Dale Beatty

As civil rights activist, Reverend Jesse Jackson one said, "If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds."  That quote explains the life of Dale Beatty, an ex-National Guardsman that lost both his legs when the Humvee he was riding in hit a land mine while serving his country in northern Iraq. After recovering he didn't give up, instead Beatty maintained a positive attitude and began a group called "Purple Heart Homes" that builds homes for veterans struggling in life and that is why he is known to be a hero.

Beatty said "I've always wanted to build a home for my family but after my accident I didn't know if I would be able to fulfill that dream." He went through a tragic accident and saw the bright side of it. When his church and community came together and helped him build a new home that was wheelchair accessible, he saw it as an opportunity to "pay it forward" and do the same for similar veterans who were injured like him. About three months after recovering, Beatty joined his friend, John Gallina who is a General Contractor. Gallina was also the driver of the Humvee that hit the landmine. Together they created "Purple Heart Homes" and ever since have been redesigning homes with wider doorways and ramps for veterans to make it easier for them to move and work throughout their homes.

"Purple Heart Homes" uses donated labor and materials and helps any veteran who is a homeowner, no matter which war they served in. There is no cost to the veteran. Not only do they renovate homes for veterans, they also assist moving them into foreclosed properties donated by banks. And with the help of the community volunteers, they make these homes functional for the veterans. Beatty feels that having community involvement helps the veterans feel cared about. These veterans often feel very alone and isolated. 

After the renovations are done on these houses, Beatty and Gallina even help them with getting a mortgage for 50% or less of its value. They have found that a lot of the veterans struggle with having poor credit. If they can help them get affordable mortgage payments, it makes it more manageable for the veteran and helps improve their credit score. With all the donations and grants, "Purple Heart Homes" has grown tremendously. Both Beatty and Gallina feel that their company not only helps veterans, but makes communities come together and get involved with those who served their country to protect them.