Building Homes for Heroes—Santana and Burse

Who Is Building Homes for Heroes?

If you’re unfamiliar with Building Homes for Heroes, let’s take a quick look at the history and mission of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 

BHFH was founded in 2006 by Andy Pujol—a successful business owner who, after volunteering for post-9/11 search-and-rescue efforts and witnessing the devastation of the terror attacks at the World Trade Center firsthand, vowed to find a way to give back to military veterans.

Since the organization's conception, Building Homes for Heroes has had but one simple and honorable mission—retrofitting and building homes for U.S. military veterans injured in combat. 

Speaking for myself and the entire staff at RealTruck, our values couldn’t align closer with those of Building Homes for Heroes. There’s nothing more heroic than risking one's life for one's country, and there’s no better way to allocate time and funds than partnering with a great organization like Building Homes for Heroes.

For more information on the organization, check out the piece we published earlier this year on Building Homes for Heroes.

Building Homes for Heroes Impact

Since its founding, Building Homes for Heroes has built and retrofitted over 300 homes for Veterans of the U.S. military. This number continuously grows, with a goal of one home per 11 days. Through 2024, with the help of RealTruck and other sponsors, BHFH aims to increase this number to a whopping 400 completed projects.

RealTruck and Building Homes for Heroes

RealTruck is and continues to be one of Building Homes for Heroes' most notable corporate sponsors, alongside Lowe’s, Chase Bank, Amazon Web Services, and Advanced Auto Parts. Over the past five-plus years, RealTruck has donated over one million dollars to further the organization’s mission. 

At the 2023 SEMA show, RealTruck also debuted an overland Jeep Gladiator built in collaboration with Matchbox. After the show, the Jeep was auctioned off at Barrett Jackson. The truck wildly exceeded expectations, generating a staggering $325,000.

The Builds—Santana and Burse

This particular project is special for numerous reasons. From a philanthropic perspective, the simultaneous donation of two mortgage-free new homes was a significant milestone for Building Homes for Heroes as the first tandem giveaway.

From my perspective, I was fortunate enough to partake in the project personally, spending time on-site at BHFH partner—Pulte Group’s—EverBe community in Orlando, Florida. The two homes reside side by side in the brand-new community.

U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Kaia Santana

U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Kaia Santana—a 19-year veteran of the United States Air Force—experienced several injuries during her time in the military. After completing several tours of duty across the globe, including stints in Greece, Guam, Iraq, and Japan, Santana was honorably and medically discharged in 2016. 

Santana, her husband, and three children were rewarded for her service with an incredible 2,500+ sq. ft. home, fully furnished and equipped with a backyard pool. Beneath the flooring and sheetrock, hundreds of messages from community members and builders line the framework, thanking Kaia for her service and sacrifice.

U.S. ARMY Sergeant James Burse

U.S. ARMY Sergeant James Burse and his spouse, Tiffany, received an identical house in the plot immediately beside Sergeant Santana’s new home. Burse, who served a nine-year stint in the United States Army, was honorably and medically discharged after sustaining injuries from an explosion overseas. 

After facing adversity and homelessness, Burse and his wife have worked alongside Operation Barnabas to assist veterans facing homelessness and mental health emergencies. Like Sergeant Santana, the framing of Burse’s home features countless messages of praise and support for the decorated veteran.

How You Can Help

If you’d like to partake in one of the Building Homes for Heroes projects, take the time to donate to the organization. No amount is too big or too small—anything helps. If you can’t donate financially, consider donating your time at one of BHFH’s events.