Community Highlights: Meet Gary Schell of The Home of Record Project

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Schell

Hi Gary, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Milford, Michigan I enlisted at 18 years old. I served 5 years in the Marine Corps from 2011- 2016. After my service I attended ASU and earned my bachelors and masters degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. I then served as the Deputy Security Chief for the Silverbell Heliport for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). Then in 2021 I went to work for Raytheon in Tucson as a Senior Security Analyst. In in June of 2021 I was hiking Picaho Peak and my hip started to hurt badly. I went to the doctor thinking I had tendonitis or some other issue but the doctor came back to tell me I had cancer. After undergoing more tests and scans it was discovered that I had stage IIIC metastatic testicular cancer and needed immediate surgery and chemotherapy. Shortly after receiving the surgery my wife filed for divorce. This crisis shaped the following years of my life undergoing extensive chemotherapy, enduring a reoccurrence and receiving a tandem stem cell transplant. 1 year later in June of 2022 I was deemed to have no detectable cancer. During my treatment it was discovered through genetic counseling that I had no predisposition to this cancer and it was most likely a result of my exposures to the burn pits during my service. After my treatment I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in assisting veterans going through similar crisis. I believe that my story and experience can hopefully be the survival guide for another veteran who is in a dark place. Combining my experience in real estate and navigating crisis, I founded the Home of Record Project (HRP). Our mission is to house veterans through transitional housing. We hold a fundamental belief that no veteran who served their country honorably should be without a home. I now serve as the founder and chair of the HRP and also work as a real estate investor.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My story has been anything but smooth but the challenges have made me who I am today and I now look at my cancer and divorce as blessings. The cancer showed me what my true passion was (helping veterans) and gave me direction and knowledge of my purpose. The divorce taught me valuable lessons about how God can bring people into your life to teach you those lessons and blessed me by removing someone who wasn’t truly there for me.

I still have struggles today like anyone else but I have a renewed perspective on life and for that I am eternally grateful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Home of Record Project ?
The Home of Record Project (HRP) is a 501(c)(3) based in Phoenix, Arizona. We are veteran founded and operated. We are less than one year old but have already made significant strides in our community. We were able to assist two veterans through our transitional housing program where we housed the veterans for 6 months giving them access to resources like financial counseling, legal assistance, education benefits, mental health and more. One veteran was able to become gainfully employed and pay off his car and the other saved over $3k to move into stable long term housing. Both veterans successfully graduated the program and moved onto stable long term housing.

We also provide financial stability grants to prevent eviction and keep veterans in their homes to prevent homelessness. We have been able to help multiple veterans this year and proudly have spent 93% of our funds directly assisting veterans through services and financial aid. The remaining 6% is just to keep the lights on as none of us are paid employees.

We are most proud of the impact we’ve been able to make in such a short period of time for our nations veterans. After my diagnosis and being given a second chance this is my life’s purpose and it is incredibly fulfilling to be able to give back to my community in such a meaningful way.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk management was an integral part of my original career and my life has been full of risks. Perhaps the largest risk I’ve taken to date was leaving my safe and secure corporate job with benefits and founding a grassroots nonprofit with little to no experience. I tend to align with “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Life is quick, painful and full of regret so why not take a chance on your dreams while you can?

Pricing:

• $10 reoccurring donation

Contact Info:

• Website: https://homeofrecordproject.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeofrecordproject/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554373952341