'Families of the Wounded' saving families -- and lives

'Families of the Wounded' saving families -- and lives

Sam Brock
Anchor/Reporter
12:37 a.m. EDT, July 2, 2011

MECHANICSVILLE, VA (WTVR) - 'Families of the Wounded' is an organization that has pulled together more than 260 families from across the country and helped hundreds of military veterans recover from injury.

However, the organization started, oddly enough, rather unceremoniously.

"I threw down $100 in the middle of the table and began the process of what is now a fund that has raised more than $2.5 million dollars," recalled Tom Winfree, the president and CEO of Village Bank and one of the co-founders of the 'Families of the Wounded' fund.

About six years ago, Winfree and fellow board member Cal Esleeck both chipped in $100.

Today, the fund has grown exponentially and provides meaningful assistance to military families rocked by the injuries- both physical and psychological- of their loved ones.

"They're a caring group of people, and even if they gave us no money I would be here saying the same things to you today," said Angie Pearce, whose husband Brian nearly died in 2006 from an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

"They came into that room, and they changed our family's life," said Pearce.
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Families of the Wounded saving families and lives