Two Community Foundation Grants Made in Support of Homes for Our Troops’ Build Brigade

FREDERICK, MD: April 20, 2011: The day was chilly, but the sun was bright and the excitement and enthusiasm of the volunteers building a new home for Retired Marine Sgt. Adam Kisielewski and his family warmed the hearts of everyone present at the home site on Daysville Road in Frederick.

Two grants were presented in support of the project, from The 1LT Rob Seidel Wounded Soldiers Fund, and The Davey Long and Mike Compton Memorial Fund. The funds are component funds of The Community Foundation of Frederick County.

Sgt. Kisielewski was deployed to Iraq in July 2005. During a combat mission, he was severely injured by an explosive device that severed his left arm and right leg. After more than a year of medical treatment that included multiple surgeries, he returned home to Thurmont. The three-story home he occupied with his wife and son was difficult to navigate due to his injuries, and after hearing about the Homes for Our Troops program, a national nonprofit dedicated to assisting troops who have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001, he contacted them and was accepted into the program.

Bob and Sandy Seidel, parents of 1LT Rob Seidel, recently learned about the new home being built locally for Sgt. Kisielewski and his family by Homes for Our Troops and recommended a $5,000 grant for the project to the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. 1LT Rob Seidel and three other soldiers were killed in action in May 2008 during combat operations in Iraq. Mr. and Mrs. Seidel created the Fund to honor their son’s memory and his great respect and admiration for the troops serving their country.

“The donation to Homes for our Troops in care of Sgt. Kisielewski is keeping with the guidelines we set when starting up Rob's Wounded Soldier Fund,” said Mr. and Mrs. Seidel. “We hope this contribution in some small way brings back a level of normalcy for Sgt. Kisielewski and his family. We are very grateful for his service and sacrifice and we know Rob would be proud.”

Shirley and Gene Long also heard about the new home for Sgt. Kisielewski and wanted to help. The $838.49 grant is the first from The Davey Long and Mike Compton Memorial Fund, which honors the memory of their sons. Mr. Long created the Fund with his 2008 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism award.

“We became acquainted with Adam a few years ago and are very much aware of his dedication to helping other wounded soldiers,” said Mr. and Mrs. Long. “When we learned of this amazing project, there was no question that we would recommend a grant from our fund. We wanted to be part of this special effort to make life a little easier for Adam and his family.  It was so heart-warming to see the tremendous outpouring of support from the community, all to say thank you to a special soldier and his family.”

As a leader in grant and scholarship funding, The Community Foundation of Frederick County has given back more than $26 million to the community since 1986.  To learn more about how the Community Foundation impacts Frederick County please call 301.695.7660.