The Houses that Zach Built
A critical need, a dynamic and deep-hearted entrepreneur—together they set into motion one of the premier military-family-assistance programs in the country. It was an image that stuck with her: arriving at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., in the mid 1970s, Pauline Trost noted the landing of a helicopter. “A sailor, his wife and two children got out,” she recalls, “and I thought, ‘My God, where are they going to stay?’ Hotels and motels in the Bethesda area are so very expensive.” Some years later, still haunted by the memory, Trost approached the Washington area’s Naval Officers Wives Club about doing something to help military families coming to the center for treatment. The club agreed to address the problem, possibly locating an old building on the grounds and offering to renovate it.
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Serendipitously, while ideas were percolating, Pauline’s husband, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Carlisle Trost, was approached by Zachary Fisher. Fisher was known to the military for the generous assistance he had previously provided to military families beset by tragedies. “He called me one day, and said, ‘I have money available, and I want to do something to benefit all the military services,’” Adm. Trost recalls. “I came up with three possibilities—one of which was Pauline’s idea for temporary lodging. He called me back and said, ‘That’s what we’re going to do. You help get the land made available, and we’ll build it.’ In a matter of months, ground was broken, and less than a year later the first Fisher House was open.”
Zachary and Elizabeth sport flight jackets given them by the commander of the supercarrier USS Forrestal.
It was an amazing gift at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.—not a barracks, not a motel—this was a real home— and it was first class. “Zachary and his wife Elizabeth wanted these young families to have the very best,” says Vivian Wilson, one of the first two Fisher House managers hired and now manager of the houses in Landstuhl, Germany. “People always asked, ‘Why not just convert an existing building?’ But that wasn’t their standard. They wanted something much higher.” And so: hardwood floors and cabinets, brass hardware, fireplaces, ultraplush carpeting, sofas and linens.
Building a Network And it was merely a start. Financed entirely by the Fishers, the house was donated to the Navy for it to operate. Just three weeks after the first house opened, a second one opened at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Next came a house for the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. “Three houses became five houses became eight,” says Fisher House Foundation President Dave Coker. “The first 25 houses, Zachary was personally responsible for.” Each one was gifted to the military or the VA. Fisher’s investment, however, went well beyond money. “He could just have said, ‘Here are the houses—good luck and goodbye,’” says Wilson. “But Mr. Fisher was incredibly warm and totally engaged—he wanted to know about the families living in the houses. He was genuinely interested in their circumstances and would even ask to speak to the residents. He wanted to see for himself that they were happy and comfortable with their accommodation, and if they had any special needs.” With the network of houses steadily growing, structure was needed. House managers formed an association so they could help and learn from one another. Individual
houses cultivated local support groups from within their communities. Fisher House Foundation was established in 1993 to ensure the program grew in the most optimum direction possible. In addition to building houses at military medical centers, the foundation expanded the program to the Veterans Administration system. As Zachary Fisher’s health declined, the foundation assumed the responsibility for building new houses. Still, when Zachary Fisher died in 1999, the program felt his loss deeply. “When Zachary passed away, I’ll never forget where I was when I got that call,” says Malcolm Grow Medical Center Fisher House Manager Janet Grampp. “Our hearts were broken, and we immediately started wondering, worrying, ‘What’s going to happen now—this was his dream.’” The anxiety was for naught. “That family never faltered; never missed a step,” Grampp says. “They’ve taken the program to where I never could have imagined. We owe a great debt to the whole Fisher family for continuing it. It speaks volumes about the kind of people they are.”
Planning and construction of new houses continued. Foundation trustees debated the idea of building a house outside of the U.S.—in Landstuhl, Germany. “We needed a Fisher House there, but it wasn’t met with immediate acceptance,” says John Lowe, an early adviser and still-active board member. “A team of us went over to Germany and scouted it out. We came back with a solid recommendation—the Army brass was fully in favor of it. Finally the board said, ‘We’ve got to do this,’ and that was it.” It was a prescient move. Less than four months after the first Landstuhl house opened, Operation Enduring Freedom was launched. In addition to hosting military families from the U.S. European Command and Central Command and embassy families from 72 countries, the two houses became a critical resource for families of service members injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Today, they’re one of our greatest accomplishments,” says Coker.
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Conflicts Require Change The two wars have had a profound effect on the Fisher House program. “Everything changed,” says Wilson, who was manager at the Walter Reed Fisher Houses at the time the conflicts started. “We had to redefine how we were going to use the Fisher Houses, and we did not want to exclude the families we had been serving for so long. It really didn’t hit us hard until 2003, when we went into Fallujah and we got the first huge influx of combat casualties.” The average age of guest families dropped dramatically. The lengths of stay shot up as the grievously wounded received care and therapy. And houses designed for families of the injured became home also to the injured themselves. Not the least—the demand for rooms skyrocketed. Methodically, the foundation has adapted as the circumstances have demanded. The houses’ designs have evolved, with handicap-accessible features. New house construction has shifted toward the VA system, where the wounded will receive extended therapy for years to come. New houses can accommodate 20 families instead of eight. Yet, the camaraderie among guest families that was Zachary Fisher’s visionary genius
Expanding the Vision
remains. “Architect Carl Zarrello is a master,” says Coker. “Even in a 20-room house, you never lose that sense of intimacy. The kitchens are marvelous—some people deal with stress by eating; some by cooking. It’s a beautiful relationship.” The personal touch that was Zachary’s hallmark also lives on. The visits and phone calls with guest families, volunteers and staff that so energized and informed him
“What we’re trying to do,” says Chairman Ken Fisher, “is handle the need currently and try to foresee future needs. The challenge is not to grow too fast; not to build just because we have money to build. We work very closely with the surgeons general, the VA—they tell us where the need is greatest.” And while Fisher credits the foundation’s laser focus on its mission for its success, he doesn’t take a narrow view. “We haven’t
“We haven’t deviated from our core mission, but the mission has evolved. If we continue to show we are meeting needs, people derive comfort from that and continue to support us.” –Chairman Ken Fisher are carried on through the Fisher House Ambassadors. Since 2003, Audrey Fisher and Nancy Edelman, vice chairs of the foundation, have logged tens of thousands of miles a year—at their own expense—to visit the ever-growing number of Fisher Houses to understand the challenges military families face. Their one-on-one, on-the-ground interactions have been invaluable to the foundation as it charts its future.
deviated from our core mission, but the mission has evolved,” he says. “If we continue to show we are meeting needs, people derive comfort from that and continue to support us.” To that end, parallel to building new houses, Fisher House Foundation has been building support for military families in other ways
A Fisher House Timeline: Notable Dates and Accomplishments 1990–2010
1991 First two Fisher Houses open at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center
1995 After 5 years, a total of 23 Fisher Houses are in operation 1993 Fisher House Foundation established in support of the Fisher House program
1990
Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher ask Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Carlisle Trost how they can support families of service members with lodging at medical centers 16
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1994 First VA Fisher House opens in Albany, N.Y. 1992 Fisher House Managers’ Association established and begins annual meetings. First Air Force Fisher House opens at Lackland Air Force Base
as well. Under the leadership of Ken Fisher, the foundation has scrutinized where there are gaps between what the military is authorized to do for families and what families may need. Where Fisher House Foundation can make a difference—and do so efficiently—it has stepped in.
staff manage the organization, and 96 cents of every dollar spent goes directly to programs. Current Chairman Ken Fisher “runs this like a business, making the best investments he can,” says Coker. “It’s his way of honoring the donors who make this possible.”
Over the past 10 years, the foundation has initiated a handful of carefully chosen programs that augment and reinforce its mission—Hero Miles, which offers free air fare for families of wounded or ill service members; scholarships for children and spouses; and Newman’s Own Award grants for local non-profits that serve military families in their communities. Its latest endeavor, the Family Support Initiative, piloted at three Army installations, aims to address the daily problems faced by families of deployed soldiers. “The idea is to solve small problems while they’re small—and not let them become big,” says Coker. “Big problems take up huge resources and become a distraction to the ones fighting the war.”
Coker finds inspiration from the Fisher family. “One amazing thing—it was true about Zachary and it is true as Ken continues to lead the program today,” he says, “they have an awful lot of responsibilities with their business and everything, but when they hear about challenges a service member is having, or an issue in need of their attention, they are there. They are available 24-7 to us. This is something that’s very important for them, and the program would not be what it is without their leadership, their sincerity of purpose.
Even as the Fisher House program continues to grow—by year’s end there will be 53 houses at 38 locations—overhead expenses remain low. Fewer than a dozen full-time
Continuing T
Chairman Ken Fisher talks of Fisher House Foundatio How do you see Fisher House Foundation evolving, in the short term, and in the longer term? Ken: We are primarily a need-based foundation, and we are positioned accordingly. Our goal ultimately is to build a Fisher House at every major DOD and VA medical treatment facility. But we will continue to respond wherever and whenever we’re needed if the need is validated. Over the short term, we’ve got plenty on our plate. In the long term, that will depend on what the circumstances are around the world.
“Sometimes people pass down hair color in a family,” Coker concludes. “For the Fishers, it’s a genuine commitment to supporting others and a real love and respect for our military.”
2001 Scholarships for Military Children program begins. First Fisher House built outside U. S. opens in Landstuhl, Germany 1999 Program founder Zachary Fisher passes away, and nephew Arnold Fisher becomes chairman, Fisher House Foundation 1997 24 Fisher Houses have now offered 500,000 days of lodging
1996 Fisher House in Denver transferred from Army to VA after Fitzsimons Army Medical Center closes 1998 Responsibility for building new Fisher Houses transfers from Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher to Fisher House Foundation
2003 Ken Fisher succeeds his father Arnold as chairman, Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House Ambassador program debuts
2002 Newman’s Own Awards program begins. Second house in Germany opens
2000 After 10 years, program has now offered 1 million days of lodging. There are 27 houses in operation; 40,000 families have been assisted