Healthbeat
Members of the El Paso Corvette Club pose Sept. 12 with a symbolic check representing their donation to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s Fisher House.
Julia Yubeta
WBAMC Public Affairs
Fourteen members of the El Paso Corvette Club visited the Fisher House at William Beaumont Army Medical Center Sept. 12 for a check presentation.
Harry E. Hicks Jr., manager of the WBAMC Fisher House, observed it had been eight years since the United States had been attacked by terrorists.
“Let us pause for a moment of silence to remember those that were killed and reflect on the contributions of our men and women in uniform as they fight to protect our way of life,” said Hicks.
The check was then unveiled in the living room of the Fisher House by Hicks as Col. Michael Hershman, deputy commander for administration at WBAMC, Carrie Kerby, treasurer of the El Paso Corvette Club, and club members looked on.
“Today’s check in the amount of $4,765 makes a grand total of more than $30,000 that our club has been able to present to the Fisher House over the last five years” Kerby said.
Hershman thanked the club members for their donation.
“It is my pleasure to be here today. I have only been in El Paso for about a month, but I have been impressed by the overwhelming support the community provides to Soldiers. Your partnership helps us take care of our nation’s finest,” he said. “From the caregivers up on the hill, we thank you.”
After unveiling the check, Hicks provided a tour of the house. During the tour, he pointed out upgrades and amenities that were bought with previous donations from the Corvette Club.
“We contributed 100 percent of the proceeds from our annual car show. Our donation today included individual donations by our club members,” said Kerby. “El Paso is a Soldier town and we are grateful to our Soldiers because they are fighting for our freedom.
“We chose the Fisher House as our charity because we can designate that all of the money is used locally. Each time we visit, we see what our donations have funded outside of the foundation budget,” she added.
Fernando Rodriguez and his wife Annette are new members of the Corvette Club.
“We joined the club as a social outlet and to indulge my passion for a beautiful and powerful sports car. It was a pleasant discovery that the club supports this Fisher House.
“As an Army retiree, I know first-hand about the services offered at these facilities. I deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 and saw many Soldiers injured and medevaced out of theater for medical care. What a comfort it is to their families to have a Fisher House nearby to stay in as they visit their Soldier recuperating from wounds,” he added.
“This is a cause I really believe in and support, said Rodriguez.