rapidfire
Spouse Spotlight
M
eredith Leyva founded Operation Tell us about your latest project.
Homefront and CinCHouse, two orga- A new generation of wounded are fall-
nizations that have served military fam- ing into destitution and homelessness.
ilies for 10 years. Leyva also has been featured on The 18- to 24-month process of being
national television and radio stations. [designated] wounded drives families into
Why did you start Operation Homefront debt and bankruptcy. When the housing
and CinCHouse? I started
CinCHouse.com market went bad, we saw an opportunity
when I was a public relations con- to negotiate extremely low prices on new
sultant in the ’90s. The Navy was homes and launched the Wounded Warrior
threatening to relocate and deploy Housing initiative. Mortgage lenders have
my husband, so I jimmied up a been helping on a case-by-case basis.
little Web site for my friends Additionally, we’re investing in
and me to better understand transitional housing facilities called
the system. [About] 40,000 Operation Homefront Villages,
women showed up without which will allow families to stay
any marketing or advertis- rent-free for six to nine months until
ing. We offi cially launched the warrior can rebuild his [or her]
CinCHouse.com [in 1998]. life physically, fi nancially, and job-wise.
Today, hundreds of thou- To what do you attribute the suc-
sands of military wives cess of Operation Homefront and
and women in uniform CinCHouse? [I attribute it to the] uncom-
learn and discuss how to promising focus on currently serving mili-
succeed in military life. We tary families. If we take care of our clients,
launched Operation Homefront everything else falls into place.
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack as Where is your husband currently
a project in Southern California. stationed? My husband, Lt. Cmdr.
By the fi rst year, we were serving Fernando Leyva, USN, is a ship’s physi-
10 percent of the local military cian aboard the USS Enterprise, and he
population. Today, we have 34 couldn’t be prouder or more supportive.
chapters nationwide. — Anita Doberman
Attention! Check out these military-related entertainment offerings.
BOOK The Defining Mo- “fear itself” inaugural by Robert Child and nar- (Prometheus Books,
ment: FDR’s Hundred address, and the warmth rated by Hal Holbrook, this 2007) Beth Andrews helps
Days and the Triumph of his first “Fireside Chat” documentary reveals the children understand why
of Hope (Simon & Schus- rekindled America’s hope. critical role gliders played a loved one is deployed,
ter, 2007) Jonathan Alter in World War II offensives. cope with their feelings in
tells how Franklin Roos- DVD Silent Wings: The a positive way, be assured
evelt’s confident demeanor American Glider Pilots BOOK I Miss You!: A they’re not alone, and
in the wake of an assassi- of World War II (Inecom, Military Kid’s Book try new activities to help
nation attempt, his famous 2007) Written and directed About Deployment themselves adjust. MO
2 6 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M AY 2 0 0 8 PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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