American Heroes Protected from Foreclosure A Wounded Warrior and Parents
rmy Sergeant Joel Tavera , 22 , and his parents
AMaritza and Jose Tavera , will have their mortgage and car paid for an entire year by MSGI Corporation . In March of 2008 , just 2 days before returning to the states for some R & R , Joel was inside a military base when he was injured by a mortar attack . He suffered burns to over 60 % of his body , lost vision to both eyes , lost his right leg , lost 4 fingers on his left hand , and head trauma . His parents have been told that he is the 2nd most injured Army soldier since the beginning of the Iraq War .
This brave soldier and communications specialist has made it clear to his mother and father expressing that he does not want them to loose their home because of him . Furthermore , this is the home were he grew up in and he does not want them to sell the house either . Sgt . Tavera wants to return “ home ” when he released from the VA Hospital . Background Information : The Tavera ’ s uprooted themselves from their hometown of Cherry Point , North Carolina and have temporarily resided in Tampa in order to support and care for their child during therapy at the James A . Haley VA Hospital . As a result , both parents have not been able to hold a permanent job therefore unable to pay for their home or car . Joel is expected to remain in Tampa for another 10-12 months ; however assistance from the US Military Health Systems and non-profits recently expired .
Unfortunately most organizations have a charter which dictates the amount of direct financial help can be provided to each Wounded Warrior and their immediate family . In addition he is at a disadvantage because Joel is single and unmarried and many organizations are not prone to give assistance to parents .
MSGI ’ s Decision : After becoming aware of their extraordinary situation and Joel ’ s request to his parents , the owner of MSGI Corporation , Retired Lt . Colonel Angel “ Hank ” Cintrón , was promoted to act . He states , “ I believe that this is the least we can do as citizens of the United States , as a Corporation that has grown large in part because of the on going global war on terror , as the son of a veteran and a retired military member myself , as a father and grandfather . I do this also because of Mrs . Taveras . She has stood valiantly by her son with compassion and sometimes anger but , always with faith in the Lord and the love that only a mother can have for her child . She has been his ‘ Angel ’. She has stayed by Joel ’ s son every day and every night . She feeds him , bathes him , and changes his bandages . She is an ‘ American Hero ’ as well .” Inspired by the Tavera family , Mr . Cintron is in the process of formulating a non-profit called “ Angel ’ s Latino Wounded Warriors & Family Foundation ” that will assist Hispanic families like the Taveras .
About MSGI Corporation Founded in 2000 , MSGI is a veteran , Hispanic owned Small Business with its corporate headquarters in Tampa , FL and operations in San Antonio , Texas , metro Washington DC , Wisconsin , California , Georgia , Germany , Afghanistan , Kuwait and Iraq . MSGI provides a broad range of services to include Information Technology and Humanitarian Assistance to the Department of Defense , Homeland Security , other federal and state government agencies , and commercial clients . MSGI was established as one of the top Minority Owned Businesses by the Tampa Bay Business Journal and was ranked 150 as one of the fastest growing businesses in America by The Entrepreneur Magazine . For more information on MSGI Corp . visit : www . msgicorp . com
These changes have been accepted and voted on by Congress . High Speed Rail ( HSR ) was given a greater amount of money that will allow us to have a better chance for service in Central Florida . This has given us another great opportunity for jobs and a public transportation system to connect city to city . HSR will travel at a minimum of 110 MPH . No matter which route is ultimately chosen , it would begin in Orlando and go to Tampa , Miami , or Jacksonville . This provides a minimum of 35,000 permanent jobs in Florida . A good portion of those jobs will be in Central Florida . HSR does not compete with SunRail or Light Rail . The money allocated for a good application is in a separate line item and cannot be used for anything other than a High Speed Rail system . The package does not require a state or city match of money and pays up to 80 % of the rail cost with the balance coming from a successful private provider of rail service .
JOBS ! JOBS ! JOBS ! Thanks to Congresswoman Corrine Brown for her efforts in lobbying for this increase .
As reported by the transportation industry , “ In addition to the funding for federal public transportation programs , the bill provides a significant increase in funding from prior versions of House and Senate bills for high-speed passenger rail corridor investments , providing $ 8 billion for high-speed rail corridor development . The compromise bill provides an additional $ 1.3 billion for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail .”
The bill also includes $ 1.5 billion for a new intermodal discretionary program that can be used for highways , bridges , public transportation projects , including New Starts and Small Starts , passenger and freight rail , and port infrastructure projects .
Commissioner Stewart feels strongly that to get us positively into the 21st Century we need a change and the change comes with our approach to public transportation . This will put Florida in the forefront of new cross state transit with reduction of road congestion as well as reduction of carbon emissions . Florida ’ s transportation sector causes 44 % of the state ’ s total global warming pollution , the third highest percentage of all 50 states . We have a large retirement community ; with an aging population we need even greater public transportation choices .
Also , Florida needs to concentrate on trail projects for pedestrian , biking and walking opportunities . A separate portion of the stimulus package allows for trails and bikeways to be constructed . Commissioner Linda Stewart District 4 407-836-7350