Denzel Washington spontaneously paid for a new Fisher House at Brooke Army Medical Center-Fiction! But he later came through!

Actor Denzel Washington Spontaneously Paid for the Construction of a "Fisher House" During a Visit to Brooke Army Medical Center-Fiction! But He Came Through Later!

Summary of the eRumor
The eRumor describes a visit by actor Denzel Washington to "Brookes" Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
He saw the buildings known as "Fisher House," where families of hospitalized soldiers can say for little or no charge while visiting.
He is described as having asked how much it costs to build one, pulled out his checkbook, and wrote a check for the full amount.

The Truth
Denzel Washington did make a visit to the Brooke (not Brookes) Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas, in December, 2004.
Among other things, he participated in a ceremony awarding Purple Hearts to three soldiers and visited several others.

He also toured the Fisher House facilities there, was impressed with what they were doing, and did indicate a desire to support it.
An eRumor got started that he dramatically pulled out his checkbook on the spot and wrote a check for the cost of building an entire house, which was not true.
Fisher House says the confusion may have come when an announcement was made later in that a new $1-million facility was going to be built.
It was at the same time as a mention that Denzel Washington had pledged a donation to Fisher House.
Four months later, however, he came through "in a big way", according to the folks at Fisher House.
They won't disclose the amount of his gift, but Fisher House spokesman James Weiskopf says it's one of the largest in the organization's history and that Denzel Washington has agreed to serve on the Fisher House board of trustees.

Fisher House is a program that provides special housing at each of the Army's major medical centers for the families of soldiers who are receiving medical treatment, often from being wounded on duty.
Fisher house is either a facility or a group of facilities where family members can stay for no cost or reduced cost, which helps ease the burden of possibly having made a long and expensive trip to be by the bedside of a family member and to make it possible for even low income families to be able to stay close by.

Last updated 6/8/05

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

From: Jackson, Gerald P Mr FAHC Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 11:35

AM Subject: Denzel Washington

I just received this from Ft.

Hood, Texas, where our son's family is stationed while he is deployed in Iraq. Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC (Brookes Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas) the other day. This is where soldiers that have been evac'd from Germany come to be hospitalized in the States. They have buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a hotel that soldier's families can stay at, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled to the brim most of the time. While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He got his check book out and wrote a check out for the full amount right there on the spot.

The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it. I hope you will spread this story.