TheMReport

12 | TH E M R EP O RT EXPOSURE Giving a Hero a Place to Call Home The National Fantasy Football Convention— Operation Homefront and Keys for Life Present Mortgage-Free Home to Veteran JULY 14-16, DALLAS, TEXAS A rtificial turf, big screens, football players—not the standard surround- ings for mortgage companies to make an impact. The National Fantasy Football Convention (NFFC) took place Saturday in Dallas with the majority of goers clad in Dallas Cowboys' jerseys and hats, some in giant helmets and waving foam fingers. However, it wasn't the fans or even the famous Cowboys' players that everyone's attention was on. It was Erica Corley, an Army veteran and single mother of two, who was presented with a mortgage-free home. Corley took the stage along- side Operation Homefront President and CEO John I. Pray Jr., Brigadier Gen, USAF (Ret.) and Five Star Institute President and CEO Ed Delgado to receive the keys to her new home. Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive, partnered with the Keys for Life program, an initiative of the Five Star Institute, and JPMorgan Chase, who donated the home. When asked what this home meant to her, Corley had one word that encompassed all of her feelings: "everything." "This puts me so far ahead of the game," Corley said. "I made a lot of sacrifices—do- ing the traveling, being gone—so after be- ing gone for so long, there wasn't a home to come back to." Corley explained that as a single mom, she poured everything into her children. Now, instead of starting brand new and having to sacrifice more in order to get her family where they need to be, they now have a house to come home to every day and that is extremely overwhelming. Numerous companies heard of the home donation and immediately wanted to reach out in support. Corley received over $5,000 in gift cards from ALAW, Clarocity, Nationstar Mortgage, Oversite Data Services, Truly Noble Services, ZVN Properties, and an anonymous donor. "When you think about helping a fam- ily thrive in their communities, it's about homeownership and getting that family into that community and that's why Erica was selected," said Pray. "It wasn't simply because there was a need, because there's a need from so many of our vet- erans, but she was absolutely the right fit to be in this home in this community and allow her to establish the roots that will allow her to take care of her family." Not only is this home something that will give Corley's family an opportunity to grow presently, Pray explained that it also allows her to pass down that equity and all the things that come along with home- ownership to her children. It will make a life-changing, generational impact. "It's incumbent upon all of us as Americans to realize the amazing work that our veterans and their families have done for all of us," said Pray. "They have protected the freedoms that we all get to enjoy daily and when they come back home to their communities, they need help. We as Americans and as a large commu- nity should band together and take care of those that have done so much for all of us." Since 2010, the Five Star Institute has supported the presentation of over 50 mortgage-free homes to veterans under their Keys for Life (KFL) program. In 2015, KFL teamed up with Operation Homefront to continue the tradition. "It is a privilege to recognize our veterans for their service to our nation," Delgado said. "Far too often, we take for granted the blanket of peace and safety we enjoy as a nation. Ensuring that those who have sacrificed to protect our freedom are properly cared for upon returning home should be a duty for all Americans." Delgado in conjunction with Operation Homefront will have the pleasure of presenting five additional veterans with mortgage-free homes at the Keys for Life Dinner and Concert held at the Five Star Conference, September 18-20. Players such as Jonny Manziel, Terrell Owens, and Charles Haley were also in support at the event. "They deserve it all. They are out there putting their life on the line so we can do what we do," said Dallas Cowboys Fullback Keith Smith who was one of the current NFL players featured at the event. "They're the real superstars." 1. Five Star Institute President and CEO Ed Delgado addresses the audience. 2. Operation Homefront President and CEO John I. Pray Jr., Brigadier Gen, USAF (Ret.) on stage with Army veteran Erica Corley. 3. Army Veteran Erica Corley and John I. Pray Jr., Brigadier Gen, USAF (Ret.) interviewed together after the presenta- tion. 4. Former NFL player Terrell Owens being interviewed by SiriusXM Fantasy 1. 2. 3. 4.

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