The U.S. Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999, marking the month as an opportunity to honor the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families. Besides Memorial Day (last Monday in May), which is a federally recognized holiday, five lesser-known military remembrances are spread throughout the month as well: Loyalty Day (May 1), Public Service Recognition Week (first week of May), VE Day (May 8), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (second Friday in May), and Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May).
It’s entirely appropriate, then, that we chose May to salute one of Porte’s supported charities, Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). HFOT is a nonprofit organization that “builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, enabling them to rebuild their lives.” Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, HFOT spends nearly 90 cents out of every dollar directly on program services.
What sets HFOT apart from similar charities is that it maintains a connection with the veterans after delivering a home. Some of follow-on services include pro-bono financial planning for three years, education about homeownership, and peer mentoring for veterans and spouses. HFOT is a top-rated charity, earning four out of four stars from Charity Navigator.
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Support the Mission
You might be wondering how you can aid HFOT in its mission to serve severely injured post-9/11 veterans. Here are a few ways:
- When you become a Porte member, you can choose to support Homes For Our Troops through the app. When you use your Porte debit card to make purchases, we donate to the charity at no additional cost to you.1
- Attend a Build Event near you and welcome a veteran to the community.
- Run with Team HFOT! Check the event schedule for an opportunity near you.
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Rebuilding Lives
HFOT’s work has a tremendous impact on veterans’ lives. In 2024 HFOT conducted its “By the Numbers” impact assessment, a survey of veteran home recipients and spouses/caregivers, and the response rate was 71%. Among the survey findings reported on its website are:
- After receiving an HFOT home, 93% of veterans report a reduction in household stress and more than 92% have regained some/much freedom and independence.
- Once these areas are addressed, a multiplier effect kicks in where veterans getting or pursuing a degree or trade certification goes from 19% to 81%, their employment rate increases by 110%, and their financial stability improves.
- Of the families served by the program, 66% increased their income, 67% decreased their debt, and 80% increased their savings.
- Many grateful veterans can pay it forward by volunteering and getting involved in their community, an increase from 21% before receiving a home to 82% after receiving a home.
You can find more details in Homes For Our Troops’ annual impact report.
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Porte’s Giving Program
Porte is proud that Homes For Our Troops is a charity in our #DoorToChange giving program.1 Through this program, we donate an amount equal to 0.05% of each purchase that you make with your debit card to the charity that you have selected. You can spend with confidence knowing that your money goes the extra mile.
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This blog is not intended to provide any tax, legal, financial planning, insurance, accounting, investment, or any other kind of professional advice or services. To make sure that any information or suggestions in this blog fit your particular circumstances, you should consult with an appropriate tax or legal professional before taking action based on any suggestions or information that we provide.