Veteran, family who lost Rotonda West home to Ian, will receive a new house in Wellen Park

Article kindly shared from The Daily Sun.

RONALD DUPONT JR.
Gondolier Editor

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For Rotonda West resident Daniel Beesting, he’s never had a home he could design, one he and his family knew was going to be theirs long-term. As a member of the Air Force, he lived in houses on base — the types you’re not allowed to change. Then, one time, he moved into a
residence that was condemned; it was taken off a condemned list because of a housing crisis. Then he moved into a house so dilapidated that, when he moved out, nobody lived there again. Next, he moved to a Rotonda West home, but it was destroyed by Hurricane Ian, forcing him to move into a rental next door.

Last week, Beesting, his wife and three children received the surprise of their lives. They were driven to an empty lot in Wellen Park and
told it would be the site of their future home. All for free. “It was all a whirlwind,” he said. “It’s overwhelming.”

The house comes courtesy of PulteGroup’s Built to Honor Program, which works hand-in-hand with Building Homes for Heroes, as
well as many companies and local trades people who offered labor and services for free. He had achieved the rank of U.S. Air Force technical sergeant while in the military.

Beesting knew his name had been entered into a database for a possible home. But so had hundreds of other names of veterans nationwide who have faced hard times.

Beesting, 41, enlisted at 18 following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He left the service in 2011 with an honorable discharge. During his military service, he was exposed to challenging and life-threatening situations, causing him physical and psychological injuries including PTSD, hearing loss, insomnia, tinnitus, sinusitis and foot injuries. For his service, Beesting earned several awards, including the Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War On Terrorism Service Medal.

When he and his family were chosen for the new, four-bedroom home, they weren’t told right away. Wes Copeland, PulteGroup’s SWFL Division vice president of procurement, said he likes to add a bit more drama to the announcement. “We’ve always liked the element of surprise,” Copeland said, laughing. “We tell them they’re coming in for an interview.”

The Beesting family was told that they were going to be shown a possible neighborhood if their name was ever chosen. But when they got to the Lakespur neighborhood in Wellen Park last week, there were 200 people there, and that’s when the family realized they had been chosen. “It was mind-boggling,” Beesting said. “We were so surprised.”

The Beestings’ future home will feature Pulte’s Mystique floor plan, offering four bedrooms designed to comfortably accommodate their family and lifestyle. The homes there generally sell in the $430,000 range.

Copeland said there are many people to thank for making the free home possible. In addition to the two national programs, all sorts of trades people, from national organizations to local mom-and-pop businesses, agreed to do things for free. Copeland said some offered free materials, while others offered free labor. “I ask them whatever they can contribute,” he said. “They come up and say, ‘We got you covered.’”

At the surprise ceremony, Wellen Park President Rick Severance spoke about part of his company’s mission. “At Wellen Park, we believe strong communities are built through meaningful connections and a shared purpose,” Severance said. “While we focus every day on creating an extraordinary place for our residents and visitors, it’s the people who bring that vision to life. We’re honored to welcome the Beesting family to Wellen Park and grateful for the opportunity to support them alongside PulteGroup through this incredible initiative. “Our community will continue to be here for them as long as they live here.”

Beesting said if everything goes on schedule and no hurricanes this summer delay things, he and his family will be able to move into their new home sometime during the holidays. “You know, we were just in kind of a situation where we needed a hand — a help up. And we got that. This is amazing.”