Welcome Home

Inspired by his uncle’s military service, Sean Karpf was proud to serve his country when he enlisted in 2007. In 2012, Army Sergeant Karpf was serving as an Infantry paratrooper in Kandahar, Afghanistan when he was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast. He sustained the loss of his left leg below the knee, back injuries, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury. Sean was airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany, then transported to Walter Reed Medical Center where he underwent more than 20 surgeries on his legs and spent 15 months in rehabilitation. His wife, Brandy, was with him throughout. Her mother stayed with their 2 young children, bringing them to visit their parents often.

Now medically retired, Sean and his wife Brandy are rebuilding their lives with their now teenage children. A former strength and conditioning coach and Warrior Games medalist, Sean recognized the limitations in their current home were becoming more challenging. The inaccessible floor plan required him to wear his prosthetic when he should be resting and recovering in his wheelchair, and the bathroom forces him to hop on one leg to access the shower. Even with all he has and continues to endure he founded a pressure wash business, employing other veterans, and cleverly named it One Leg Up.

Homes For Our Troops is a publicly funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed. Sean applied and was chosen to receive a new custom-built home.

Colonel Elizabeth Evans Weiss, (U.S. Army, Retired), owner of Elizabeth Evans Custom Homes was selected as the builder of The Karpf home. She is the daughter of our dear friends John and Karen Evans, and she invited Doug and I to attend the momentous “Key Ceremony” event where Sargent Karpf is given the keys to his completed custom home.

A business leader and entrepreneur who has called Jacksonville home for the past 20 years, Betsy has worked as a construction management professional in both the residential and commercial sectors, overseeing more than $500 million in vertical construction projects. She discovered her passion for construction and serving others while studying civil engineering at West Point. She concluded her 24-year military service, retiring as a Colonel in Summer 2024, after dedicating her career to service around the world.

As an army veteran Betsy and her team commit themselves to military precision at every turn when working on custom home builds or home remodeling projects. They were chosen as the builders because of their outstanding reputation as one of Jacksonville’s premier builders. As we toured the newly completed Karpf home we were astounded at the quality and detail to Sean’s needs, as well as his family’s.

Sean chose to remain in Florida where he and Brandy have been raising their children Marissa and Zachary. “This home is not only giving me a new lease on life—it’s giving my family a new chapter that will set us up for a successful future,” said Sean as he was ceremoniously given the keys. “We are forever grateful.”

Sean and Brandy Karpf greet and thank they many who made their new home possible. The Karpf family raising the American flag in front of their new home. Cutting the ribbon to their new home. The family with the management team of Elizabeth Evans Custom Homes.

This specially adapted custom home with a walkway around the entire house will allow Sean to be in his wheelchair more often, as well as get in and out of the house safely and easily. The mortgage-free home will provide the opportunity to grow the pressure-washing business. “This home is opening doors to the future,” he says. Rebuilding Lives is the most important aspect of the HFOT mission.

For Doug and me it was a thrilling honor to be part of this remarkable day. The home is beautiful with every possible detail thought out for Sean, and the family’s needs. Betsy and her team are to be hugely congratulated.

Charity Navigator has awarded Homes For Our Troops a score of 99% and the highest possible rating of 4 stars along with top rankings from every other charity watchdog. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar spent has gone directly to HFOT builds. These are homes where the Veteran chooses to live. They continue their relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.

If you are asking, and I hope you are, “How can I help?”, Bill Ivey, Executive Director for Homes For Our Troops said, “First you can welcome a veteran to your community, Second you can tell about this organization, because word-of-mouth is our best advertising, and 3rd you can donate by going  www.hfotusa.org”

Watch this video to see the Karpf family military escort welcome to their new home.