During two annual sales meetings earlier this year, three Legrand divisions – Electrical Wiring Systems, Building Control Systems, and Data Communications – held fundraisers to benefit Building Homes for Heroes. The two events combined, one in Washington, D.C. and the other in San Antonio, TX, raised more than $80,000 (USD), which was matched dollar for dollar by Legrand, for a total donation of $161,000. The funds, raised by Legrand sales teams, executive leaders and participating partners, including Superior Essex, will be used to build new homes for veterans, and to install appropriate home automation technologies.

A portion of this year’s donation will support United States Air Force Captain Nathan Nelson, who was injured during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. Captain Nelson was part of a special operations team that came under heavy fire in September 2013. He sustained a spinal cord injury in addition to multiple other traumas. As a result, Captain Nelson has no movement below his chest and limited use of his hands. For his service to our country, Captain Nelson was awarded a Purple Heart and other commendations recognizing his bravery and sacrifice. 

In addition to the monetary contribution, Legrand will also donate home automation and electrical solutions that will make life easier for him and other wounded veterans. The products include: Intuity home automation and radiant RF lighting controls, which allow residents to regulate the lights and electrical outlets in their home via smartphone apps, Wattstopper sensors that automatically turn lights on when an individual enters the room and turn off when the room is unoccupied, and Plugmold multi-outlet power strips for USB charging.  Once construction on the new home in Florida is complete, Captain Nelson will reside there with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Eva.

“We’re really proud of the way Legrand stepped up and showed their support for our veterans, and for the wonderful work Building Homes for Heroes is doing on behalf of those members of the U.S. Armed Forces who return home with serious injuries,” said Paul Finnegan, executive vice president of sales at the Data Communications Division of Legrand. “We hope the collective efforts of Legrand team members will help veterans transition back to civilian life, as well as demonstrate our deep gratitude for their service to our country.”

Giving Back

This is the second year that Legrand has donated the proceeds from its national sales meeting fundraiser to Building Homes for Heroes. To date, Legrand has raised more than $250K for the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that was founded in 2006. Building Homes for Heroes is committed to transforming and rebuilding lives by supporting the brave individuals who were injured while serving our country. The organization builds or modifies homes to suit the veteran’s specific needs and gifts the home — mortgage-free — to them and their families.

“Building Homes for Heroes is one of the national charitable organizations that Legrand supports as part of its Better Communities initiative. Our purpose in this initiative is to enhance community and employee welfare through programs that help people enjoy healthier, more productive and more rewarding lives,” said Brian DiBella, president of the EWS division. “Last year, Legrand raised more than $88,000 on behalf of Building Homes for Heroes. This year, we’re raising the bar by outfitting a home with automated electrical solutions, which will have an even greater impact on this veteran’s life.”

“We are extremely grateful for Legrand’s support for our nation’s injured veterans. Their generous contributions are critical in allowing us to advance our mission of giving back to those who have sacrificed the most to keep our country safe,” stated Andy Pujol, Founder and President, Building Homes for Heroes. “Together, we are building homes and rebuilding lives.”

To learn more about Building Homes for Heroes and how to get involved, visit buildinghomesforheroes.org.