July 23, 2025 • 8 mins
The Dunham House in Omaha Provides Combat-Wounded Veterans Care & Community
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining me in the studio is a very special guest
from the Wounded Warriors Family Support. Kate McCauley is joining
us to talk about a very interesting project. Kate, First
of all, thank you so much for being in the
studio with us.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Say thank you for having me. It's a great topic
to be talking about today.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
First of all, let's talk about the Wounded Warrior's Family
Support and just kind of what you do and what
this service is for the people who have served our nation. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Wounded Warrior's Family Support was established in two thousand and
two by Colonel John Folsom, a native of Omaha, and
so we are based out of Omaha, Nebraska. There's a
lot of Wounded Warrior organizations. You'll know it's ours because
it's Wounded Warrior's Family Support based out of Omaha, Nebraska. However,
we are a national organization and for the past twenty
(00:44):
two years we've been serving combat wounded veterans that their
families and their caregivers through are programs.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now that I think everybody would agree is a worthy cause,
very important cause.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
But there also is this element of what can we
do better? And I think how in Holmes, things like
that or something. Sometimes we just don't think about veterans
needing and enter kind of this new project that we have,
you know, I brought you in to talk about today.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It's called the Dunham House and the website is the
Dunham House dot org. And it's been something that's been on.
Colonel Folsom the founder of the Dunham House and was
also the founder of the Wounded Warri's Family Support. He
went on to start the Dunham House to be able
to fund raise with the American people, and I will
be happy to tell you we've raised over ten million
(01:32):
dollars for this project. It's a thirty unit, it's twenty
seven thousand square feet of a kind of a housing
development for specifically for veterans with TBI injuries and other
combat wounded injuries. And what's fabulous about this there's no
federal money is involved, so it's all coming from the
(01:54):
American public that really loves to support their.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Veterans, just giving right in giving to people. Were speaking
with Kate McAuley here of Wounded Warriors Family Support, so
privately funded. I think people perk up and say, oh wow,
so does this mean that you guys are still taking donations.
How does that kind of work? How can people if
they're just now learning about this project, how can they
be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Well, we'd love for you to visit us on the
website or stop in the office. We're located right in
Omaha one hundred and tenth in Q Street. There's always
going to be a need for more donations. What we're
covering right now is the building. We're still fundraising through
a capital campaign for the interior and the exterior of
the property. And by the way, we have another thirty
(02:38):
acres that is part of this program. So there's a
possibility if this goes over really well, that we'll be
doing a phase two right away.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Wow. So with phase two, and we're speaking about the
Dunham House, which you can the website Dunham House dot org.
Great visuals, great pictures, great information about exactly what the
mission is and what this is going to look like.
Do we have a kind of a target date for opening.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
We do. We're looking at the fall of twenty twenty six.
And what I want to really stress to your listeners
is the fact that what happens to the combat wounded
veteran when the parents have aged out to take care
of that veteran, And that's what we're looking at. We're
looking at veterans that have been injured for up to
twenty years and a lot of the times the marriages
(03:24):
don't work out, the kids have grown up, Mom and
dad are the caregivers and now they're in their eighties.
So what happens? And so Colonel Folsom had this vision
many years ago when visiting Bethesda, the young Marines and
the injured that he would visit, and he just would say, well,
what's going to happen, you know, to these guys when
there's no one else available to take care of him.
(03:44):
And so that's how the Dunham House was really developed.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Very interesting speaking here with Kate mccauleay of Wounded Warriors
Family Support and speaking about the Dunham House. So I
know that we're in phase one. You mentioned all the
extra land in phase two, I would have to imagine that,
you know, you talk about the living spaces and being
able for a few dozen wounded veterans to be able
(04:09):
to live here once this opens. But if we're talking
about what you hope this stands for for growth and
for information and for knowledge of the people outside of
your group to understand that there's never enough of this
type of thing that could be going on to help
our veterans, not just here in Omaha, but basically anywhere.
What would be kind of the steps that you would
(04:32):
like to see next, maybe in a phase two of
this project, or maybe seeing other places around the Midwest
be able to adopt certain models like this one to
help the wounded veterans who need, you know, an assisted
living facility that they can live in.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Well, we are, you know, super super proud to bring
this to Omaha, Nebraska. It's our grassroots. Nebraska loves their veterans,
and we're supported through the Nationally. We're supported by National
so that's huge for the organization. Especially we're not at war,
so to be relevant and to have the American people
(05:10):
want to give to our organization, we know that we're
doing something right. Taking care of the families has always
been a priority for us, and this is just another
step how not only the wounded warriors' family support, but
the American people can really let their veterans know that, hey,
we haven't forgotten about you. We know that we don't
want you live in an assisted living facility with other
(05:32):
elderly people. We want you living in a community that
you feel safe and secure and you have top of
the line treatment. This will be daily living assistance and
so we will have caregivers and our ends on staff
as well as security. The grounds will be fabulous. We've
got outdoor barbecues. It's just what you would see in
(05:53):
a lodge in today's.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
World, and you get a chance to do it with
people that understand your pain right and understand your challenges.
It's a really powerful idea. Dunhamhouse dot org is the website.
Before we finish up, I just kind of wanted to
circle back to what you do with Wounded Warriors family
project and support and the support that you're constantly, you know,
(06:17):
kind of thinking about when we're thinking future right, and
like you said, we're not at or hopefully we never
will be. But that doesn't mean that we don't have
veterans that they need care. They need help in one way,
shape or form. What would be the way that you
would suggest people like us to learn about what the
needs are and how we can help our veterans in
(06:38):
our communities.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I think, first of all, if you follow us on
our Facebook page, and also in some of our LinkedIn
and social media, we do a lot of impact videos
to show our donors where their money is going. What's
different about wounded warriors is the fact that we are
giving something to the veteran. They're getting a truck grant,
they're getting modification grant, they're getting some direct support. So
(07:00):
it's not like we're, you know, throwing a big galley
event and we're fundraising all this money and it's not
going to where it needs to be. Eighty eight percent
of the money we bring in goes out to our
veteran population and so we're super thrilled by that. We've
always stood by making sure that family is cared for,
and we work very closely with our veterans, their caregivers,
(07:22):
their families, so we know what's important. We know that,
you know, mobility is a big thing for a combat
wounded veteran that's lost limbs, they lose their diving independence.
We have programs that can get them back on the road.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
That's so great. We can never talk enough about this.
Twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
For the twenty six I say about November twenty twenty
six is what we're targeting.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
That's going to be incredible, a massive silly eight acres.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
You said, it's going to be built on eight point
five acres. We own forty of the acres there. We're
hoping to be a pilot program for many of these
to come. It's the first of its kind that I'm
aware of, and I'm excited to be a part of
the legacy.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
It's going to be incredible. Kate McCauley of Wounded Warriors
Family Support talking about the Dunham House helping our wounded
veterans here in Omaha. And if you want to learn more,
Dunham House dot org. Very easy website and it's very interactive,
has a lot of information and you can learn about
how you can help there as well. Kate, thank you
so much for coming in and for being a part
(08:21):
of this show and telling us about this, and good luck.
I can't wait to chat with you a little bit
down the line to see what the progress looks like.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Absolutely, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
It is two forty five. Thanks for listening. It's News
Radio eleven to ten. Kfab Emrie Stealer
Joining me in the studio is a very special guest
from the Wounded Warriors Family Support. Kate McCauley is joining
us to talk about a very interesting project. Kate, First
of all, thank you so much for being in the
studio with us.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Say thank you for having me. It's a great topic
to be talking about today.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
First of all, let's talk about the Wounded Warrior's Family
Support and just kind of what you do and what
this service is for the people who have served our nation. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Wounded Warrior's Family Support was established in two thousand and
two by Colonel John Folsom, a native of Omaha, and
so we are based out of Omaha, Nebraska. There's a
lot of Wounded Warrior organizations. You'll know it's ours because
it's Wounded Warrior's Family Support based out of Omaha, Nebraska. However,
we are a national organization and for the past twenty
(00:44):
two years we've been serving combat wounded veterans that their
families and their caregivers through are programs.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now that I think everybody would agree is a worthy cause,
very important cause.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
But there also is this element of what can we
do better? And I think how in Holmes, things like
that or something. Sometimes we just don't think about veterans
needing and enter kind of this new project that we have,
you know, I brought you in to talk about today.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It's called the Dunham House and the website is the
Dunham House dot org. And it's been something that's been on.
Colonel Folsom the founder of the Dunham House and was
also the founder of the Wounded Warri's Family Support. He
went on to start the Dunham House to be able
to fund raise with the American people, and I will
be happy to tell you we've raised over ten million
(01:32):
dollars for this project. It's a thirty unit, it's twenty
seven thousand square feet of a kind of a housing
development for specifically for veterans with TBI injuries and other
combat wounded injuries. And what's fabulous about this there's no
federal money is involved, so it's all coming from the
(01:54):
American public that really loves to support their.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Veterans, just giving right in giving to people. Were speaking
with Kate McAuley here of Wounded Warriors Family Support, so
privately funded. I think people perk up and say, oh wow,
so does this mean that you guys are still taking donations.
How does that kind of work? How can people if
they're just now learning about this project, how can they
be a part of it.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Well, we'd love for you to visit us on the
website or stop in the office. We're located right in
Omaha one hundred and tenth in Q Street. There's always
going to be a need for more donations. What we're
covering right now is the building. We're still fundraising through
a capital campaign for the interior and the exterior of
the property. And by the way, we have another thirty
(02:38):
acres that is part of this program. So there's a
possibility if this goes over really well, that we'll be
doing a phase two right away.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Wow. So with phase two, and we're speaking about the
Dunham House, which you can the website Dunham House dot org.
Great visuals, great pictures, great information about exactly what the
mission is and what this is going to look like.
Do we have a kind of a target date for opening.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
We do. We're looking at the fall of twenty twenty six.
And what I want to really stress to your listeners
is the fact that what happens to the combat wounded
veteran when the parents have aged out to take care
of that veteran, And that's what we're looking at. We're
looking at veterans that have been injured for up to
twenty years and a lot of the times the marriages
(03:24):
don't work out, the kids have grown up, Mom and
dad are the caregivers and now they're in their eighties.
So what happens? And so Colonel Folsom had this vision
many years ago when visiting Bethesda, the young Marines and
the injured that he would visit, and he just would say, well,
what's going to happen, you know, to these guys when
there's no one else available to take care of him.
(03:44):
And so that's how the Dunham House was really developed.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Very interesting speaking here with Kate mccauleay of Wounded Warriors
Family Support and speaking about the Dunham House. So I
know that we're in phase one. You mentioned all the
extra land in phase two, I would have to imagine that,
you know, you talk about the living spaces and being
able for a few dozen wounded veterans to be able
(04:09):
to live here once this opens. But if we're talking
about what you hope this stands for for growth and
for information and for knowledge of the people outside of
your group to understand that there's never enough of this
type of thing that could be going on to help
our veterans, not just here in Omaha, but basically anywhere.
What would be kind of the steps that you would
(04:32):
like to see next, maybe in a phase two of
this project, or maybe seeing other places around the Midwest
be able to adopt certain models like this one to
help the wounded veterans who need, you know, an assisted
living facility that they can live in.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Well, we are, you know, super super proud to bring
this to Omaha, Nebraska. It's our grassroots. Nebraska loves their veterans,
and we're supported through the Nationally. We're supported by National
so that's huge for the organization. Especially we're not at war,
so to be relevant and to have the American people
(05:10):
want to give to our organization, we know that we're
doing something right. Taking care of the families has always
been a priority for us, and this is just another
step how not only the wounded warriors' family support, but
the American people can really let their veterans know that, hey,
we haven't forgotten about you. We know that we don't
want you live in an assisted living facility with other
(05:32):
elderly people. We want you living in a community that
you feel safe and secure and you have top of
the line treatment. This will be daily living assistance and
so we will have caregivers and our ends on staff
as well as security. The grounds will be fabulous. We've
got outdoor barbecues. It's just what you would see in
(05:53):
a lodge in today's.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
World, and you get a chance to do it with
people that understand your pain right and understand your challenges.
It's a really powerful idea. Dunhamhouse dot org is the website.
Before we finish up, I just kind of wanted to
circle back to what you do with Wounded Warriors family
project and support and the support that you're constantly, you know,
(06:17):
kind of thinking about when we're thinking future right, and
like you said, we're not at or hopefully we never
will be. But that doesn't mean that we don't have
veterans that they need care. They need help in one way,
shape or form. What would be the way that you
would suggest people like us to learn about what the
needs are and how we can help our veterans in
(06:38):
our communities.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I think, first of all, if you follow us on
our Facebook page, and also in some of our LinkedIn
and social media, we do a lot of impact videos
to show our donors where their money is going. What's
different about wounded warriors is the fact that we are
giving something to the veteran. They're getting a truck grant,
they're getting modification grant, they're getting some direct support. So
(07:00):
it's not like we're, you know, throwing a big galley
event and we're fundraising all this money and it's not
going to where it needs to be. Eighty eight percent
of the money we bring in goes out to our
veteran population and so we're super thrilled by that. We've
always stood by making sure that family is cared for,
and we work very closely with our veterans, their caregivers,
(07:22):
their families, so we know what's important. We know that,
you know, mobility is a big thing for a combat
wounded veteran that's lost limbs, they lose their diving independence.
We have programs that can get them back on the road.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
That's so great. We can never talk enough about this.
Twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
For the twenty six I say about November twenty twenty
six is what we're targeting.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
That's going to be incredible, a massive silly eight acres.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
You said, it's going to be built on eight point
five acres. We own forty of the acres there. We're
hoping to be a pilot program for many of these
to come. It's the first of its kind that I'm
aware of, and I'm excited to be a part of
the legacy.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
It's going to be incredible. Kate McCauley of Wounded Warriors
Family Support talking about the Dunham House helping our wounded
veterans here in Omaha. And if you want to learn more,
Dunham House dot org. Very easy website and it's very interactive,
has a lot of information and you can learn about
how you can help there as well. Kate, thank you
so much for coming in and for being a part
(08:21):
of this show and telling us about this, and good luck.
I can't wait to chat with you a little bit
down the line to see what the progress looks like.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Absolutely, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
It is two forty five. Thanks for listening. It's News
Radio eleven to ten. Kfab Emrie Stealer
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