Grant Funds Home Modifications for Disabled Veteran

July 18, 2022

Harry Reynolds is a retired U.S. Air Force staff sergeant and an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.

“I started in the ’90s. I hopped on the bandwagon. They won all the Super Bowls in the 90s, and I just kind of stayed with them,” Harry said. “I’m just hoping for the good ole days again, but who knows.”

When a medical condition led Harry to have his foot amputated last August, he quickly realized his home needed modifications.

“The first night I was out of the rehab, I fell on the floor and had to call on the fire department to help me up. It was kind of embarrassing.”

That’s where a CFA discretionary grant to the West Texas Veteran Support Services made a difference. WTVSS is a nonprofit organization serving low-income military veterans, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The organization used grant funding to install new grab bars in Harry’s hallway and bathroom, and they added a new storm door to his entryway.

Founder/Executive Director Gordon Gloria explains how rewarding is to serve people like Harry.

“It’s great being able to see the reaction after the repairs are done. Some of them, you would think they had won the lottery, because they’re so grateful and so happy for the repairs.”

Harry is certainly grateful.

“I really appreciate everything they did.”

Now he can spend less time being concerned for his own safety and more time on memories of his all-time Cowboys.”

“Definitely Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikmen, Michael Irving. Definitely the triplets.”

Grant History

WTVSS received a $10,000 grants from CFA’s 2022 spring discretionary grant cycle and a $4,950 grant from the 2020 fall discretionary grant cycle to help veterans like Harry. These grants represent the flexibility that unrestricted endowment funds provide, allowing CFA and donors to make grants to a wide range of organizations and meet unforeseen community needs through competitive grant cycles.