Home To Heal: Foundation Sponsors Home Makeover For Coast Guard Family
In July, the Coast Guard Foundation received a letter from AFI 2019 Coast Guard Spouse of the Year Jessica Manfre informing us of her hope to collaborate with Moving With The Military, a show which celebrates military families with surprise home makeovers, to help a Coast Guard family in Florida.
The Coast Guard family we sponsored for this project was the Coleman family. Petty Officer Bill Coleman, currently serving at Air Station Clearwater in Florida, is a Coast Guard member balancing his duties to the service, his two young daughters, and his wife who is terminally ill with cancer.
“When we heard of the Coleman family’s plight, we knew we had to do something,” said Brian Overcast, Coast Guard Foundation’s Regional Director of Philanthropy, based in Florida. “We all care so deeply about the men and women of the service and it’s our hope by partnering and sponsoring this project that we can give this family the opportunity to begin their healing process.”
Throughout the 5-day project, dozens of volunteers joined to help renovate the Coleman’s house. “The family members are going to be coming into a home which is new and special,” said Overcast. “And a place where they can continue to heal while they’re going through this difficult time.”
The full episode is available above or via the Moving with the Military Facebook page.
In December 2015, Bill’s wife, Sarah, discovered she had a large tumor located in the frontal lobe of her brain. After undergoing successful surgery to remove it and beginning a long and difficult course of treatment there was hope for a path to remission. But after a year and a half it had returned and this time they discovered three new tumors in her brain. In June they received the news that Sarah’s cancer is terminal.
Throughout it all, Bill has continued to serve and take time off when possible to look after their two young daughters. We’re grateful for the Coleman family’s service to their community and our nation, and it’s our honor to give them a home to heal.
