Skip to main content

Author: Joe Public

Our folks have superpowers to bless military and veteran families

Our organization formed in 2007 with some dynamic folks who love our military and that still rings true today. Here is the ground breaking in 2008. Trec Chedister had a foot on the shovel back then, and remains on our board today. We are grateful for the GREAT folks who move a lot of ground to make things happen.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — (Left to right) Trecia Chedister, Emerald Coast Fisher House founding member; Tony Hughes, Emerald Coast Fisher House board member; David Coker. President of the Fisher House Foundation; Maj. Gen. David Eidsaune, Air Armament Center commander and the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons; Congressman Jeff Miller; Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander; Robin Baily, 96th Air Base Wing Director of Staff; and Col. Tama Van Decar, 96th Medical Group commander; shoveled the first bit of earth during the groundbreaking of the Emerald Coast Fisher House. There are currently 90 Fisher Houses worldwide. Fisher Houses provide a home-away-from-home for the families of servicemembers while loved ones are receiving medical treatment at military and Veteran Affairs facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary)
Trec Chedister

Pave the Way with a commemorative brick

Help us Pave the Way to 2021 and beyond with a commemorative brick. Buy a brick, honor a loved one with a paver that lines the path to the gazebo, to hope and healing for our families and you get a cool stress brick. $100. Listen here how YOU make a difference with a brick. https://conta.cc/330MzHJ Chris Curtis was our featured speaker in 2018. What a story! https://conta.cc/3cugbk9

2020 brings opportunity to make Lemonade

We make some YUMMY lemonade from the year that is 2020…..meet Alan and Leighanne from the Village at Baytowne Wharf. They donated prized Sandestin Wine Glasses, we added a Fisher House charm AND a chance to win an electric bike all for a $20 donation to our #carecontinues campaign. Be 1 of 2,020 to give $20 this year here. https://conta.cc/3j3vEK9

What is a bling box, you ask?

What is FUNraising at Fisher House? We have FUN raising FUNDS to care for our military families. #carecontinues has bling boxes for a donation of $100. What is a bling box, I’m glad you asked. A chance to bless a military family, way important plus you get a box of surprises which includes a $40 gift card to one of 5 select restaurants who love our Fisher House. Party on Garth….in place, with a gala-2-go box from Fisher House! Get yours here.

Breaking News – WBB goes GOLD

As our home turns 10 this year, we are grateful for the partners in the community who love our military like we do. Meet Whitney Bradley Brown, also known as WBB – and this all-star cast led by James and Laura Fulton, board member and secretary Jim Yurack and his spouse Amy, and The TEAM. What a FUN group of Fisher House fans! #loveisgoodmedicine.

Breaking News – DefenseWerx goes Silver for #carecontinues 2020

Local DefenseWerx upgrades from Bronze to Silver for this year’s 2020 #carecontinues campaign.  We were hosted for a tour and learned more about their mission to support the Department of Defense.

What are they?
Established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit named in honor of James “Jimmy” Doolittle, commander of WWII’s historic Doolittle Raid, The Doolittle Institute dba DEFENSEWERX (DWX) is headquartered in Niceville, Florida.  DWX has 5 innovation hubs located across the US.  Our current hubs include Doolittle Institute in Niceville, FL, SOFWERX in Tampa, FL, MGMWERX in Montgomery, AL and ERDCWERX in Vicksburg, MS.

Watch here for a VERY informative snipet on their mission.

Hall of Fame Announcement – Teresa Halverson

Hall of Fame Announcement! At Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, ALL our board members are Super Stars and do amazing work with us and others in the community. Help us Celebrate our recent Hall of Fame awardee, Teresa Halverson. Past Chair of our board.  Teresa served an unprecedented four year term, leading our organization through a rebuild that continues to care for our military families in a big way and remains actively engaged with our mission.  Teresa was recognized for her contributions to the military community and joins an elite group of women who have made a significant impact on the residents of Okaloosa County.

Teresa Halverson

She joins Shirley Pigott, another past chair and inductee.

Each year around August 26 which is Women’s Equality Day, the commission hosts a special reception to recognize the new inductees. Photos of the women are in Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame are displayed perpetually at the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Building, the Niceville City Council Chambers and in the Crestview Courthouse. Inductees come from all walks of life, races, educational levels and contribute to our county from many, many areas.

2020 Field of Valor

2020 Field of Valor New Release

Once again the Niceville Exchange Club will host the Field of Valor (FOV) at the Boggy Bayou Festival field in Niceville. Due to the COVID-19 virus, the FOV will be open for only one day (11 Sept 20). The opening ceremony will be held at 11:00 September 11th and flags will be flown for  those men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan since 9/11/2001 from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay Counties and the 7th Special Forces Group(Airborne) members who were killed there since last year’s ceremony.  Sponsored flags will also be flown in recognition of eligible veterans.  The field will remain up until 4 P.M. on the 11th. Colonel Kevin Trajillo, Deputy Commanding Officer 7th Special Forces Group(Airborne) and General Patt Manney will be speakers.

Anyone wishing to attend is strongly encouraged to social distance or wear a mask. For further information or to sponsor a flag, please contact Paul McShane at 850-225-0412.

William Moomaw

President Niceville Exchange Club

850-376-6153

wmoomaw@yahoo.com

Be Like Rick.

It’s Thankful Thursday ya’ll as we near our 10th birthday celebration with #carecontinues. Many times our community comes up with creative ways to do what they love to do professionally and bless our families. Meet Rick Gonzalez, a Realtor who gives back. Be like Rick. He dedicated a percentage of commissions from his Hero Program to our Fisher House. #loveisgoodmedicine Need a good Real Estate Professional who invests in his community? Choose Rick, and be like Rick!

Crane Aerospace and Electronics leads the way with Title Sponsorship

On this Thankful Thursday, we are practicing an attitude of gratitude for the many partners in the community who love our military like we do. Crane Aerospace and Electronics joined us last year at the Helping Heroes Gala, and after hearing our featured speaker Bobby Dove, they signed up BIGGER for 2020. They presented their BIG love offering this week. We love our Crane family who make the donation from their Crane Family Fund.  Learn more about Bobby here.