Chris Stanley, executive director of Fisher/Nightingale Houses Inc. (FNH), a nonprofit that funds operations and other support costs for Fisher Houses I and II at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), believes our military members deserve nothing less. Now totaling 71 in the United States and abroad, these facilities help ease the burden and expense of lodging, food and transportation for military members during difficult and trying times.
In 2015, plans were announced to build a Fisher House at the Dayton VA Medical Center, thanks to a more than $1 million pledge by Vicki and Randy Gunlock and their Greener Pastures Foundation. To help raise a minimum of $500,000 for ongoing support costs, Stanley and FNH, which has an endowed fund through The Dayton Foundation, established the Fisher House at Dayton VA Fund.
Q: Where were you raised, and what brought you to the Dayton area?
A: I was born in Kirkwood, Missouri, but grew up in many places. My dad, who had been an executive with Monsanto Corporate in Dayton, was transferred to St. Louis prior to my birth. He passed away when I was one year old, so my mother moved us northeast to be with her family. When I was four, she remarried and my adopted dad moved us to Aurora, Illinois. I was 13 when they divorced, and my mom moved us to St. Petersburg, Florida. I later joined the Air Force and was stationed at several locations, including Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. When Hurricane Andrew destroyed Homestead, I relocated to WPAFB in 1992, where I did my last nine years of active duty. After retiring in 2001, I stayed in Dayton because my family and I liked it here so much.
Q: How did you first become involved with Fisher/Nightingale Houses?
A: I was president of the Air Force Sergeants Association in 1994. It was one of the founding organizations of the Nightingale House, the first compassionate care facility in the Department of Defense. I served on the Board as a volunteer, and upon my retirement from the Air Force I became the executive director.
Q: Why have you dedicated so much of your time to Fisher/Nightingale Houses?
A: I was raised to care for others and have done so from my entry into the Air Force in 1977. My first duty assignment was assisting families of military members who had passed away. The American public wants to support our military and their families. Since 2001, we have been at constant war. The national Fisher House Foundation has built many houses to support our men and women, but the needs continue to grow significantly. My personal goal has been and continues to be to take care of our military and their families. It's who I am.
Q: How many volunteers and staff help run Fisher House I and II at the base?
A: There is one full-time and two part-time house managers, plus a housekeeping staff. The Dayton VA has hired a house manager for their location, which we hope to open in the next year or so. There also is a great group of volunteers who help. Wish such small staffs, volunteers are key to providing successful guest support.
Q: Why is building a new Fisher House at the Dayton VA so important?
A: Serving 18 counties, the Dayton VA is a 356-bed tertiary care facility with nearly 63,000 enrolled veterans. In 2015, they had more than 5,300 admissions and nearly 500,000 outpatient visits. However, they have no on-campus, compassionate care lodging, and nearby commercial lodging and dining facilities are poor. With a Fisher House, the Dayton VA can provide housing in a mutually supportive healing environment at no cost for the duration of the military members' stay.
Q: How would you describe the relationship with The Dayton Foundation?
A: The Foundation's support in helping us meet the $500,000 challenge for the Dayton VA Fisher House has been phenomenal. Their leadership and staff also have been incredibly supportive and assist us in a great manner.
Q: What inspires you about the Greater Dayton community?
A: Dayton is a midsize Midwestern town with solid Midwestern values. We're a great military city, fully integrating our military members and families into the community through their support of the active duty, reserve and Guard missions.
Q: How would you complete this sentence, “My giving makes me feel____”?
A: … whole. I was raised this way and follow the principles in the Bible. My wife and I have been very blessed, and we want to share with others who are in need.
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