Columbus, Ohio-based Woda Cooper Cos. has released a special film for Veterans Day to recognize its residents and employees who have served in the military. “Honoring Our Veterans” features 20 residents in eight states as well as four employees who are veterans.
The featured veterans, who have served from the Korean Conflict to the present, are representative of the hundreds of veterans the firm houses and employees across 15 states and more than 14,000 residences.
“On behalf of all of us at Woda Cooper Cos., we want to pay tribute to the military veterans who live in our communities, and we are so grateful to you and the sacrifices you have made to serve our country. … We are so honored to provide a place for you to call home,” said principal Jeffrey Woda in the film’s opening.
One of the residents featured is Ron, a Marine Corps veteran living in a Woda Cooper Cos. community in Wheeling. Ron spent 24 years in active duty, serving in Desert Storm and Iraq. Twenty-eight days from being discharged, he was hit by an IED and became disabled.
“There’s not a lot of ADA-approved type of housing that’s available,” he said. “So I’m very happy about being here. I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Another resident showcased is Michigan resident Jason, an Army veteran. “My wife and I ended up being homeless and to have a big corporation like Woda come through and actually pay attention and care … it makes you feel appreciated for what you did in service. Quite frankly this is the nicest place we have ever lived in.”
The film highlights several of the markets where the leading affordable housing developer and owner operates, including rural communities like Virden, Illinois; medium-sized cities like Wheeling, West Virginia; and more urban areas like Columbus.
“As a company, we prioritize hiring and housing veterans,” said principal David Cooper Jr. “Sometimes we think of affordable housing as a concept and not as individuals. Hopefully this video sheds some light on the individuals who live in our affordable housing units.”
The company recently developed two communities with supportive services and units restricted for homeless and disabled veterans, including Grand View Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Proctor Place that will be breaking ground in Indianapolis this month.
“Knowing that the Woda Cooper Cos. has these programs in place to support the veterans who are staff at the company, as well as some of the tenants, really makes me feel like I’ve directed my passions toward something that is beneficial to the community,” said Jarod Lucas, an IT project manager at the firm and an Air Force veteran.
The nine-minute film was produced by Minneapolis-based Ramble Pictures.
