Email: Denzel Washington Funded a Fisher House for Military Families - Analysis

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These messages are partly true. I contacted the Fisher House Foundation and was informed by VP of Communications James Weiskopf that while Mr. Washington — whom he says "has shown great compassion in support of service men and women" — indeed toured Fisher Houses at Brooke Army Medical Center in 2004 and pledged "a substantial donation" to the Fisher House program, he did not "write a check for the full amount" to build a house as claimed in online rumors circulating since 2005.

The further claim that Denzel Washington has a son serving with the Marines in Iraq is completely false, Weiskopf says. None of the actor's four children have served in the military.

The snapshots of Washington's visit to BAMC began circulating with the later variant of the email. The photographer is unknown.

Sources and further reading:

Fisher House - Helping Military Families
Home page of Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

Wounded at BAMC Get Star Treatment
San Antonio Express-News, 18 December 2004

Troops Moved Movie Star, But Rumors Exaggerate Gift
Dallas Morning News, 22 June 2005

Last updated: 06/23/05

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