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 Welcome to the Home At Last Events page for the Cope Family.
Construction has ended! The home is complete and the Dedication is set. Please join us on Saturday, November 22, 2008. The public was invited to attend the Dedication Ceremonies for our Home At Last project. The celebration took place at the Oakland Avenue Charter School, 456 East Oakland Ave., Oakland, Florida 34760, from 10:30 am to Noon. A tour of the home immediately following the ceremony. Special guest speaker will be Gen. Gordon Sullivan, the 32nd U.S. Army Chief of Staff who commanded the 1st Infantry Division, which was Joshua Cope's division. He was introduced by local resident Lt. Gen. Jay Garner. A private flag raising ceremony took place in the morning for family, friends and dignitaries. AUSA, Association of the United States Army, donated a flag pole, flag and three memorial monuments at the base of the flag in memory of Joshua's fallen comrades. This was followed by the ceremony open to the public where we were entertained by singer and songwriter Spc. Daniel Jens, who appeared on "America's Got Talent" and Mrs. Glynn Vincent who sang the National Anthem; emcee for the day was Nick Shannin, Vice President, WOHFH; invocation was by Rev. Dr. Robert Hines of Oakland Presbyterian Church; Color Guard Presentation of Colors by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University ROTC; Pledge of Allegiance by Bill Curdts, WOHFH; remarks by Kathy Stark, Mayor of Oakland; Joe Gustafson, Windermere County Club Foundation; Jeff Forest, CEO of Winter Park Construction; Cary Erfurth, Chairman of Island One Foundation, and Duane Walterhouse, President, WOHFH. We would also like to recognize MSG Mark Brzezinski and Lt. Col. Pat Connors and all of their fellow service men and women for all of their assistance during all of the events. This was followed by an "Invitation Only" luncheon to thank all of the dignitaries, family members and the major contractors who helped to build the home, for all of their support during this project. The local support of this project was just overwhelming and resulted in contractors from all over the county donating all of the materials and labor for this home; fundraisers were held by many organizations; and donations were received from all over the country. It is not possible to personally thank everyone here, but we must give special thanks to Windermere County Club Foundation, Winter Park Construction and Island One Foundation, because without your support and tireless efforts, we could not have completed this project. FLAG RAISING:
DEDICATION:
LUNCHEON:
Construction begins - July 2008:
Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Groundbreaking: We want to thank everyone for your support in bringing the groundbreaking 'One Step Closer" and share in our excitement as the vision of the Home At Last Project becomes a reality. This will take place on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm at 322 E. Henschen Ave., Oakland, FL. Please R.S.V.P. if attending by June 20th to woh4h@yahoo.com or 407-654-2739. Construction should commence on June 24th and take approximately 4 months to complete. The outpouring of support from the community has been tremendous. Donations are still being accepted as our hope is to present this home mortgage free to Cope's at the dedication. The Groundbreaking was an awesome event even though the weather didn't want to cooperate until the very end. The rain didn't stop the crowd from attending, nor the excitement from building during the ceremony. We want to thank everyone again for their support, because without you none of this would be possible: Emcee for the event was Nick Shannin, Vice President of WOHFH; Invocation by Rev. Jennifer Stiles Williams, St. Luke's United Methodist Church; Color Guard was from the Headquarters Detachment 3-347th Infantry Battalion, Orlando, FL; Pledge of Allegiance by William T Curdts III, WOHFH; Comments were made by - Maureen Rischitelli, Oakland Town Manager; Joe Gustafson, Windermere County Club Foundation; Jeff Forrest, Winter Park Construction; Cary Erfurth, Island One Foundation; Lt. Col. Norman Hayes, US Army (Ret), Joshua's Grandfather; Linda Cope, Joshua's Mother; Lana Dahl, Erica's Mother; and Duane Walterhouse, President, WOHFH; and special guest Dan Haggerty. We also want to acknowledge Health Central Foodservice, Bravo Supermarket and our volunteers for the delicious refreshments.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - Windermere Country Club Check Presentation: On Wednesday evening, Joe Gustafson of the Windermere Country Club Foundation and his team, presented us with a check for $142,000.00!! This represented the proceeds and donations from the Golf Tournament held on February 26, 2008. Overwhelmed is an understatement. There are just no words to express our thanks and gratitude for all of their efforts. But we will say it anyway...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! They also put together a flyer for their members that captures everything in one place perfectly.
Saturday, April 12, 2008 - "Office Furniture" Garage Sale at the WOHFH Warehouse & the Bloom & Grow Garden Festival: We want to thank all of the volunteers who came out and helped with this sale. It was a beautiful day and we had a great response. We generated $1,420.00 from the sale....thank you to all !!! We also had a booth at the Bloom & Grow Garden Festival held in downtown Winter Garden on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, no photos are available at this time. We will be hosting an 'office furniture' garage sale at our warehouse on Saturday, April 12th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm. Lockheed Martin has graciously donated the furniture with all proceeds going to our Home At Last project. Our warehouse is located at 114 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787. Bring your truck or trailer and tie straps, because you won't believe the deals.
Friday & Saturday, April 5 & 6, 2008 - Windermere Arts Festival: Come and enjoy a day at the Windermere Arts Festival and Boat Show. We will have a booth near the stage area where you can try your hand a hammering a nail or sawing a piece of wood. This is a great event for the community and showcases local artisans. They will have a juried event for the artists along with rides, food and prizes during the two days. All proceeds will be divided among three charities, with the Home At Last project being one of them.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - Windermere Country Club Foundation Annual Charity Golf Event, "Home For A Hero" Golf Tournament & Auction: Come enjoy a great day of golf at the beautiful Windermere Country Club and help provide "A HOME FOR A HERO." The event will include a 4-person scramble, continental breakfast, beverage carts, and a special luncheon and awards reception following golf. Featured events for the day will include: an opportunity to bid on a round of golf with PGA Champion Fred Funk, a drawing to win a 2008 Nissan Altima Coup, (separate donation required), Hole in One, Closest to the Pin and long drive contests, Mulligans, Prizes, Awards, Car Raffle, Silent and Live Auctions and much more. To purchase a raffle ticket for the 2008 Nissan Altima Coup, make out a check for $200 to Windermere Country Club Foundation and mail it to WCC Foundation 2710 Butler Bay Drive North, Windermere Florida 34786. A raffle ticket will be mailed to you. Register now at www.ahomeforahero.org and remember to invite your friends and business associates to play. Registration starts at 7:00 AM and the shotgun begins at 9:00 AM. If you are unable to play but still "want to do something", please donate an auction item, or send a donation to Windermere Country Club Foundation at 2710 Butler Bay Drive North, Windermere Fl 34786.
Sergeant Cope and his family will also be joining us at the event.
Saturday, January 26, 2008 - The Island One Resorts Foundation's "Cruisin' For A Cause" Cruisin' For A Cause is just around the corner. Saturday, January 26, 2008, Cruisers can gather their vehicles at the Island One Resorts corporate office at 8680 Commodity Circle, Orlando, FL 32819. Program details as follows: 12:30pm - Registration Opens; Maps distributed; Snack food available. 1:00pm - Hot Rides Vehicle Show. If you are interested in showing your vehicle, please contact Don Dobash or Patrick Simpson. 1:45pm - Start: Cruisin' For A Cause Poker Run begins; Stop 1- Pub 44; Stop 2 - Destination Daytona. 5:00pm - End ride at Grand Seas Resort. 5:30-6:30pm - Hot Rides Vehicle Show in the parking lot of shopping center outside Club Navigo Sales Center. 6:00pm - Black Vest Rendezvous Bash Cocktails. 7:00pm - Black Vest Rendezvous Bash Dinner/Party. The bash includes registration, cocktail reception (limited open bar) and silent auction, Hot Rides show, chopper photo op., dinner, live music with Men with Mortgages, and DJ Kent with Corporate Entertainment, and live auction. The attire is black vest (your nicest leather and lace or resort wear). If you need additional information contact Pamela Gould at 407-215-4086 or email at pamela.gould@islandone.com.
Saturday, January 26, 2008 - Holy Family Knights of Columbus - Bingo The Holy Family Knights of Columbus will be holding a Bingo Night on Saturday, January 26, 2008. This will be at the Holy Family Catholic Church Social Hall located at 5125 S. Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, Fl 32819 (407-876-2211) beginning at 7:00 pm. All proceeds will go to the Home At Last project. [ www.holyfamilyorlando.org ] We want to the thank everyone who attended, the Holy Family Catholic Church and especially, Jim McQuillan and the Knights of Columbus for all of their hard work and generosity. They presented our WOHFH representatives with a check for $1,000.
Monday, December 10 - Monday, December 24, 2007 - West Oaks Mall, Ocoee, FL - Giving Tree Event The West Oaks Mall will have a "Giving Tree" in the mall with Habitat for Humanity themed tags representing different parts of a home. There will be different levels of donations in order to purchase a tag and place it on the tree. This will run each afternoon from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Thank you to all of the people who volunteered their time during the holiday season to make this happen! A special "thank you" to all of the Lockheed Martin volunteers. Your efforts generated over $3,000 in donations!!
Thursday, November 15, 2007 - Manheim Florida Auto Auction Donation The Manheim Florida Auto Auction of Ocoee, presented Bill Criswell, Chairman of the Home At Last project with a check for $12,000. This represented a $1,000 donation from each of their 12 auto auction centers. Thank you very much for your support!
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - Health Central Park, Winter Garden A few volunteers spent the morning at the Veterans Day Celebration at Health Central Park, sponsored by the Health Central Auxiliary. They set up our display booth and handed out flyers and American flag lapel pins.
Friday, October 12, 2007 - West Oaks Mall, Ocoee, FL - Calendar Sale Beginning on Friday, the West Oaks Mall will start to sell 2008 Chick-fil-A Calendars at their customer service center for $2.00 each. All proceeds will go to the Home At Last project.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 - Kick-off for the "Joshua's Brigade" A few volunteers spent the evening outside at Newton Park behind Tanner Hall. The Rotary Club of Winter Garden, in partnership with the Bond Foundation and the City of Winter Garden held the 5th Annual Evening at the Pops featuring the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, which was free to the public.
Thursday, August 23, 2007 - "Welcome to West Orange County" The public was invited to attend a "Welcome to West Orange County" reception held at Tanner Hall, 29 Garden Ave., Winter Garden, FL 34787, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in honor of the Cope's. Lt. Gen. Jay Garner was the special guest speaker along with local Mayor's and military dignitaries. We had a tremendous turnout and want to thank everyone who attended as well as those who donated the refreshments and all of the volunteers who helped to make this such a special evening.
West Orange Habitat for Humanity is proud to announce the undertaking of a special project called "Home At Last" - building a home for a disabled veteran and his family. This is a unique effort to honor a combat wounded veteran of the present military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is one of only two Habitat projects currently under way in the United States, with the other in Orange County, California, near Camp Pendleton. We conducted a search for our military family and found the Cope's - Joshua, Erica and their 1-1/2 year old daughter, Laney. Army Sgt. Joshua Cope, 24, has been in the Army for over 4 years. On his second year long deployment, he was injured in Baghdad, Iraq. His Humvee ran over an IED, and he lost both of his legs above the knee and has serious injuries to his right hand and minor injuries to his left hand. Three of his army comrades were killed.
Both of them grew up in Florida, Joshua in Panama City Beach and Erica in Kissimmee. All of their family still resides in Florida and mainly Central Florida. We are hoping to have a family photo of the Cope's shortly to post here! Now that the family is selected and approved, the home and its location will be designed and customized to their needs. We are hoping that the home will be located in West Orange County, however, the exact location has not been determined as of yet. For this special project, we will be seeking the support of the entire West Orange County community. We are hopeful that we can get the cooperation and help from local citizens, clubs, corporations, businesses, churches, civic groups and organizations, along with our fund raising events. In addition to cash donations, volunteers and co-sponsors, we will be looking for donations of building materials and most importantly, a suitable lot. As more information becomes available, we will update this site. If you have been wanting "to do something" for our troops but haven't figured out exactly what that "to do" is, you need look no further, for this is it! This is a way to honor our troops who make the ultimate sacrifice for us to ensure our freedom and liberty.
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Building Houses, Building Hope
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