Statements

Mission

At Operation Finally Home, we provide homes and home modifications to America's military Heroes, first responders and the widows of the fallen who have sacrificed so much in service to country and community. We bring together corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers to help these Heroes and their families by addressing one of their most pressing needs - a place to call home

Background

Operation Finally Home was established in 2005 as a nonpartisan/nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and has already had a significant impact across the country. To date, we have over 380 home projects completed or in planning in over 30 states. While we are very proud of the work we have been able to do, we are keenly aware that there is much more to be done.

Our Founder, Dan Wallrath was a custom home builder in Texas for 30 years. In that time he served on numerous boards within the building industry, including the board of directors of the National Association of Home Builders, Texas Association of Builders and the Greater Houston Builders Association, and he was president of the Bay Area Builders Association. Dan was also recognized as the "Custom Builder of the Year" by the Greater Houston Builders Association and the Bay Area Builders Association.

Following a request to remodel the home of a wounded Marine in 2005, Dan was able to work with his community and provide the home to the family at no cost. Dan then founded Operation Finally Home. Dan was named a CNN Hero in 2010 and was the guest of honor of Marine Corps Commandant General James F. Amos at the Marine Corps Sunset Parade hosted at the War Memorial in Washington, D.C.in 2013. He was also featured in a CNN documentary about Operation Finally Home in December 2013.

In 2016, Dan published "Building Hope: What Happens When God Changes Our Plans to Accomplish His" which is the story of Dan's journey as he followed his call to serve America's military heroes, starting with a team of one and growing to lead one of the nation's most respected non-profit organizations serving U.S. veterans. This inspirational memoir reveals how stepping out in faith turned into a lifetime commitment to build homes for those who have sacrificed while wearing America's uniform in defense of our freedoms and our way of life.

Impact

To date, we have completed or in the process of completing over 380 homes in over 30 states.

Our goal is to complete at least 30 home projects per year, serving 120 new family members annually

Secure new builder and remodeler partners

Increase major gifts/donors by at least 10% per year

Enhance veteran outreach in targeted areas with key VSO's

Identify and enhance efficiency through improved workflow (IT system)

Needs

1. Secure an additional national builder

2. Identify major donor targets

3. Enhanced visibility of veteran candidates

4. Secure funding to establish 2-3 years of reserves

5. Secure funding to establish endowment.

CEO Statement

Operation Finally Home, although 17 years old in 2022, is coming into a new, intensely strategic growth phase. Since 2020 we have averaged completing 40 projects per year and prior to that we averaged completing 25 home projects per year. As the need for service to our wounded, ill, or injured veterans and first responders increases, so too is interest and response growing among builders across our great nation and among donors who seek to honor and thank those who were the uniform in service of our country.

We have grown from a staff of two to the current staff of twelve, focused on completing 40 home projects in 2022. Our goal is to continue to meet the need where it is by completing 30-40 projects per year and to grow organically as the need arises to complete 50 plus home projects per year. This requires additional national building partner to join our current partners and it requires extreme diligence in finding and serving the veterans who most need the blessing of a mortgage-free home and home modification.

Across the country, donors are also responding dramatically. We have successfully completed 271 homes, modifications and transitional housing units in the past sixteen plus years. We are grateful for individuals and families across the nation who join together to welcome our heroes into their communities. Their response has brought incredible joy to our heroes as they are surprised by the announcement of their new home, attend groundbreaking, celebrate Notes of Love, and gather to dedicate the home. We invite you to get to know our heroes and find your part in honoring those who have sacrificed so much in service to country and community. ~ Rusty Carroll, Executive Director

Board Chair Statement

My heart has been drawn to our military veterans and first responders from the first home remodel I was invited to lead. After seeing the relief for that hero, and for his family who walked through his injury and healing, I was convinced that God was asking me to continue this work. In the sixteen plus years of fulfilling our mission, we experienced early years of not knowing how we would succeed. And yet friends and builders from numerous places came to fill the gap. And now almost seventeen years later and almost 300 families presented with the gift of a lifetime--a mortgage-free home or home modification --and the mission and joy continue!

We have expanded and enhanced our board leadership and our staff has grown from 2 to 12 to support the need. We have national partners who provide millions of dollars of in kind support. All the careful spending and strategic planning has yielded gifts beyond measure. And we continue to see blessings from builders, vendors and communities. Our work will continue to bless and provide for our heroes and we would welcome your loving support in honoring them! ~ Dan Wallrath, Founder

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Housing, Shelter  - Housing & Shelter NEC
Secondary Category:	Public & Societal Benefit  - Military/Veterans' Organizations
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

We are available to build in all 50 states. Currently we have more than 380 homes that have been completed or in planning in over 30 states. We will continue to expand as builders and veterans are identified.

National