www.myspace.com/ward57

Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington DC is the first stop for many of America's returning wounded service members from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Known as "the amputee ward", the orthopedic Ward 57 at WRAMC houses some of the most severely injured patients for weeks or even months. The painful sacrifice of losing one or more limbs is the new battle these service members and their families now fight.

Operation Ward 57 was started to have a direct way for individuals and companies to show their support and raise funds for these courageous men and women who have given so much.
The program is run through pro-football player Kerry Carter's THINK BIG FOUNDATION, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Tax ID: 20-196-2446, in partnership with Atmosphere Artist Management LLC.  This is a grass-roots, volunteer effort. Each person who buys a T-shirt, not only shows their support, but directly contributes to items for the Ward, patients, family members and staff.

OPERATION WARD 57
HOW OPERATION WARD 57 STARTED

In January 2007 Deborah Semer joined her husband, an LPN, who was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Ft. Lewis.  Upon arriving, Deborah picked up a copy of the Stripe military newspaper where she saw a picture of Condoleezza Rice and a soldier holding a Ward 57 T-shirt.  She immediately bought one to support the program. That first batch of shirts she learned later, where funded by “The Angels of Mercy”.

Kerry Carter and Matthew on Ward 57

In March, one of the staff members contacted Deborah (who lives in Seattle 3/4 time) to see about finding some Seahawks memorabilia for a young amputee patient from Seattle who is a big fan.  Deborah contacted her fellow Seattle Arts Commissioner, Laura “Piece” Kelly, Executive Director of former Seahawk–turned-WA-Redskin-running back, Kerry Carter’s “Think Big” Foundation. Both Laura and Kerry immediately jumped in to help.

The Seattle Seahawks put together a gift package that included an NFL football personally autographed by QB Matt Hasselbeck.  Deborah flew to DC with the items, where she met with Kerry and his Stanford football teammate, QB, Chris Lewis to personally deliver the items to the patient.

When the outpatient housing scandal hit WRAMC in March 2007 and hospital morale dropped to an all-time low, Deborah, Kerry and Piece created a partnership through the Think Big Foundation and Atmosphere Artist Management LLC to recreate the T-shirts and raise funds for items needed at Ward 57.
KERRY CARTER VISITS MATTHEW ON WARD 57
MATTHEW TODAY
Matthew takes his first steps

Now out of Ward 57, Matthew takes his first steps with his new hydraulic leg and loves the new football jersey.

 Matthew and his Ward 57 football jersey
HOW YOUR SUPPORT IS HELPING
  • DVD video library
  • Personal DVD players for patient rooms
  • Care packages for deployed Ward 57 staff
  • New big screen TV for Ward 57/58 family room
  • Bookshelves and storage furniture for items
  • New toys for kids play area
  • Occasional catered meals and snacks
  • Flowers for the front desk
  • Tickets to music events
  • XBOX 360 console and games
  • Music CDs
  • New patient and nursing staff microwaves
  • Supply of Ward 57 T-Shirts for patients, family members, staff and VIPs

Care packages for Ward 57 nurses in Iraq

Toys for family members
of Ward 57 patients

Ward 57 patient contemplates music choices.
WHAT'S
HAPPENING

KIRBY + CO on KVI
KVI listeners,
Ward 57 supporters,
and Dick Lynch from
Impact a Hero raised
$7,500!

SUPPORTERS

(HED) P.E.
myspace.com/hedpe
(HED) P.E.

FALL FROM GRACE
Fall From Grace

POSTER GIANT
postergiant.net
Poster Giant

MAZUI FOUNDATION

SUBURBAN NOIZE RECORDS

SEW MUCH COMFORT

CROSSING HEALINGWORKS

THE LEGACY PROJECT

IMPACT A HERO

MERCHANDISE