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Fisher/Nightingale Houses

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Chris Stanley

Executive Director

Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc.

Touching Lives with Compassion

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Wright-Patterson AFB – the Birthplace, Home and Future of Aerospace….

but, did you know it is also the birthplace of compassionate care in the

Department of Defense?

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The Wright-Patt Fisher and Nightingale Houses provide an opportunity for military families to stay

together and support each other when a loved one is undergoing medical treatment. The Houses provide

physical and emotional support to our servicemen and servicewomen and their families.

The Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher Houses assisted more than 500 Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines

(active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve) and their families in 2009!

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The Beginning…..

Foresight of Captain Gretchen Lizza

Involved and gained support of base leadership and private organizations

Nightingale House opened in May 1990

Captain (ret) Gretchen Lizza and family

Converted base housing across the street from the Medical Center

First compassionate care facility in the Department of Defense

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Along come the Fishers…..

Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher were asked to build one Ronald McDonald-type house at Bethesda Naval Medical Center

Due to prior involvement with military, they agreed

First Fisher House opened in 1991

Now 45 Fisher Houses at 18 military installations and 15 VA medical centers world-wide

Twelve more under construction or in design

Long-term plan: beyond current plans -- another 5 or 6 per year for next eight to nine years – get to nearly 100 houses!

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“My thoughts of life have always been to do something in life that will outlast life. I was fortunate to find something that fulfills that goal completely.”

Zachary Fisher 

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Existing Houses…..

Nightingale House

Converted base house (two 3 bedroom units in a duplex)

Eight bedrooms; four bathrooms; two half baths

Two kitchens, two dining areas, two living rooms

Enclosed porch

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Existing Houses…..

Fisher House (opened in May 1994)

Nine bedrooms

Seven bathrooms; one half bath

One kitchen, one dining area, one living room

Gazebo

Manager’s office

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House occupancy and volunteers…..

Seventeen bedrooms between the two Houses equates to 6,205 bed nights a year; we average in excess of 95 percent occupancy

Unfortunately, demand for rooms fluctuates and each month some families have to be turned away due to unavailability of space 

Based on a priority system

In addition to small paid staff, numerous volunteers support the House guests

Provided the equivalent of another staff person’s hours in 2008

Staff could not have supported guests without this unselfish giving of time by these volunteers

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Houses serve everyone…..

In the last 20 years, the Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher Houses have served thousands of families….averaging more than 600 families every year

From all branches of the military

From stateside and overseas

Active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve and their families

Average length of stay is 11 days

Some stay for only a day or two and others for months…. even up to one year

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Guest charge…..

In October 2006, the Fisher House Foundation started paying the previously-charged $10 per-night guest fee

Guests now stay in the Houses for free

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Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc.

A private, 501(c)3 nonprofit, registered in the State of Ohio

Sole mission: raise funds to support compassionate care lodging for patients and their families receiving treatment at the Wright-Patt Medical Center

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Air Force’s involvement…..

The Fisher House and the Nightingale House are owned, managed and supported financially by the Air Force and the Department of Defense

The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. donates funds to the Air Force and Department of Defense each month to cover all costs associated with the day-to-day operation of the Houses

The organization also donates additional funds, services, and items (large and small) to the Air Force and Department of Defense specifically in support of the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patterson AFB

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FNHI Finances……

Program expenses for 2008 were $158,444 (81.92% of total expenses)

Fund-raising expenses for 2008 were $20,813 (10.76% of total expenses)

Administrative expenses for 2008 were $14,174 (7.32% of total expenses)

Note: Final/audited 2009 figures will be available once the formal audit is concluded in the Fall of 2010

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Why a new Fisher House?

The Nightingale House is a converted base house From two three-bedroom units to an eight bedroom

facility (including the conversion of the two garages to two bedrooms)

Constructed in 1975 as military family housing and, compared to the current Fisher Houses, is not handicapped accessible

Two of the eight bedrooms have private baths; the other six bedrooms share two small upstairs hallway baths

There are two small kitchens and two dining/living room areas

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Details….

The new Fisher House will replace the existing Nightingale House (Fisher House II) The Nightingale House (304 Red Bud Lane) will be

returned to Military Family Housing

The Fisher House Foundation conducted a groundbreaking ceremony on November 7th, 2008 Actual construction started in early August 2009 Twelve to fourteen month construction project

Currently on schedule for completion by end of October 2010

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Location of the new House….

Current Fisher House

New Fisher House

Fisher Houses are a one block walk down Schlatter from the Medical Center

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Proposed House plans from the Fisher House Foundation….

13 bedrooms with 13 handicapped-accessible ADA compliant bathrooms

Single story, 10,000 square feet

Two living rooms, kitchen and dining room

More laundry capabilities

Will also add 1,825 bed nights a year

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Proposed design plans from the Fisher House Foundation….

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Proposed floor plans from the Fisher House Foundation….

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Capital campaign….

The projected cost of the new House is $3.15M

The Fisher House Foundation has challenged the FNHI to raise $1M towards the new House As of early July 2010: $935,000

Cash-in-hand, less expenses, plus firm commitments

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Capital campaign committee….

Some FNHI Board members Chair: John Thrasher, Former FNHI President Janice Beckett, FNHI President Larry Sweeney, Treasurer Chris Stanley, Executive Director

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Capital campaign committee….

Other community leaders Frank Beeson, Publisher, Times Community Newspapers Steve Brown, Brown and Bills Architects Major General (Retired) Lou Ferraro Major General (Retired) Ed Odgers Lieutenant General (Retired) Dick Reynolds Libby VanHook Lieutenant General (Retired) Mike Zettler

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The Wright-Patt Fisher Houses provide an

invaluable service to military men and women

and their families – won’t you consider

reaching out a caring hand to help a military

family today?

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Consider helping, please…..

Consider a donation to the Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. Capital Campaign

Contact the Executive Director, Chris Stanley, for more information Mail: Post Office Box 33871, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 Home phone: 937-372-5784 Cell phone: 937-672-8724 E-mail: cstanley@woh.rr.com

The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. is a private organization.  It is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its

components and it has no governmental status.