(April 26, 2004) - The Commander, Walter Reed Army Medical Center will host an April 28, 2004 ceremony to dedicate the third Fisher House donated to the Army’s premier Medical Center. The ceremony will begin at 11.00 am in front of the new 7,800 square foot house on Dahlia Street across from the Post Chapel on the main campus of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The public is invited to attend

The featured speakers at the ceremony are Representative C.W. “Bill” Young, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee; General Richard B Myers. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staffs; General Kevin C. Kiley, Commander, Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Ms. Kathleen Walas, President Avon Foundation; and Mr. Kenneth Fisher, Chairman, Fisher House Foundation.

The Fisher House program is a network of 32 comfort homes that provide a home away from home for the families of patients receiving care at major military and several VA medical centers. The homes provide a compassionate, supportive environment and serve as a tangible symbol of the support to military and veterans’ families. Fisher Houses have played a critical role in caring for those wounded and injured in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Fisher House Foundation is donating a third Fisher House to Walter Reed Medical Center in direct response to our nation’s commitment to the Global War on Terrorism. The new Fisher House is 40% larger than the first two Fisher Houses donated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. With its 11 living suites, there will be a total of 27 rooms available to eligible service members and their families.

Ms Kathleen Walas, President of the Avon Foundation, will recognize the role of Avon Sales Representatives, who through the sale of special Avon Yellow Ribbon Pins, raised nearly $3,000,000 to benefit military families. The Avon Foundation donated $500,000 to the Fisher House Foundation for the building of the new Walter Reed Fisher House, as well as $1,000,000 to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund