WHITE PLAINS, Md. — Retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer Second Class Adams Amisu was handed the keys to a new mortgage-free home on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, during a ceremony in White Plains, where he was joined by State Sen. Arthur Ellis, community members, local leaders and representatives from Lennar and Building Homes for Heroes.
The home, designed to be fully accessible, was gifted by the national nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes in partnership with Lennar, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders. The event included community participation and a procession by the Patriot Guard Riders, who welcomed Amisu as a new neighbor before the home’s reveal. Delegate Edith Patterson and Charles County Commissioner Thomasina Coates also spoke, praising Amisu’s dedication and highlighting the importance of supporting veterans through projects like this.
Community members also shared stories about why the project carries such deep meaning, both for Amisu and for the organizations that made it possible. Organizers emphasized that the effort reflects the region’s commitment to honoring veterans and recognizing the sacrifices they make in service to the nation.
Amisu, who immigrated to the United States from Ghana in 2005, joined the Navy two years later and served for seven years. He provided medical care to fellow service members before being honorably and medically discharged due to service-related injuries, including lumbar degenerative disc disease, PTSD, insomnia and anxiety. His military decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Though his injuries cut short a military career he had hoped would span decades, Amisu has continued what he calls his “life’s mission” of caring for others. On Tuesday, his community returned the gesture by providing him with a stable, mortgage-free future.
During the program, it was noted that Amisu is awaiting the completion of paperwork for his two children, who remain in Ghana, so they can eventually join him in his new home. While they were not present in person, his children were able to watch the ceremony through a livestream, allowing him to share the milestone moment with them virtually. Building Homes for Heroes is assisting with the process to reunite the family.
Tuesday’s celebration followed months of preparation and community involvement. On June 5, Building Homes for Heroes and Lennar Maryland hosted a “Notes of Love” event at the unfinished home, where neighbors, volunteers and trade partners wrote blessings, messages of hope and words of gratitude on the home’s framing. The tradition has become a hallmark of the organization’s work, ensuring that every beam and wall carries a personal reminder of the support surrounding each veteran.
About Building Homes for Heroes
Founded in 2006, Building Homes for Heroes is a national nonprofit that builds and gifts mortgage-free homes or completes home modifications for veterans, emergency first responders and their families. The organization also provides supportive services aimed at financial stability, physical and mental wellness, and community reintegration.
The nonprofit has gifted more than 400 homes nationwide since its founding. In 2023, Building Homes for Heroes earned a 96 percent program rating for the 12th consecutive year and received a perfect 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, including a 100 percent score in transparency and accountability.
Learn more about their programs and how you can help at buildinghomesforheroes.org.
Lennar’s Role in Supporting Veterans
Lennar Corporation, a Miami-based company founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, operating in 26 states and 75 markets. Alongside its home construction, Lennar provides mortgage financing, title services and multifamily housing development.
The company has expanded its outreach to veterans in recent years, partnering with organizations such as Building Homes for Heroes and Operation Finally Home to provide mortgage-free or specially adapted homes. In July 2024, Lennar and Operation Finally Home gifted a customized home in Fresno, California, to an Army veteran injured in service. In Indianapolis, Lennar helped complete the 401st home for Building Homes for Heroes in late 2024, with more homes planned for 2025.
For more information about Lennar, please visit lennar.com.
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