection panel, other members of the VFW, members of the UA Plumbers Local Union #200, members of the Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI), other invited guests, and residents of the neighborhood.
Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp. is a 501-(c)(3) charitable arm of the Long Island Builders Institute. Long island Home Builders Care Development Corp. plans on building many more “Building New Homes for Returning Veterans” and is looking for veterans who would like to own their own home to apply for this program. We welcome any monetary donations of lands, materials or labor to help us achieve our mission of “Building New Homes for Returning Veterans”.
LONG ISLAND HOME BUILDERS CARE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
1757-8 Veterans Memorial Highway., Islandia, NY 11749.
Tel: 631-232-2345 www.lihbc.org Email: lois@lihbc.org
