Americus native among CNN Heroes finalists

Local News

November 3, 2009

From Staff Reports

PALM BEACH, Fla. — An Americus native, Roy Foster, is a contender for CNN’s Hero of the Year award. Each year the program receives over 9,000 entries from over 100 countries and is then narrowed down to 10 by an elite panel of judges.

Foster’s contribution to changing the world one person at time is exemplified in his commitment to helping his fellow man. As an Army veteran in the early 1980s, Foster struggled with re-entry into civilian life. He battled with addiction to drugs and alcohol and found himself, in his own words, “pretty much out of control.”

His dilemma of getting the help he needed is what influenced him to partner with another veteran, the late Don Reed, to establish Stand Down House. His organization is dedicated to finding veterans living, in what Foster describes as “unacceptable conditions,” and relaying a simple message: “There is help for you if you want it.”

Since 2000, Stand Down House has assisted 900 veterans, through camaraderie and understanding, in finding the life-changing help they need. More that 150,000 veterans nationwide are homeless on any given night, according to the Veterans Administration.

Foster’s facility, now five buildings in total, provides food and shelter as well as counseling to help overcome personal problems, sending participants toward recovery. Many graduates of Stand Down House return as volunteers after experiencing the valuable bond with other veterans in the recovery process.

Foster says that his work at Stand Down House is his “calling,” but isn’t content with his accomplishments, reminding that there is a new wave of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan that he is dedicated to saving.

To vote go to www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/vote/. “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” will air at 9 p.m. Thanksgiving night.