Wounded Veteran Sgt. Joel Tavera is an Inspiration for All

U.S. Army Sgt. Joel Tavera, one of the most severely injured veterans to survive the nation’s Middle East conflicts, has had over 200 surgeries and wasn't supposed to survive his injuries. But he has done much more than survive, graduating with honors in December from the University of Tampa with a degree in history.

Joel’s will, passion for life, spirit and perseverance serve as an inspiration for anyone who is facing difficult times. William Ryan Homes Tampa, in turn, was proud to help build a new, mortgage-free home through Building Homes for Heroes® for Joel and his parents in 2011.

“It’s my great privilege to know Joel,” said William Ryan Homes division president Jeff Thorson, who attended the University of Tampa graduation. “To think about all he’s achieved, we are so happy we could be here to watch him graduate with honors. It’s our honor to support the men and women who have loyally and courageously served our country.”

After all that he has been through, Joel was extremely proud of his most recent accomplishment. The big surprise of the day for Jeff Thorson and his wife Kelly was the opportunity to meet Joel's girlfriend Holly. She serves in the U.S. Air Force, not the U.S. Army, but Joel certainly doesn't seem to mind! 

In this season of gratitude, we should take a moment to reflect and give thanks for our own homes, and the ability to help our wounded heroes obtain their dream of a new home for their family. For over a decade, William Ryan Homes Tampa and Building Homes for Heroes® has supported southwest Florida veterans with homes that help veterans’ families for a lifetime.

Giving Back Will Continue at William Ryan Homes

William Ryan Homes Tampa will continue its philanthropic efforts in 2019 and will once again partner with the Building Homes for Heroes® program to provide their sixth new, fully-adapted, mortgage-free home to a wounded veteran.

Building Homes for Heroes® is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2006. The organization helps rebuild lives and support for those injured while serving the country during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Building Homes for Heroes® builds homes, and gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families. To read more about Sgt. Joel Tavera’s story, visit the Building Homes for Heroes website. 

William Ryan Homes Tampa is a home builder in the Tampa, Florida area, with over 25 years of experience. A National Certified Green Builder with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, William Ryan Homes has won numerous awards. Follow this blog to find information on innovative construction methods, green building techniques, excellent quality construction and flexible new home designs