First giveaway event supports our heroes
Last week, Phoenix Roofing gave a roof to one of those who guarded the roofs over our heads.
“We have always been giving back to veterans,” company Managing Partner Albert Zabala said.
The Ellijay-based company planned a special giveaway of a free roof to a local veteran.
This year is the first time the company has run this event, but it plans to do so every year going forward.
A new roof costs as much as $15,000.
The giveaway, known as “Operation Rooftop Rescue,” was open to any veteran who submitted their name, address, phone number, short story on their time in the military and copy of their DD-214 to Phoenix Roofing’s website at https://phoenixroofingsystems.net/roof-for-heroes.
After collecting the names of veterans, Phoenix Roofing ran a lottery to pick which one would get the roof.
“There’s a lot of veterans in north Georgia and in the South,” Zabala said.
They announced the winner on July Fourth.
The winner this year was Army veteran Ron Wheeler and his wife, Sue Wheeler.
Wheeler served in Vietnam flying in an OV-1 Mohawk plane.
His job was to scout out enemy forces with a Side Looking Airborne Radar. He would then mark the position with smoke rockets so ground forces could engage the enemy.
“It was a dangerous time for the young man from Georgia, but Ron has great stories to tell his grandchildren,” the Wheelers wrote to Phoenix Roofing.
Ron Wheeler also founded the American Legion’s north Georgia chapter.
“From zero members to 1,400 members strong,” Zabala said of this achievement.
Today, Ron Wheeler suffers from a brain aneurism, and his wife is fighting cancer. Their roof was 20 years old.
“We put them in a position where they don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Zabala said.
The company built the couple’s roof Wednesday, July 22. To get the job done, about 15 employees came to take part.
The roof giveaway is far from the only veteran-focused part of Phoenix’s business model, he said.
For every roof they make, the company donates to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to the children of fallen veterans and first responders.
“We’ve always had a warm spot for veterans,” Zabala said. “I said from the beginning that if we’re ever in a position where we can give back and get a roof, we would.”