Port St. Lucie, FL – Representatives from Helping a Hero, Lennar, and GreenPointe Holdings, LLC gathered at Brystol at Wylder on February 20th to present a mortgage-free home to a retired Army veteran Corporal Thomas Counihan IV, who lost his right leg while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. Corporal Counihan received the keys during a moving dedication ceremony attended by more than 100 guests. The event served as a heartfelt tribute to his sacrifice and service.
Built by Lennar and thoughtfully designed to accommodate his unique needs, Counihan’s fully furnished three-bedroom home is located in Brystol at Wylder, a master-planned community by GreenPointe Holdings, LLC in west Port St. Lucie. The home features wider doorways, extended hallways and non-slip flooring for improved accessibility. The open-concept kitchen features lower counters for ease of use, while the primary bathroom offers a spacious roll-in shower and a large soaker tub to comfortably accommodate Counihan’s 6-foot-3-inch frame.
During the dedication ceremony, an emotional Counihan expressed his gratitude and disbelief. “It was beyond what I was expecting,” he said. “I thought just receiving the house was already such a generous gift. It still doesn’t feel real—I’m sitting here looking at it and can’t believe this is all mine.”
Pastor Ben Graham, former Faith and Opportunity team member at the White House under President Trump, leads attendees in prayer. He is joined by Purple Heart veteran JP Lane to his left, and Corporal Thomas Counihan IV, actor Robert Davi, and country singer Tate Stevens, winner of season two of The X Factor to his right.
Helping a Hero, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting wounded veterans, has provided more than 200 homes across 27 states since 2006. As part of the organization’s 100 Homes Challenge, Bass Pro Shops contributes 25% of the cost for 100 specifically adapted homes – including Counihan’s. While veterans typically pay a $50,000 mortgage through the program, Lennar generously covered the full amount. GreenPointe Holdings further contributed by donating the homesite in Brystol at Wylder, valued at approximately $80,000, allowing Counihan to receive his new home completely mortgage-free.
“As the master developer of Brystol and the greater Wylder community, GreenPointe is honored to welcome CPL Thomas Counihan home,” said Austin Burr, Regional President of GreenPointe Holdings, LLC. “Making a meaningful impact and changing lives is at the heart of what we do. It was our privilege to donate a homesite to Helping a Hero in support of such a deserving veteran and an important cause.”
Left to right: GreenPointe Financial Analyst Ben Meyers, Senior VP of GreenPointe Austin Burr, Corporal Thomas Counihan IV, Lennar COO Fred Rothman, and Lennar Division President Michael Meyers.
Since retiring from military service, Counihan has dedicated his life to helping fellow veterans through adaptive sports like surfing and skydiving. He said the comfort and stability his new home in Port St. Lucie will allow him to continue that mission. “This home is life changing. It gives me the freedom to focus on my goals while staying close to my friends, family, and the beach. When everyone leaves today, I’ll be able to lay down in a bed that I know will be mine forever.”
Brystol at Wylder is a single-family home neighborhood featuring both move-in ready and to-be-built homes starting in the $350,000s. Six model homes are available for daily tours. In addition to residences by Lennar and Meritage Homes, the community offers a lakeside amenity center with a beach-entry pool, pickleball courts, a playground, a dog park, sports fields, an event lawn, and more. Future plans include additional recreational spaces and an interconnected network of multi-use paths. A public park, school, and further enhancements are also in development.
For more information about Brystol at Wylder and its available homes, visit LiveWylder.com.
About Wylder
Wylder is a 1,970-acre master-planned community by GreenPointe Developers LLC, situated off Midway Road. With over 140 years of experience, GreenPointe is recognized for developing nature-focused communities across the Southeast. In addition to Brystol at Wylder, several new neighborhoods are planned. K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Wylder, an active adult community, is now selling with models open daily for tours. Buyers can choose from nine ranch-style single-family home designs and one villa design, with prices starting from the $400,000s. Four Seasons will feature a dedicated amenity center and an on-site lifestyle director.
Construction is also underway at Glynlea Country Club, a private, gated golf community set to feature the first signature golf course designed by PGA Tour Professional Jim Furyk. Home sales within Glynlea are expected to begin later this year, with prices ranging from the $400,000s to over $1 million. For more information on these neighborhoods and their progress, visit LiveWylder.com.
About GreenPointe Developers LLC
GreenPointe Developers is the community and urban development division of GreenPointe Holdings. The GreenPointe team has more than 140 years of collective experience in developing some of the most sought-after master-planned and condominium communities in the Southeast. The team creates and transforms residential and mixed-use communities into neighborhoods for today’s homebuyers while providing lasting, sustainable value.
Having the utmost respect for the land, the GreenPointe team works diligently to protect and enhance nature’s best assets. This thoughtful practice allows GreenPointe Developers to create and reenergize communities that provide for an enduring lifestyle where people want to live, work and enjoy recreation. More information is available at GreenPointeLLC.com.
GreenPointe is proud to support the Monique Burr Foundation for Children and its mission to protect children by providing comprehensive, evidence-based personal safety programs. For more information, visit MBFPreventionEducation.org.
