Construction to begin this fall on a home in Ironbridge Golf Club & Mountain Community for USMC Sergeant Kirstie Ennis
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (September 13, 2016) – While serving our country, soldiers all too often suffer from injuries that alter their lives drastically. In a blink of an eye, one day can change their lives and physical abilities forever. For USMC Sgt. Kirstie Ennis, that day for her was in June of 2012, when she was in a helicopter crash during her second tour of duty in Afghanistan. Sgt. Ennis experienced significant injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, burns, a shattered jaw, a torn rotator cuff and labrum, cervical disc injuries, and severe damage to her left leg. After dozens of surgeries, and learning how to walk and talk again, Sgt. Ennis ultimately lost her left leg, which was amputated above the knee.
Despite her injuries, Sgt. Ennis has overcome numerous obstacles and persevered through a long, heroic road to recovery. As part of her recovery process, Ennis took up snowboarding and has excelled to the point that she is now ranked as one of the top athletes in women’s snowboard cross by the International Paralympic Committee. As she trains for the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Ennis’s need to relocate to the Aspen area for training led her to Building Homes for Heroes (BHH), which will break ground on a new home for her this fall at the Ironbridge Golf Club and Mountain Community in Glenwood Springs, Colorado – approximately 40 miles from Aspen.
With a strong commitment to rebuilding lives and supporting the brave men and women who were injured while serving their country during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Building Homes for Heroes is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization that builds or modifies homes and gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families.
“Despite all that she has been through, Sgt. Ennis continues to be an energetic and spirited young woman, and we’re so pleased to help her pursue a future in snowboarding by providing her a home near her training ground in Colorado,” said Kimberly Vesey, Director of Military Relations with Building Homes for Heroes.
Sgt. Ennis’s new home will be constructed by a local builder, RM Construction, with the support of donations and discounted labor and supplies from local companies. The golf course at Ironbridge will be holding an event on Saturday, October 1 to help raise necessary funds for the building of Ennis’s home.
“We as warriors want nothing more than to push past adversity and continue living a healthy and productive life,” said Ennis. “Thank you to Building Homes for Heroes, Ironbridge and everyone else involved for helping to provide me with that opportunity. Thank you for helping me regain my independence and to continue my snowboarding career in the Aspen area.”
Local golfers are encouraged to play at Ironbridge on October 1, as $50 will be donated to BHH from each public fee that day. In addition, Sgt. Ennis and members from the BHH organization will be on hand for a “meet and greet” reception from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local residents and members of the community are encouraged to come and meet their new neighbor. Fees for golf are $99 for 18-holes, with cart and access to the driving range included. There will also be a selection of items and gift certificates donated by area businesses available during a silent auction.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Sgt. Ennis to the Ironbridge Community,” said John Young, General Managing Partner. “In addition to the close proximity to world-class snowboarding in Snowmass and Aspen, Sgt. Ennis will be a member of the Ironbridge Club, which will allow her to work out year-round in the Club’s recreation center, with state-of-the art equipment. In the summer months, she’ll also be able to utilize the swimming pool and hot tub as part of her training and continued physical therapy.”
To sign up for a tee time on Saturday, October 1, please call the Ironbridge Pro Shop at 970-384-0630. If you are not a golfer or unable to attend the October 1 event, but would like to donate, please make checks payable to: Building Homes for Heroes and note Sgt. Ennis in the memo line. Checks may be dropped off at Ironbridge or mailed directly to BHFH at: 65 Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 105, Valley Stream, NY 11581
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About Ironbridge Golf Club & Mountain Community:
Ironbridge Golf Club & Mountain Community, located approximately five miles from downtown Glenwood Springs, encompasses the only 18-hole, semi-private golf course between New Castle and Carbondale. The 7,224-yard course, originally designed by Arthur Hills and refined by Tom Lehman (2014), provides an idyllic golf experience with stunning views of Mount Sopris and a nearly 500-foot elevation gain from the pro shop to the #12 tee. The onsite Ironbridge Grill, also open to the public, offers casual, yet elevated American fare, with a covered patio and deck area available for groups and events. The residential community of Ironbridge is currently comprised of single family homes, with new construction currently available at prices starting in the $400,000s.
About Building Homes for Heroes
Founded in 2006, Building Homes for Heroes is strongly committed to rebuilding lives and supporting the brave men and women who were injured while serving the country during the time of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization builds or modifies homes, and gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families. These homes not only help to remove the family’s financial burden, they help to restore the individual’s freedom, and enable the veteran to lead a more independent and productive civilian life. The charity is on track to gift one mortgage-free home every 10 days this year to injured veterans, and proudly reached a record-setting fifth consecutive year in 2015 of achieving at least a 93% program rating, and has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, including a 100% score in transparency and accountability. To learn more, visit www.buildinghomesforheroes.org.
About RM Construction
Established in 2012, RM Construction is one of the leading residential builders in the Roaring Fork Valley. With nearly 40 years of experience in the housing and construction industry, owner and general contractor, Bob Gibson, helps homeowners convert their dream and vision to a reality. RM Construction is a firm that takes pride in having a team of extremely experienced staff, while working with quality vendors and industry professionals.
