As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, I find myself reflecting on what it means to build something that lasts—beyond buildings and into purpose, beyond structures and into places that carry people through some of the hardest moments of their lives.
Fisher House Foundation was built on a simple but powerful belief: families should not have to worry about where they will stay when a loved one is injured or seriously ill while receiving military or veteran care.
My uncle, Zach Fisher, brought that belief to life. Zach was a builder by trade and by instinct. He understood construction, but more importantly, he understood responsibility. When he learned that military families often had nowhere to stay while their loved ones were hospitalized, he didn’t see a distant problem, he saw something that needed to be solved.
The same perspective runs deep in our family history. My uncle and his brothers started as bricklayers, working job to job and learning every part of the trade from the ground up. Over time, they became developers and builders of major projects in New York City, but they never lost that hands-on mindset. If something needed to be done, they found a way to do it.
That mindset shaped Fisher House.
In 1990, Zach decided to act. He used his own resources to help create the first Fisher Houses near military medical centers. The idea was straightforward: build comfortable, free places for families to stay close to their loved ones during treatment. From that first step, the foundation began to grow.
Today, Fisher House provides lodging and support for hundreds of thousands of families. Nearly 600,000 families have stayed in Fisher Houses, saving them hundreds of millions of dollars in travel and lodging costs. The true impact, however, is measured in moments that cannot be quantified.
It’s a parent sitting beside a hospital bed without the added stress of a hotel bill. It’s children staying close to a wounded parent. It’s families finding strength in being together during uncertainty.
Over time, our work expanded beyond housing. Programs like Hero Miles, Hotels for Heroes, and scholarship support for military spouses and children all stem from the same guiding principle: when families have a need connected to care and service, we work to meet it.
We have learned that building extends far beyond structure. It requires thoughtful design rooted in real life. Fisher Houses are created to feel like homes, with private spaces when needed and shared kitchens and common areas that bring comfort through connection. No two houses are identical because no two communities are the same. Each one reflects the people it serves and the place it belongs.
Every project has also shaped how we build the next. Accessibility became a priority early on, and today every Fisher House is designed so that anyone can use it comfortably. Elevators, wider spaces, and intentional layouts are fundamental to the design.
None of this happens alone. It takes people who understand both construction and mission. Partners like 84 Lumber play an important role in bringing these homes to life, ensuring that quality materials and experienced hands are part of every build. Since 2019, 84 Lumber has donated millions of dollars supporting Fisher House Foundation. That partnership includes materials, resources, and the practical expertise required to build each home the right way.
When people on a job site understand the purpose behind what they are building, it changes the work. It carries a different level of pride and responsibility, and it shows in the final result.
That perspective matters because Fisher House exists to honor service and support the families who carry sacrifices most of us will never fully see.
As we approach Memorial Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States, I think about the foundation this country was built on—service, sacrifice, and commitment.
Those same values continue to guide Fisher House today.
Every home stands as a reminder that gratitude is something you put into action. One family at a time. One home at a time. And as long as there are families who need support, we will keep building.