{"id":22534,"date":"2025-11-02T14:09:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T14:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/22534\/"},"modified":"2025-11-02T14:09:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T14:09:21","slug":"berks-nonprofit-grants-veteran-wish-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/22534\/","title":{"rendered":"Berks nonprofit grants veteran wish in New York"},"content":{"rendered":"

Berks County-based nonprofit American Hero Wishes<\/a> recently gifted an outdoor sauna to an Army veteran residing in New York.<\/p>\n

The purpose of American Hero Wishes is to grant wishes of disabled veterans who suffered long-term ailments while serving our country in the military.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe immediate goal is to fulfill at least one wish per year. The ultimate goal is to grant a wish to at least one veteran in every U.S. state. Underlying both of these goals is the ongoing aspiration to build awareness of American Hero Wishes through apt channels to facilitate short and long term goals,\u201d American Hero Wishes president and founder Brianne Houck of Birdsboro said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\"BrianneBrianne Houck of Birdsboro, right, president and founder of Berks County-based nonprofit American Hero Wishes, recently granted the wish of U.S. Army veteran, Ben, who resides in New York. (Photo courtesy of American Hero Wishes)<\/p>\n

A veteran herself, Houck attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after graduating from Daniel Boone High School in 2002. She served in the Army from July 2002 until health concerns discontinued her military service in 2005. During her service, she received the National Service Medal.<\/p>\n

Her USOA Ms. Pennsylvania 2022 platform Operation Helping Our Heroes was dedicated to the men and women who have served and are serving in the military.<\/p>\n

From that platform, American Hero Wishes came to fruition. She established it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2022 to grant the wishes of veterans who were wounded either physically, mentally, or both while serving.<\/p>\n

Past wishes<\/p>\n

Supported by donations and fundraisers, the nonprofit works throughout the year to build the funds necessary to fulfill a veteran\u2019s wish.<\/p>\n

The organization\u2019s first wish, a custom-built shed, was gifted in October 2022 to a State College area veteran who served as a combat medic in the Army.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was deployed as part of the Global War on Terrorism and lost both of his legs and right index finger while rushing to the aid of one of his comrades. We presented him with a custom-built shed to provide more space for him, his wife, and their growing family,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n

In September 2023, American Hero Wishes fulfilled its second wish to a Marine Corps veteran in Quakertown who served in the Global War on Terrorism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough two deployments, he returned home physically unscathed, but while attending a military function stateside, he was struck by a car, of which the driver was impaired by alcohol,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

He sustained life-altering neck and back injuries that abruptly ended his active-duty service.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the summation of his experiences, he battles ongoing PTSD. As being outdoors is therapeutic for him, American Hero Wishes granted him a greenhouse for his yard, as both he and his wife enjoy gardening together,\u201d\u00a0 Houck said.<\/p>\n

In November 2024, American Hero Wishes gave back on a larger scale by contributing $6,000 to another nonprofit organization that supports veterans. American Hero Wishes donated a dog-washing station to support K9s For Warriors in San Antonio, Texas, which provides highly-trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and\/or military sexual trauma.<\/p>\n

\u201cK9s for Warriors is the largest nonprofit organization in the country for providing trained service dogs, that are rescued from local shelters, to veterans. As their mission is to mitigate the incidence of veteran suicide, American Hero Wishes wanted to back their efforts by providing a needed dog washing station at their San Antonio campus,\u201d Houck said. \u201cOur hope is that contributions such as ours will enable K9s for Warriors to help many veterans (and their canine companions) for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025 wish<\/p>\n

Houck, as founder and president of American Hero Wishes, opened the nomination period and reached out to the nonprofit\u2019s prior veteran recipients about potential nominees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe received one nomination, and it was from a prior recipient.,\u201d Houck said. \u201cThe receipt of this nomination was certainly fortuitous, as the veteran was very deserving of a benefaction.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s recipient, Ben, is an Army veteran who resides in the Hudson Valley of New York. He was deployed for 34 consecutive months as a military police officer during the Global War on Terrorism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe long term health repercussions of his time in service have remained with Ben,\u201d Houck said.<\/p>\n

By working with his wife, Tammy, a Navy veteran, American Hero Wishes planned to surprise him with an outdoor sauna to be placed on their outdoor deck that Ben built.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that Ben not only reaps the multitude of health benefits that come with sauna usage, but that it is an incessant reminder of how much he is appreciated and remembered for the service he provided to our country and the American people,\u201d Houck said.<\/p>\n

The outdoor sauna was delivered by surprise to his home on Sept. 26.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe response was wholly heartfelt! Through Tammy\u2019s quick thinking and guile, Ben was not at all expecting a sauna to be delivered to his home,\u201d Houck said. \u201cWhen he saw it coming up his driveway, he was in some disbelief and overjoyed, which was beautiful to witness. He was extremely grateful, and a smile never left his face.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BerksBerks County-based nonprofit American Hero Wishes recently delivered an outdoor sauna to U.S. Army veteran, Ben, in New York. (Photo courtesy of American Hero Wishes)<\/p>\n

Ben and Tammy spent time talking with Houck and gave her a tour of their property, which she described as \u201cbucolic and serene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was a memorable day for all of us who were present,\u201d Houck said. \u201cThe greatest satisfaction that my board members and I could ever ask for is witnessing these candid moments and knowing that we did something for an upstanding, honorable veteran, who will hopefully carry the positive impact of these days and moments with them for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"U.S.U.S. Army veteran, Ben, gives a tour of his New York property to Brianne Houck of Birdsboro, president and founder of Berks County-based nonprofit American Hero Wishes. (Photo courtesy of American Hero Wishes)<\/p>\n

The funds for this year\u2019s wish were raised this past year from individual contributors and organizational donations. Several individuals donated through online fundraisers coordinated via social media.<\/p>\n

Houck said American Hero Wishes received donations from American Legion Post 626 of Birdsboro, Chandler Lodge #227 of West Reading and Faith Lutheran Church of Mount Penn.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to sincerely thank all of the people and organizations that supported us through their donations,\u201d Houck said. \u201cWe could not bring to fruition any of the projects that we have without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

To nominate a veteran for a wish or for more information about ways to support American Hero Wishes, email info@americanherowishes.org. For updates on future fundraising events and wishes, follow American Hero Wishes on Facebook at https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/americanherowishes.org<\/a> and on Instagram at https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/americanherowishes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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