Christmas came early Tuesday, Dec. 23, for former U.S. Marine Matt Todd.
At a dedication ceremony that morning, he received the keys to a to a newly built townhome in Haskell, N.J., donated to him by the Semper Fi Fund and Greentree Development Group LLC.
Greentree Development Group LLC specializes in working with municipalities to create quality homes and commercial spaces that are sensitive to the host community’s needs and to the environment. The company was established in 2011 by several partners who had worked together on past projects.
Parkside at Wanaque (where Todd’s new townhome was built) sits on 7.98 acres in Pompton Plains, N.J., and is a residential community consisting of 60 townhouses, 10 market-rate condominiums, and 18 low-cost condominium units that will comply with the borough’s Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) obligations. Earlier in the year at one of their weekly partner meetings discussing the 88-unit residential community project, Greentree Development Group came up with the idea to donate a unit to “the most deserving people, our wounded veterans.”
Dave Gunia, division president of Greentree Development Group, said two Greentree partners donated services that allowed the company to make the donation. Lakeside Construction, of Hopatcong, N.J., which did the excavation and grading at the site, helped financially, and Ferguson Appliances, of Rockaway, N.J., donated the refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave oven, gas range, washer and dryer. He also thanked Wanaque Mayor David Mahler, Borough Administrator Thomas Carroll and other members of the town government who make this happen.
Lakeside Construction, who had their fleet of Cat machines performing the site work at Parkside, has worked with Foley Incorporated, the Caterpillar equipment dealer in New Jersey, for over 30 years. They have gotten to know the Foley family very well, including chairman of the board Kim Foley. Kim has been involved and dedicated to helping wounded warriors for many years. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Semper Fi Fund, which provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. They thought it would be a good fit for the donation.
Kim Foley said, “We were overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for Greentree Development’s donation of a new condo to the Semper Fi Fund. We are very thankful to have support from generous companies like Greentree, who can truly change someone’s life for the better.”
When Greentree Development Group brought this donation to the Semper Fi Fund, they knew just whom to give it to.
Matt Todd is a former marine who served two tours in Iraq. While stationed in Iraq in 2005, Todd sustained an injury resulting in serious damage to his leg and the loss of one of his toes. After recovering, he was redeployed in 2007. Again, he was severely wounded. Discharged, he returned home, suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury as well as complications from his earlier injuries. With help from the Semper Fi Fund, Todd began turning his life around. Today, he’s working at a car dealership, and says he’s looking forward to decorating his new home.
Greentree Development is proud to donate the home to Matt Todd.
“Our sacrifice is nothing compared to what the marines do,” Greentree Development said. “We thought this would be a good way of giving back and honoring those who selflessly do so much for us.”
Greentree Development Group and the Semper Fi Fund formally presented the home to Matt in a simple ceremony on Dec. 23. Greentree released a statement prior to the event saying, “The presentation is simultaneously an acknowledgement of the debt we owe to the brave men and women who defend our way of life and acknowledgement of the importance a home can make in someone’s life.” Guests such as family, friends, local and county officials, as well as the Greentree Development Group, Semper Fi and partners of both organizations attended the house dedication to be by Matt Todd’s side showing their support and helping make this a Christmas he will never forget.
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