MSNBC FEATURED THE HUDSON VALLEY COWBOYS REBUILDING PROJECT- HEROES AT HOME.
BELOW IS THE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THAT DAY.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Group honors service with rebuilding project
By Alice Hunt
Poughkeepsie Journal
BEACON - While people across the nation are honoring their local veterans this weekend, one Beacon World War II veteran received a lot more than a "thank you."
Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, an organization that repairs and revitalizes homes for people in need, made renovations to veteran Joseph Ventresca's home as part of the Heroes at Home program, a partnership with Sears Holding Company that provides the materials necessary to make home modifications to improve the lives and homes of veterans and current servicemen and women.
"There have been only a handful of homes being done as part of the program," said Rebuilding Together Dutchess County board member Harold Ramsey.
About 31 projects have been approved for the fall nationwide, including the Beacon site.
At the Ventresca home, a group of about 35 volunteers - many of whom were from the Hudson Valley Cowboys semi-professional football team - replaced the roof, installed a new set of stairs to the attic and remodeled the upstairs bathroom. The workers also replaced several windows, insulated the attic for better energy use, painted several rooms and added some safety features like railings, which totals about $10,000 worth of work.
"It feels great," said Ventresca. "I appreciate it very much. They came just in time."
Ventresca had served in the Navy during World War II, and fought in the Pacific theater.
"It's so overwhelming and wonderful at the same time," said Marian "Vikki" Ventresca, Joseph's wife of 36 years.
Earlier, the couple had expressed interest in being a Rebuilding Together project, but weren't sure the house would make it through the winter. And then they heard about the Heroes at Home program, which revitalizes veterans' homes, and they applied.
"When they called up and said it's going to happen, I was speechless," Vikki Ventresca said. "I couldn't ask for a better pre-Christmas present," she said.
The Ventresca home is the third house Hudson Valley Cowboys offensive tackle Junior Luna has worked on.
"I like volunteering," Luna said. "I wouldn't be doing anything on a Saturday morning anyway."
Dan Jenkins, general manager of the Sears on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie, was also lending a helping hand.
"It has a special place in my heart," he said of the Heroes at Home program. Jenkins' father was a World War II veteran.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County also had a team working on a home of a Town of Poughkeepsie World War II veteran, a project that was sponsored by Home Depot. While not directly a part of the Heroes at Home program, the mission on both homes is similar, Ramsey said.
He hopes expand the work for veterans done in in the Dutchess County area.
"This is just the beginning," he said.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, Sears, Kmart Stores and the Hudson Valley Cowboys Partner to Improve Lives of Military Families at Home
Local Military Family Benefits from the Heroes at Home Program
Poughkeepsie, NY November 2007 – On Saturday November 10 more than 40 volunteers from the area will be renovating the home of Joseph Ventresca, in Beacon. Mr. Ventresca is a local WW2 veteran. The volunteer Team includes members of the Hudson Valley Cowboys, who for several years have participated in Rebuilding Together Dutchess County (RTDC) Projects and employees of local Sears and Kmart stores. The project is part of the national Heroes at Home program developed by Rebuilding Together and Sears Holding Corporation. The Heroes at Home program strives to improve the lives of military families in need across America by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes. The Beacon Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be providing lunch for the volunteers.
The Hudson Valley Cowboys, Sears and Kmart volunteers will be performing a “heavy” work project at the Ventresca home. The work scope requires both skilled and unskilled volunteers and includes replacing the roof, making repairs to the bath, installing some security grab bars, replacing windows as well as a clean up of the attic and yard areas. Joe “Chips” Manfredi, (Defensive tackle for the H.V.C.) is the House Captain for the project, he expects to complete the work scope in one day. Dave Dobson, executive Director of RTDC stated, “our organization is enthusiastic about this new Corporate relationship between Sears Holdings and Rebuilding Together that will give back to our veterans for their many sacrifices. We hope it continues for many years to come.”
Sears Holdings raised $1.3 million for the Heroes at Home program earlier this year through a nationwide in store campaign. The in-store fundraising effort will begin again on Veteran’s Day and continuing through the holiday season. Customers and associates will have the chance to donate and support America’s military and their families Through the Heroes at Home Program.
“We are extremely excited and proud to team with Sears and Kmart to assist military families within our community,” stated Harold Ramsey RTDC Board member and himself a veteran.
The Heroes at Home program will assist 31 families nationwide this fall and at least 100 families in the next 12 months.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County was established in 1992 and since then has provided free home repairs and modifications to over 280 Dutchess County Homeowners. The program gives priority to the low-income elderly, handicapped, veterans and single parents. To find out more about Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, their programs or how you can help please visit www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org or call 845-454-7310.
About Rebuilding Together:
Rebuilding Together is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization working to preserve homeownership and neighborhoods by providing rehabilitation services free of charge to those in need. Through the support of corporate sponsors, local businesses, and the hands-on work of a quarter-million volunteers, Rebuilding Together rehabs and repairs more than 9000 homes each year. The market value of this work is in excess of $100 million annually. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together rehabs community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on elder home safety, energy efficiency, veterans housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together has grown to 225 affiliates nationwide since it’s founding in 1988, and is now preserving safe and healthy homes in 1800 communities nationwide. Rebuilding Together celebrated the rehabilitation of its 100,000th home in 2006. For details, see www.rebuildingtogether.org or call 1-800-REHAB-9.
About Sears Holdings Corporation:
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is the nation's third largest broadline retailer, with approximately $55 billion in annual revenues, and with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart and in Canada by Sears Canada. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit Sears Holdings’ website at www.searsholdings.com.
About The Hudson Valley Cowboys:
The Hudson Valley Cowboy’s is a Semi-Pro non-profit football organization, based out of East Fishkill New York .
Their mission is to bring back and provide quality football coaching to the Dutchess County area.
Create, develop, and maintain a high quality Semi- Pro Football program that will
also foster a high level of integrity, sportsmanship, respect, and community involvement.
The men that participate in our program will be held to a High level of social and personal development. These men are expected to illustrate productive attitudes and healthy regiments as well as exude Pride, Determination, Respect, and Quality in everything on or off the field.
For more information visit The Hudson Valley Cowboys website www.hudsonvalleycowboys.com
August 7, 2007, Tuesday, 10:45am - 12:00pm.
The Hudson Valley Cowboys held a Football Clinic for the campers of the East Fishkill Children's Camp. This day was filled with many Smiles and much Joy.
Dear John,
Sorry I didn't get to say good-bye and thank you to you today. The kids absolutely loved the clinic today with you and the members of your Hudson Valley Cowboys. The hot weather did not stop them from enjoying themselves.
In the afternoon, we had our Tug of War Tournament and Dan Karst's group, who had participated in the clinic, won the tug of war contest. They were so "pumped"' from the clinic, no one could beat them.
I hope you are able to provide our campers with this clinic again next year. Thank you again.
Joyce Moroney
Camp Director
April 28, 2007
Rebuilding Together- Christmas in April project.This is a nationwide project that happens the same day across America... rebuilding homes for low income and elderly people that need some physical and financial help.
The house is in East Fishkill, New York.
The official website is www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org.
February 24, 2007, Castle Point VA Hospital Visit:
The Hudson Valley Cowboys went to Castle Point VA Hospital for Veterans Appreciation Week to play cards and games with the vets.
The SACRIFICE these Veterans gave, is the Reason we can Enjoy the Freedom that Allows us to Play the Game that we Love!
All of us that participated had such a great time! We visited residents on the spinal cord injury ward, most of them wheelchair bound. After rearranging the furniture in the community room, we had several games of poker going on and other tables with dominos and UNO. I am not sure who had a better time, the patients or us but there was plenty of fun, laughter, and jokes. Most of the players expressed an interest in going back in the near future.
November 18, 2006, Satruday, 10:00am - 5:00pm
The Hudson Valley Cowboys went back to Grandma's House to do additional work that was needed for the up coming Winter:
New door, Additional Gutters, Repaired Windows, Additional Electric, Repaired Attic Door.
July 27, 2006, Tuesday, 10:45am - 12:00pm.
The Hudson Valley Cowboys held a Football Clinic for the campers of the East Fishkill Children's Camp. This day was filled with many Smiles and much Joy.
Dear Coach J.P.,
Thank you again so much for the clinic you provided for our campers today at the East Fishkill Children's Camp. You and your staff were wonderful. The kids truly enjoyed it, despite the heat. I'm sure they came away with a lot of new techniques and information.
I hope we can do it again next year and have it on our calendar and therefore be able to have a larger amount of campers.
Thank you again.
Joyce Moroney
Camp Director
April 29th, 2006, Saturday, 8:00am-5:00pm: Rebuilding Together- Christmas in April project.This is a nationwide project that happens the same day across America... rebuilding homes for low income and elderly people that need some physical and financial help.
The house is in Stanfordville, New York.
The official website is www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org.
CLICK ON GRANDMA TO SEE PICTURES!
WRWD Bowl-a-Thon: on APRIL 2, 2006 at 2:00pm.
The Hudson Valley Cowboys participated in WRWD's Bowl-a-Thon for St Judes Hospital.
February 18th, 2006, Saturday, 1:30pm: Castle Point VA Hospital Visit- The Hudson Valley Cowboys went to Castle Point VA Hospital for Veterans Appreciation Week to play cards and games with the vets.
The SACRIFICE these Veterans gave, is the Reason we can Enjoy the Freedom that Allows us to Play the Game that we Love!
All of us that participated had such a great time! We visited residents on the spinal cord injury ward, most of them wheelchair bound. After rearranging the furniture in the community room, we had several games of poker going on and other tables with dominos and UNO. I am not sure who had a better time, the patients or us but there was plenty of fun, laughter, and jokes. Most of the players expressed an interest in going back in the near future.
