In July of 2011, Tommy Norman founded Veterans Bridge Home.
Norman had lived in Charlotte, NC most of his life, where his father managed a Navy shell-loading facility during World War II. He joined the Army after graduating from Wake Forest University and served in the Special Forces until 1972.
After his time in the Army, he spent three years banking in New York City before returning home to Charlotte and starting Norcom Properties, a commercial real estate firm.
Fast forward to the late 1980s, and Norman and two of his friends had raised more than $350,000 to build a memorial in uptown Charlotte to honor the 101 Charlotte natives who had been killed in Vietnam.
Then a friend called asking for a favor. Could Norman help a wounded Iraqi War veteran move to Charlotte? Norman didn’t hesitate.
“They’ve done everything their country has asked of them,” he said.
Then came another call. And another. Soon, Norman and his wife, Patty, were welcoming Veterans into their home, helping them find jobs, a place to live, or schools for their children.
As the calls kept coming, they realized that the need was far outpacing their efforts. These Veterans needed help navigating the system that would open the door to education, employment, and healthcare.
With the support from the Charlotte business community, the Normans founded Veterans Bridge Home.
To establish a baseline for the organization’s work, The Foundation for the Carolinas Center for Civic Leadership funded the research and report identifying key challenges returning veterans were facing.
The report, “Coming Home, Support for Returning Veterans in Charlotte Mecklenburg,” authored by Carol Morris in 2012, determined that employment was the number one challenge facing returning Veterans, followed by difficulties obtaining disability compensation, accessing healthcare, finding housing and resolving family issues.
Veterans Bridge Home called on the community to form a network of support for Veterans.
“We’re so proud to work with these servicemen and women,” Norman said. “It’s a responsibility, but what an opportunity.”
Today, Norman serves as an Emeritus Board Member and remains a tireless advocate for giving Veterans the opportunity to serve again, this time in the civilian world.
Through Veterans Bridge Home, Norman seeks to inspire a movement that extends far beyond Charlotte.
“Our hope is that every community in this country will take this approach and have the attitude to say, ‘we’re here for you’,” he said. “We all have to provide support to make these families as successful as they can be.”
Through Veterans Bridge Home, Norman seeks to inspire a movement that extends far beyond Charlotte.
“Our hope is that every community in this country will take this approach and have the attitude to say, ‘we’re here for you’,” he said. “We all have to provide support to make these families as successful as they can be.”
