Support for Vets
Shelby County Commissioners commit $145,000 to West Tennessee Veterans
Holly Swogger, president of West Tennessee Veterans Home Inc., had reason to smile after the Shelby County commissioners voted to award her charitable group $145,000.
Agift of $80,000 to the West Tennessee Veterans Home grew on Wednesday to $145,000, as members of the Shelby County Commission stepped up to help fund the 144bed skilled care facility for Shelby, Fayette and Tipton county veterans.
“Your votes today on this resolution really mean the world to us,” said Holly Swogger, president of the fundraising organization. “You have no idea how hard we work to raise this money.”
The organizers must raise 35 percent or $24 million of the $72 million price tag. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will provide the remaining 65 percent. Swogger’s group is now $9.5 million away from the goal.
However, because two other Tennessee groups are also trying to build veterans homes, it is crucial that the remaining funds be raised before August 2016, Swogger said.
“If they get their funds together by Aug. 1, we lose our place in line,” she said.
The home is to be built in Arlington at the Arlington Development Center and construction could start in January 2017 if funding is in place.
But, without the total amount in hand, construction could be delayed for years, which means the cost would go up, she said.
Fundraising began in 2006, when the total cost was $18 million to build and the group was responsible for $6 million.
To date, the state has committed $10 million, the Plough Foundation has pledged $2 million, an anonymous donor $1 million and Shelby County, Swogger said.
The initial $80,000 donation was made by commission Chairman Terry Roland. Each commissioner has a $100,000 grant allocation that can be awarded to nonprofit groups or toward a community enhancement project.
After Swogger’s presentation, commissioners Willie Brooks, George Chism, Justin Ford, Eddie Jones, David Reaves and Van Turner each committed to an additional $10,000. Commissioners Melvin Burgess and Reginald Milton each gave $2,500.
Swogger was joined by a group of veterans and their supports, along with Kevin Rardin, an assistant district attorney and the chief prosecutor in the county’s veterans court.
Rardin served 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, including a year in Afghanistan, and pulled from his pockets his military identification tags and a Bronze Star, awarded for valor.
“I knew that Commissioner Roland had already led the way by making his commitment,” Rardin said. “I had hoped that we would be able to sway some of the other county commissioners today into donating. So I’m gratified.”
The full commission will vote on the grant on Monday.