Former NFL star Jared Allen donates handicap-accessible home to wounded TN veteran
PORTLAND, Tenn. — Former NFL star Jared Allen is donating a mortgage-free, handicap-accessible home to a wounded Tennessee veteran.
Allen's foundation, called Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors, is donating the house to U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Stephanie Vazquez.
In 2011, Sgt. Vazquez was severely wounded in Afghanistan during a routine patrol when her unit came under fire. Though she lost her left leg and underwent dozens of surgeries, Sgt. Vazquez still pursues hobbies like hiking, horseback riding, and sledding with the Nashville Preds sled hockey team.
Allen's foundation says Vazquez current lives in Portland, Tennessee with her daughter. Their current home isn't handicap-accessible, and daily tasks like showering and using the stairs pose dangerous threats to Vazquez.
“I can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate our veterans, and how lucky I am to have the opportunity to call these heroes my friends.” said Jared Allen. “This Veterans Day I can’t help but thing about the men and women fighting for us today that will need our help. With the help of our sponsors and donors I look forward to continuing to give our veterans the they home they earned for their service and sacrifice.”
To learn more about Sgt. Vazquez's service in Afghanistan, click here.
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