Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to providing mortgage-free homes for injured veterans, first responders and their families, is gearing up to host its second annual 5K Walk/Run at Eisenhower Park on April 4.
The Island Park-based organization, which has significant national reach, is hoping to continue raising funds and spreading awareness for its mission and cause. With origins that trace back to the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center, Building Homes for Heroes’ founder Andy Pujol, a businessman and philanthropist, volunteered in search and rescue efforts at Ground Zero.
As the U.S. responded overseas, Pujol wanted to find a way to support wounded veterans returning from service. Building Homes for Heroes was born with the hope of giving a single home to a single veteran.
In 2012, the organization started to get more national recognition, after partnering with larger corporations, allowing the nonprofit to build 25 to 30 homes a year. Over a decade later, the organization is on track to complete its 500th home by the end of the year.
Beyond homes, the organization ensures that veterans are supported once they’re gifted a home, providing financial advisory programs and emergency funding to home recipients. There’s also programming available for academics, mental health services and physical wellness, among others. When veterans receive a home, it is often an energetic affair that gathers the local community, police departments and fire departments who create a procession-like atmosphere to welcome them into their new space.
Last year, it had been a decade since Building Homes for Heroes hosted a race on Long Island. Daniel Hernandez, a veteran who has worked at Building Homes for Heroes since 2019, got into running during the pandemic and brought forth the idea of reviving the event.
The inaugural 5K-reboot was held in Eisenhower Park last April, and this year, the group is hoping to bounce off its success. There were 195 runners in last year’s race, and despite rainy weather, everyone had a great time, Hernandez said.
David Weingrad, director of communications for the nonprofit, said Hernandez did a great job organizing the 5K and keeping things moving the day of the race.
“There’s always going to be things you learn on the spot,” Weingrad said. “He was all over the place, and people were pulling him in every direction — he did an amazing job. I think it was a testament to how much people care about our cause and our mission.”
Hernandez has long competed in runs in support of Building Homes for Heroes, but at the end of last year he took the challenge of just simply running a step further. In November, starting in Eisenhower Park, Hernadez ran one mile every hour, followed by 22 pushups, to raise awareness for suicide rates among veterans. The journey began at 7 a.m. in the park and culminated the following day in Long Beach.
“We streamed a lot of it,” Weingrad said of Hernandez’s efforts. “It was a really cool thing that Danny did — it shows his dedication, and he’s a veteran himself.”
“I am growing to love running,” Hernandez, who qualified for the New York City marathon later this year, added. “I just thought this is a great challenge. Our veterans are suffering. For me, taking one day to support them means a lot.”
This year’s race is slated to take place rain or shine, in Field 2 of Eisenhower Park. There’s a Kids Fun Run at 8 a.m., followed by the main race at 8:30 a.m. When runners sign up at Events.EliteFeats.com/26HonoringHeroes, there’s both a registration fee and an option to donate to the nonprofit. All registrants will receive a free T-shirt, and the top 150 runners will receive a medal. For those uninterested in running, they can simply donate online. There will be raffles and other things for participants or fans to look forward to as well.
There’s also opportunities for businesses to get involved and sponsor the event, which will also draw in more funds for Building Homes for Heroes. Businesses interested can reach out to Hernandez at daniel.hernandez@buildinghomesforheroes.org.
Being in such a public space as Eisenhower Park aids the nonprofit in name recognition as well.
“From a fundraising point, we’re trying to get as many sponsorships as possible,” Hernandez said. “There are people who do donate, so that helps us with our goal. And last year, we had a gentleman, he was just walking in the park and learned about our cause and donated $1,000 on the spot.”
Weingrad said that Building Homes for Heroes is now officially in its 20th year. Its beginnings grew out of the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, but the nonprofit’s official inception was Feb. 27, 2006.
“We just had our 20th anniversary, but so many people don’t know that we’re a Long Island grown organization, and I think that’s why people were excited to participate in the race last year,” Weingrad said. “When people learn, like that guy walking, that Building Homes for Heroes is based right here in their backyard, that’s what makes them want to be generous. That’s just a part of what we’re doing.”
Building Homes for Heroes is at 4584 Austin Blvd., Island Park. For more about the organization and its work, visit BuildingHomesForHeroes.org.
