Community Commitment
Giving back is something that Tilson Homes holds dear. By serving our local Texas community, we are helping form a stronger bond and build better neighborhoods. From support of our service members to those affected by natural disasters in our own backyard, we encourage everyone on the Tilson Homes team to get involved and give back.
We are genuinely privileged to offer our support of Operation Finally Home. Since 2005, Operation Finally Home has worked with builders to provide custom built, mortgage-free homes to wounded or disabled veterans and widows of the fallen.
If you’d like to learn more about Operation Finally Home and join us in contributing to this worthy cause, click here for more information.
On September 2, 2020, we teamed up with the Greater Houston Builders Association, Jan Duncan, and Operation Finally Home to provide U.S. Marine Corps SSgt Shawn Friesen and his family with a mortgage-free home in League City. This home is currently under construction. You can follow along with the build on our blog.
Shawn had always felt a strong sense of pride for his country, which led him to enlist in the Marines in 2003 after high school graduation. He was deployed to the Middle East a total of five times during his more than 12 years of service. While leading a team of 25 Marines in Iraq in 2010, Shawn was in an armored vehicle that struck six IEDs. Following the blasts, he was sweeping for additional explosives when a nearby vehicle was struck, leaving him severely wounded. Having suffered multiple concussions, he was evacuated by air to a hospital in Afghanistan. Despite his injuries, Friesen continued serving until he completed his service in 2016.
After being exposed to many IED blasts, Shawn suffers from PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) causing confusion, anxiety, equilibrium problems and more.
He received many accolades including Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat V, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons and many more.
In April 2016, Tilson Homes paired up with Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land and Operation Finally Home to provide U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Charles R. Landry Jr. and family a mortgage-free Tilson Home in Richmond, TX.
The Landry family were surprised with the news that they would receive a new home at a Skeeters game in September 2015. Staff Sgt. Landry joined the U.S. Army in June 2002 and was stationed at the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Schweinfurt in Schweinfurt, Germany. While stationed in Germany, Landry deployed to Iraq multiple times. During his first deployment he experienced many firefights and vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). He suffered concussions from being knocked unconscious during rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. During his second deployment his entire unit suffered many casualties, which took a toll on his physical and mental health. He deployed for his third tour to Iraq in October 2009, spending 12 months under rocket attacks while he was stationed near a main supply route.
As a result of Landry’s 39 total months in combat, he suffers from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic headaches. He medically retired from the military in July 2015, and was ready to make a new start with his wife, Kathleen, and their three children.
In August 2012, Tilson Homes, SouthStar, and Operation Finally Home partnered to provide the Malarsie family with a mortgage-free home in New Braunfels, TX.
In January 2010, a month into his first deployment, Senior Airman Michael Malarsie set out for a routine foot patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Just as the squad approached an abandoned village, two IEDs were tripped, immediately killing all four of Malarsie’s compatriots.
Malarsie, the group’s only survivor, was permanently blinded by the attack. Upon recovery from his injuries and completion of a lengthy rehabilitation, Malarsie and his family relocated to San Antonio where he leads an Air Force program designed to help other wounded veterans re-acclimate to civilian life.
Inspired by stories like the Malarsies’, Tilson Homes has been fortunate to be able to offer support to Operation Finally Home, a non-profit organization devoted to alleviating one of the biggest pressures for returned wounded and disabled veterans: financing a home.
“Thousands of wounded veterans return stateside only to find themselves in financial distress as a result of their injuries and disabilities,” said Tilson Homes president and CEO Eddie Martin. “We are honored to be able to assist Operation Finally Home in relieving the burden on families like the Malarsies so they can focus on recovery.”
Just before Christmas in 2010, Tilson Homes teamed up with the Texas Association of Builders, Temple-Inland, Operation Finally Home and an army of volunteers to build a home in just a week through the ABC television show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. The recipient of the home was Patrick Zeigler, a soldier who was severely wounded in the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, and his fiancée.
Zeigler had returned home from Iraq two weeks prior to the shooting, suffered a nearly fatal wound to his head and spent the next 10 months battling for his life. His fiancée, Jessica Hansen, put her degree on hold in order to aid Zeigler in his recovery.
Thousands of volunteers turned out to the Salado, TX homesite to take part in the effort, many of whom were soldiers from Zeigler’s former unit and Brigade. Eddie Martin, president of Tilson Homes, said “It is incredibly moving and inspiring to see the courage and commitment that this young couple has shown in fighting back from their terrible tragedy.”
In 2010, Tilson teamed up with Operation Finally Home and the Texas Sentinels’ Foundation to build a mortgage-free home for the De Leon family. Sgt. De Leon joined the Army after eight years on the police force in Puerto Rico. On his fourth deployment to Afghanistan in 2004, his Humvee ran over an anti-tank mine and he lost his right leg and severely injured his left leg. After a long recovery, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and inspiring other wounded veterans. Tilson was honored to build a home for this dedicated serviceman and his family.
In September 2011, Bastrop county was struck by one of the most destructive wildfires in Texas history causing over $325 million dollars in property damage, and the loss of almost 1700 homes. In addition to helping to rebuild homes lost in the fires, Tilson also collected necessary supplies for the several thousand people who were evacuated from their homes.
For over a decade, Tilson has been a major sponsor of the State of Texas Angler’s Rodeo (STAR) Tournament, an annual recruitment drive for the Coastal Conservation Association (Texas Chapter). CCA Texas is an organization comprised of tens of thousands of recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts working for the conservation and enhancement of our marine resources and coastal environments. The STAR tournament awards over $1,000,000 in prizes and scholarships.
Some of the ways that Tilson employees have served their communities include reading to school children, participating in fundraising efforts, working on Habitat for Humanity builds, involvement in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America or the Humane Society, as well as support of other area church and community organizations.
Our new home designs are built with your ideal Texas lifestyle in mind. This is your home on your land and that’s why each Tilson home is customizable, so you’ll never have to compromise. We've made designing your new home easy with our Interactive Floorplans. Instantly transform some of our most popular homes with our most requested floor plan changes.
