Montel Williams, Emmy Award-winning talk-show host, decorated former naval intelligence officer, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and philanthropist, visited the Fisher House last week to cook a Holiday meal for the families of wounded warriors receiving medical treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Credit/Copyright: Jody Fisher
“This is just a small way to give back to the men and women – and their families – who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe and allow us to be with the people we love at the holidays,” said Montel. “It’s the least my family and I can do, especially as a former member of the Armed Services myself, to say thank you to our men and women in uniform.”
Credit/Copyright: Jody Fisher jfisher@rubenstein.com
Montel was joined by his mother, father and sister, each of whom prepared a personal favorite dish, including Maryland Crab cakes and Montel’s Turkey Chili, which is always a crowd favorite.
Montel Williams has actively supported Fisher House and the families it serves for years. This is the fifth time he has cooked a meal for families staying at a Fisher House.
Credit/Copyright: Jody Fisher jfisher@rubenstein.com
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. The Fisher Houses are 5,000 to 16,800 square-foot homes, donated to the military and Department of Veterans Affairs, where families can stay while a loved one is receiving treatment. Additionally, the Foundation ensures that families of service men and women wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan are not burdened with unnecessary expense during a time of crisis.
Located in close proximity to the medical center or hospital it serves, each Fisher House consists of between 8 and 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room and an inviting living room with a library and toys for children. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is no fee to stay in a Fisher House. Since inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $182 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members. To date, Hero Miles has provided over 25,000 airline tickets to our military and their families. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
